Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at New FDR Manor Marks the Transformation of Camden Neighborhood
HACC Officials, State and Federal Dignitaries Celebrate City’ Latest Revitalization Effort
Camden, NJ, July 14—The Housing Authority of the City of Camden continues to lead the transformation of neighborhoods through its massive redevelopment efforts, made possible by federal grants from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). City, state, and federal officials were on hand today to mark the grand opening of the new Franklin D. Roosevelt Manor housing development (FDR Manor) in the Centerville neighborhood, a mixture of public housing, market-rate rentals, and homeownership units, totaling approximately 584 units, upon completion of all the construction.
The redevelopment activities, led by Dr. Maria Marquez, Executive Director, and her staff, Victor Figueroa, Deputy Executive Director, and Charles Valentine, Development Director, occurred over a period of five years. The Housing Authority’s partners in the development transformation include the developers, Pennrose Properties, LLC, the Michaels Development Company, Ingerman Construction Company, and Antioch Development Corporation, along with other funders, including the City of Camden, the Camden Redevelopment Agency, the NJHMFA, and several banks.
The new FDR Manor is the latest milestone in an ambitious strategy undertaken by the Housing Authority (HACC) as a result of awards of HOPE VI and Capital grants to revitalize neighborhoods that were once blighted by neglect. Once the site of out-dated and dilapidated public housing, the new FDR Manor is part of a $100 million redevelopment effort funded by a mix of grants from the city and state, as well as federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and a $20 million federal HOPE VI grant. Other transformed communities, pursuant to federal grants through HUD, include the former Westfield Acres housing development, renamed Baldwin’s Run, Chelton Terrace, and Peter J. McGuire Gardens, all located within the City of Camden.
“We are so proud to stand here today and debut this beautiful housing community and the wonderful amenities that will make such a significant difference in the lives of our Camden city residents,” said Dr. Maria Marquez, HACC’s executive director, who was among the dignitaries participating in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Chairperson of the Authority’s Board of Commissioners, Deborah Person-Polk, stated, “We are confident that this new modern housing, which appeals to families and seniors with a broad range of housing needs and incomes, will be a continuing catalyst for the rebirth of this entire neighborhood.”
In place of barrack-style buildings stretched along two “superblocks” that were isolated from the street and disconnected from the rest of the neighborhood, the new FDR Manor is built on a reconstructed street grid, which ties the residential development to the rest of the surrounding area. Neighborhood amenities include a new public library, three rehabilitated public parks, and a public pool. The state-of the -arts community center, expected to become a hub of activity for Roosevelt Manor residents as well as the neighborhood as a whole, features a computer lab, a daycare center, a medical clinic, and solar power panels, consistent with green technology strategies . All of the residential units feature green building technologies, including energy-efficient lighting and Energy Star appliances.
The 319 apartments that are being opened today range in size from one- to four-bedroom s and will be available to families with a range of income levels, including residents of the former public housing. In addition, 22 new for-sale homes are also being built as part of the new development, which will be affordable to families making 80 percent of the area’s median income.
About HACC: The Housing Authority of the City of Camden, created in 1937 pursuant to the United States Fair Housing Act, is governed by a local, seven-member Board of Commissioners, appointed by the Mayor, the State of New Jersey, the City Council, and a one representative elected by the tenants of public housing. Dr. Maria Marquez, the Executive Director of the Authority, oversees the day-to-day operations and employs a staff of approximately 100 employees. The mission of the Board and the Authority is to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for families who qualify for housing choice voucher assistance or public housing. Funding for most of the public housing and development efforts of the Authority comes directly from HUD.