Green space, a shuttle and 5 other ways Camden's waterfront is improving

CAMDEN — A proposed master plan for a major redevelopment project along the city's waterfront section was approved late last week by the state's Economic Development Authority.

Liberty Property Trust's roughly $830 million vision for the waterfront will add new

transportation and recreation options to the "game changer" plan revealed by state leaders last September.

As outlined in "Camden Waterfront 2016: A Master Plan Vision," which was prepared
by Robert A.M. Stern Architect and other consultants, more than 1.4 million square feet of commercial space, approximately 200 residential units and a 130-room hotel across 26 acres are proposed.

Requests for comment left this week with the architecture firm were not returned as of Thursday.

The following is a number of upgrades put forth in the proposed master plan:

1. The current footprint of the plans stretch from Market Street, past the former Camden Riversharks baseball stadium to the Ben Franklin Bridge.

2. Waterfront park improvements will include green space, wetlands, playground areas and walkways.

3. Residential options were significantly decreased: 211 proposed compared to the earlier plans of 1,638. Proposed parking spaces now total just over 4,000.

4. Market, Cooper and Penn streets will be completed, with two new streets — Caruso Place and Water Street — to be developed close to the waterfront. The two new streets will be the east and west boundaries for a mid-rise commercial building.

5. Cooper Street will be widened to include "green" islands between two rights of ways. Planners say this step will help to create walkways in the development.

6. A shuttle service to serve the Walter Rand Transportation Center, City Hall and the proposed waterfront development.

7. An additional ferry stop connecting Wiggins Park ferry terminal — located across the street from the future site of the Philadelphia 76ers practice facility — and Philadelphia.

Source: NJ.com