Camden Waterfront

{{Short description|Populated place in Camden County, New Jersey, US}} {{Use American English|date=July 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | background_color=    |image_skyline= Camden waterfront skyline.jpg |image_caption= Camden Waterfront in the background with the [[Delaware River]] in the foreground, 2005 |imagesize= 325px |image_flag= |name=Central Waterfront |settlement_type = [[Camden, New Jersey|Neighborhood]]  | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize =  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[United States]] |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = [[New Jersey]] |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden]] |subdivision_type3 = City |subdivision_name3 = [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]]   |postal_code_type= |postal_code= |area_code=[[Area code 856|856]] }}

The '''Camden Waterfront''', also known as the '''Central Waterfront''', is a commercial and entertainment district on the [[waterfront (area)|waterfront]] of [[Camden, New Jersey]], on the [[Delaware River]] south of the [[Benjamin Franklin Bridge|Ben Franklin Bridge]] and north of [[Port of Camden]].

The [[Waterfront South]] was founded in 1851 by the Kaighns Point Land Company. During World War II, Waterfront South housed many of the industrial workers for the New York Shipbuilding Company. Currently, the Waterfront is home to many historical buildings and cultural icons. The Waterfront South neighborhood is a federal and state historic district due to its history and culturally significant buildings, such as the Sacred Heart Church and the South Camden Trust Company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waterfront South {{!}} www.livecamden.org |url=http://www.livecamden.org/node/91 |access-date=November 9, 2016 |website=www.livecamden.org}}</ref> The Central Waterfront is located adjacent to the [[Benjamin Franklin Bridge]] and is home to the [[Nipper Building]] (also known as The Victor), the [[Adventure Aquarium]], and [[USS New Jersey (BB-62)|Battleship ''New Jersey'']].

The district is characterized by its visitor attractions and its location offering views of the river and the [[Center City, Philadelphia|Center City]] [[List of tallest buildings in Philadelphia|skyline]].<ref>[http://www.camdenwaterfront.com/waterfront/attractions/ Attractions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605164903/http://www.camdenwaterfront.com/waterfront/attractions/ |date=2014-06-05 }}, CamdenWaterfront.com. Accessed 2014-06-06</ref> It is served by [[RiverLink Ferry]] which crosses the river to [[Philadelphia]] and the [[Cooper Street–Rutgers University station|Cooper St-Rutgers]], [[Cooper Street–Rutgers University station|Aquarium]], and [[Entertainment Center station|Entertainment Center]] stations of the [[River Line (NJ Transit)|River Line]] light rail system. According to the [[2000 United States census|2000 U.S. census]], the neighborhood has a population of 962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camconnect.org/fact/centralwf01.html |title=Camden Facts: Central Waterfront |publisher=Camconnect.org |date= |accessdate=January 15, 2012}}</ref>

==Attractions== [[File:Adventure Aquarium (53572702368).jpg|thumb|The [[Adventure Aquarium]]]] The [[Adventure Aquarium]] originally opened in 1992 as the New Jersey State Aquarium at Camden. In 2005, after extensive renovation, the aquarium was reopened under the name Adventure Aquarium.<ref>[http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BZ&Dato=20090331&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=903310802&Ref=PH "Aquarium Accredited"]. Portal to gallery of photographs (6) related to the [[Adventure Aquarium]]. ''[[Courier-Post]]''. March 31, 1999. Accessed December 25, 2009.</ref> The aquarium was one of the original centerpieces in Camden's plans for revitalizing their city.<ref>Strauss, Robert. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/nyregion/camden-still-finds-itself-treading-water.html "Camden Still Finds Itself Treading Water"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 30, 2006. Accessed July 3, 2011. "Three years ago, with great fanfare, Gov. Jim McGreevey announced the transfer of development rights for those {{convert|33|acres|0|abbr=on}} to Steiner and Associates, a Cincinnati firm, along with a $3 million grant and a $15 million loan to get started on a proposed $53 million renovation of the state aquarium, the linchpin, according to Steiner's plans, of a retail/entertainment/commercial/residential development that would transform Camden. Three years later, Adventure Aquarium, as it is now called, is there, but the rest of the site is still made up of those parking lots."</ref>

