Revitalizing a Community in East Camden

Baldwin's Run in East Camden, NJ

On December 12th, an important ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Baldwin's Run Housing Development in East Camden, signifying the opening of 49 new units of affordable housing. Baldwin's Run was constructed on the site of the former Westfield Acres development. It marks an important step toward improving and increasing in the city's affordable housing stock. The Camden Housing Authority received a $35 million HUD HOPE VI Grant in 2000 to demolish Westfield Acres, and create in the end 528 units of public and affordable housing, as well as a community center and a Boys & Girls Club.

For the purpose of this project, the Camden Housing Authority (http://www.camdenhousing.org/index.htm) has partnered with St. Joseph's Carpenters Society, a Camden non-profit organization, and other New Jersey State Agencies. The total cost of the project is $100 million, with the balance of the $65 million coming from the Housing Authority's partners and other private organizations.

The construction of housing at Baldwin's Run is just the latest in a series of successful rehabilitations of public housing undertaken by the Camden Housing Authority. The McGuire Gardens project was revitalized with a $35M HOPE VI grant awarded in 1994. In addition, the Camden Housing Authority has also self-financed the construction of new units of Public Housing in Chelton Terrace.