CAMDEN, NJSHEPHERD ALLIANCE INTERNSHIP 2009

Rob George, Kate Donnelly, and Charlie Gentles

Outline

Introduction to Camden

Rob’s work at GCP

Kate’s Work at CFDA

Extra-curricular activities

Just across the Delaware…

Why Economic Revitalization

Prime Location Industrial Roots Disinvestment

and Decline Highway

Construction Racial Tensions Population Decline

Camden Today

“Most Dangerous City in America”

35.5% Poverty (2000)

11.6% Home Vacancy

Diverse: 53% African

American 39% Latin

American

Problems

Small Tax-Base Negative

Perception Reliant on

State/National government

Lack of basic retail needs

Failing Education System

Camden’s Comeback

Organizations

THE GREATER CAMDEN PARTNERSHIP

About GCP

Brings together leaders of the private, public and non-profit sectors

Promotes the revitalization of Camden through joint public/private ventures

Anchor-Based Revitalization Projects:

Camden Special Services District: Clean and Safe Kroc Center Broadway Main Street

My Role at GCP

Policy Recommendation: Stabilize and improve neighborhoods surrounding Camden’s anchor institutions

Problem = Disinvestment Diminishes the quality of the environment

surrounding the anchors Quality of life Outward appearance

Hinders the abilities of the anchors to recruit and retain employees

Collaborative Anchor-Based Employer Assisted Housing Program Research National Best Practices Designed Housing Survey Policy Proposal:

appropriate anchor-base incentive municipal participation lender discounts additional funding sources housing counseling appropriate geographic restrictions data collection and measurement

Community Impact

Increase Tax-base Entice stable homeowners/neighbors Fix 11.6% Vacancy

Kate Donnelly

Cooper’s Ferry Development Association

Private, non-profit corporation 1984 MISSION: to coherently plan and

implement high-quality urban redevelopment projects in order to help replenish Camden's depleted tax base and to create a significant number of jobs for city residents.

CFDA also works to improve Camden's environment as a place in which to live, to work, to visit and to invest.

Main Project Involvement

Cooper Plaza Parking Report and Neighborhood Analysis

Grant applications Camden GreenWay and Rails to Trails Cramer Hill Park Plan

Camden Home Improvement Project (CHIP)

Extra-curricular

Judge Davis – COO of Camden Msgr. Doyle – the Poet of Poverty Habitat for Humanity and St. Josephs

Carpenter Society Anthony Mazzarelli’s Radio Show