As you know, this year, your favorite regional business publication has been profiling South Jersey’s “People to Watch” for the past two years.
  Now we’ve turned our attention from “people” to “projects.” Specifically, we’re going county-by-county and looking at the development and redevelopment Projects to Watch, including:
  • the five most important projects completed in the last 12 months,
  • the five most important projects underway, and
  • the five most important projects on the drawing board.
  We started with Burlington County, then took a break to look at what’s been going on at the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA).
  As with all lists, we know that we’ll inevitably overlook some important efforts—just as we missed a few important people. But that’s the nature of lists. And you can help us be as complete as possible be letting us know about any projects in your county that you believe belong on our list. Just drop our publisher, Jenny Ryan, a note with the details at jenny@snjbp.com
  Now, here’s our list from Camden County…with thanks to the County’s Director of Economic & Business Development Sandi Kelly.
  Kelly points out that, in addition to development projects, there are extensive infrastructure improvements that are occurring throughout the County that are “so important to our economy and future development opportunities.”
  A few examples include the Pennsauken Transfer Station, which will allow passengers from NJ Transit's RiverLINE light rail service to transfer to NJ TRANSIT's Atlantic City Line commuter rail service as well as local bus service, construction of a new interchange at Route 42 and College Drive in Gloucester Township, The PATCO extension project and sewer improvement projects throughout the county to support future growth.
Projects Completed in Last 12 Months:
  1. The Shoppes at Crosskeys, Cross Keys Road, Gloucester Township; Developer -Stanbery Development: Strategically located at the new interchange of Berlin–Cross Keys Road and The Atlantic City Expressway, this high profile, 23-acre development will serve as the centerpiece of the exploding retail development along this new commercial corridor. A recently opened center anchored by Super Target and Lowe's is a half mile to the east and there is a big box center proposed directly across the street. The rapid growth of this trade area is due to the recent opening of the Atlantic City Expressway interchange and its strategic mid-point location between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. The site has great access from the Black Horse Pike (Route 42) to the west and the White Horse Pike (Route 30) to the east.
  2. Cooper Patient Pavilion, Camden City; Developer - Cooper Hospital: Part of Cooper University Health System’s vision for a health sciences campus and neighborhood, the Patient Pavilion opened its doors in late 2008. Includes new 10-story, 312,000-square-foot patient care pavilion, 12 operating room suites, 60 private medical/surgical rooms, technologically advanced 30-bed Intensive Care Unit, 12,000-square-foot addition to the Emergency Department (2010), elaborate laboratory automation facility, campus re-orientation from Haddon Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard with new front entrance and drop-off zone, expanded, customer friendly, public lobby space with new restaurant, health resource center, business center, gift shop, coffee shop and chapel.
  3. Sahara Sams, Route 73, Berlin Township: Developer – Sam B. Construction: Completed in late 2008, New Jersey’s first freestanding indoor waterpark, Sahara Sam’s features over 45,000 square feet of indoor water family fun including a 45 foot tall family raft ride, tubing rides & a play structure with body slides.
  4. Garden State Pavilions, Haddonfield Rd and Route 70, Cherry Hill; Developer- JMP Holdings: This redevelopment projects consist of 530,000 sq ft of Regional Shopping including Best Buy, Wegmans, and Home Depot. Along with the regional shopping, this site contains 205,000 sq ft of upscale retail and restaurants. The next phase currently underway is to develop office, retail or medical space adjacent to this upscale retail project.
  5. Cherry Hill Mall Expansion, Route 38 & Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill; Developer – PREIT: A $220 million redevelopment was completed in 2009, transforming the center into an elegant, contemporary classic shopping and dining experience, adding Nordstrom and first-to-market restaurants including The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, California Pizza Kitchen, and Maggiano’s Little Italy.  The mall’s retail space is 1,203,973 Sq. Ft. and includes wide variety of upscale and specialty retailers and eateries. 
Important Projects Currently Underway:
  1. Cooper Towne Center & Gateway at Somerdale (mixed development),  Somerdale; Housing Developer - Gateway at Somerdale, LLC: 30 unit, workforce Housing, tax credit project adjacent to new commercial development. Commercial Developer - National Realty & Development Corporation: 385,000 square foot Greyfields Redevelopment project that will revitalize the former Lions Head Plaza located in Somerdale, New Jersey. The 16-screen Cinemark Theatre along with Dollar General are open during the construction while LA Fitness is scheduled to open a state-of-the-art 45,000sf facility in December. Walmart Supercenter and the remainder of stores will open in June 2010. It will be anchored by Walmart Supercenter, which will have a complementing facade that will frame the parking area and renovated center, and include additional tenants such as Cinemark Theatres and L.A. Fitness. Plans also call for the development of pad sites along White Horse Pike and Evesham Avenue, as well as a 123-unit townhouse community on an adjacent parcel.
  2. Campbell Soup Company Expansion & Gateway Office Park, One Campbell Place, Camden City: Developer – Campbell Soup Co.: In early 2007 Campbell Soup Company announced plans to expand its Camden headquarters by constructing an 80,000-square-foot building.  The company currently employs 1700 people at its Camden location.  This expansion will bring the amount of space the company occupies to 750,000 square foot of research and development and management space. In addition to the expansion of its world headquarters Campbell Soup Company is also acting as the master developer of 70 adjacent acres that would be called the “Gateway Office Park”.  The business park will be planned to facilitate the construction of up to 500,000 square feet of new office buildings. Over $100 million in investment is being made at the site, including sewer and roadway infrastructure improvements to support the development.  The project will result in the retention of the Campbell's company, and the 1700 jobs and other economic benefits derived from the presence of a Fortune 500 company, and also result in the potential of an estimated 2,000 new employment opportunities.
  3. Voorhees Town Center, 2120 Voorhees Town Center, Voorhees; Developer  -  PREIT: The existing mall was downsized and renamed the Voorhees Town Center. The mall will house 253,000 square feet of small specialty shops along with anchor stores Macy's (224,000 sf) and Boscov's (173,000 sf). Along with the redesigned mall, the project contains 425 luxury residential condominiums and 130,000 square feet of lifestyle retail. Voorhees Town Center is the site of a smart growth, mixed-use redevelopment that is situated 10 miles southeast of Philadelphia and is easily accessible from a number of area communities, capturing a loyal and affluent customer base. The four prong Town Center concept features: The Mall, which has been resized and renovated, The Offices, including The Star Group, the region's largest advertising agency, with an award winning state-of-the-art facility, and The Boulevard, including Rizzieri Aveda Salon, Spa and Institute along with boutique street retail, white tablecloth dining and more.
  4. Virtua Hospital, in Voorhees on a 125-acre parcel of land on Route 73 that is framed by Dutchtown Road and Route 73; Developer - Virtua Health: The project consists of constructing a new 365- private bed hospital that will include a seven-story patient tower and a five–story diagnostic and testing facility.  The new hospital will provide women’s health services such as Maternity and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Oncology, Cardiology, Surgery, Neuroscience, Wellness, Emergency Services.
  5. North Camden Neighborhood Plan (includes Riverfront State Prison site), Camden City Waterfront and surrounding neighborhood: Last month, the demolition of the Riverfront State Prison marked a new beginning for the Camden waterfront and the adjoining neighbourhood.  Demolition is expected to be complete in April 2010 clearing the way for mixed-use development at the site, which will include both commercial and market rate housing.  The removal of the prison was a critical component of the Camden Neighborhood Plan, which was developed in partnership with neighborhood residents and coordinated by the North Camden community group Save Our Waterfront.  Highlights of the plan include the creation of an estimated 300 permanent jobs over the next ten years, rebuilding the neighborhood through improved social service coordination, rehabilitating existing housing and building new, commercial development, improved parks and open space, and Infrastructure Improvements including streets, sewer and water lines.
Projects on the Drawing Board:
  1. Rutgers University Student Housing, University Village, Camden City; Developer - Camden County Improvement Authority and Camden Student Housing LLC.: This project includes the development of a 350 bed graduate student housing facility near the Rutgers Camden Campus.  It will include retail, parking and recreational components. The project is expected to cost between $50-80 million and is scheduled to begin in 2010 and will have a significant impact on the downtown area of Camden.
  2. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Broadway and Stevens Street, Camden City; Developer – TDB: The new medical school will be the first four year allopathic medical school in South Jersey.  Currently, Cooper provides clinical training to third and fourth year medical students from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Independent studies by both Cooper and UMDNJ concluded that there is a significant need for a four year medical school in South Jersey, and that Cooper and its medical faculty are well prepared to meet that need.  The new medical school is part of a $600 million expansion of the Health Sciences Campus in Camden.  The Department of Veterans Affairs recently opened a Community Based Outpatient Clinic at Broadway and Stevens Street.  Planning is also in progress for the construction of a $75 million Cooper Cancer Institute, and neighborhood parks and streetscape improvement project is currently underway. The Health Sciences Campus also includes the Coriell Institute for Medical Research.
  3. Haddon Ave – Haddon Township, various sites along Haddon Ave in Haddon Township (Westmont); Developer  - TBD: Two separate redevelopment project sites are salted for development along Haddon Avenue are key in the continued development of the “main street” corridor. Site 1:  Towne Center at Haddon, a transit village development with more than 200 homes and retail space, is planned for an eight-acre site that includes a closed diaper laundering facility.  Environmental cleanup of the site is set to begin shortly. Site 2: The Russell Cast Stone site is located on West Albertson Avenue just off of Haddon Avenue. This former cement facility has been vacant for over ten years. Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year barring any unforeseen circumstances.
  4. Haddon Avenue Transit Village, Haddon Avenue (Camden) between Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and the Ferry Avenue PATCO station; Developer- Grapevine Development: Mixed use project including 150,000 SF office space, 90,000 SF retail, structured parking and 250 units of workforce housing.
  5. Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 1800 Harrison Ave., Camden; Developer – Salvation Army: The $36 million, 120,000-square foot facility will be situated on 24 acres located in the Cramer Hill section of Camden. The Kroc Center will house an array of programs designed to address the economic, educational, health, recreational and spiritual needs of the communities it will serve.  The center will include a full size gymnasium, 8-lane, 25 meter indoor competition pool and water park, black box theater, community gathering plaza, media center, learning center, culinary arts teaching kitchen, choice food pantry, early childhood education center, senior center, teen center, baseball and soccer fields and more.