The [[Freedom Mortgage Pavilion]], formerly known as the BB&T Pavilion, Susquehanna Bank Center, and Tweeter Center, is a 25,000-seat open-air concert amphitheater that was opened in 1995 and renamed after a 2008 deal in which the bank would pay $10 million over 15 years for naming rights.<ref>Staff. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11EA11B1CAC06548&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D "Tweeter Center is being renamed, The Camden concert venue will be Susquehanna Bank Center in a $10 million deal with the Lititz, Pa., firm."], ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', February 5, 2008. Accessed July 3, 2011. "Tweeter Center is being renamed, The Camden concert venue will be Susquehanna Bank Center in a $10 million deal with the Lititz, Pa., firm."</ref>

[[File:USS New Jersey Night.jpg|thumb|The {{USS|New Jersey|BB-62}}]]

The {{USS|New Jersey|BB-62}} was a [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] battleship that was intermittently active between the years 1943 and 1991. After its retirement, the ship was turned into the [[Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial]], that opened in 2001 along the waterfront. The ''New Jersey'' saw action during [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]], the [[Vietnam War]], and provided support off Lebanon in early 1983.<ref>[http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BZ&Dato=20090603&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=801110803 "Visit the Battleship New Jersey"]{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Portal to gallery of photographs (36) related to the [[USS New Jersey (BB-62)|Battleship ''New Jersey'']]. ''[[Courier-Post]]''. Undated. Accessed December 25, 2009.</ref>

[[File:Wiggins Park Marina 1 Port Ctr (Camden).JPG|thumb|left|Wiggins Park Marina and One Port Center]] Other attractions at the Waterfront are the [[Ulysses Simpson Wiggins|Ulysses Wiggins]] Park Riverstage and Marina, [[One Port Center]], [[Nipper Building]] (aka Victor Lofts), the [[Walt Whitman House]],<ref>[http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=BZ&Dato=20091127&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=911270805 "Camden's Historic Walt Whitman House"]{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Portal to gallery of photographs (20) related to the [[Walt Whitman House]]. ''[[Courier-Post]]''. Undated. Accessed December 25, 2009.</ref> the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, the Rutgers–Camden Center For The Arts and the [[Camden Children's Garden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ilovebricks.blogspot.nl/2014/05/camdens-skyview-tower.html|title=Philly Bricks|author=Wes|work=ilovebricks.blogspot.nl|date=15 May 2014}}</ref> [[File:An overhead view of the Camden waterfront..jpg|thumb|Looking south to the waterfront with Campbell's Field and Nipper Building on left and site of Liberty Property Trust project, Camden Towers, including headquarters of [[American Water Works]]]] In May 2013, the [[New Jersey Economic Development Authority]] announced that it would seek developers for the site of the demolished [[Riverfront State Prison]] just north of the Central Waterfront and the Ben Franklin Bridge in [[Cooper Point, Camden|Cooper Point]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Laday | first = Jason | title = NJ to begin seeking redeveloper for former Camden prison | newspaper = South Jersey Times | date = May 29, 2013 | url = http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2013/05/state_to_begin_seeking_redevel.html | accessdate = 2014-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = George | first = Andrew | title = Urban Transit subsidy failed Camden, but its successor will take hold | newspaper = NJ Biz | date = October 1, 2013 | url = http://www.njbiz.com/article/20131001/NJBIZ01/309279999/Urban-Transit-subsidy-failed-Camden-but-its-successor-will-take-hold | accessdate = 2014-06-06}}</ref> In September 2013 Waterfront Renaissance Associates announced that it proposed to a develop a 2.3-million-square-foot commercial complex on {{convert|16|acre|ha}} called the Riverfront World Trade Center. The project would be built in four phases, the first of which would be a promenade along the Delaware River. The plan calls for two 22-story and two 18-story buildings.<ref>{{cite news | last = Kostelni | first = Natalie | title = Project considered for former prison site in Camden | newspaper = Philadelphia Business Journal | date = September 9, 2013 | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/real-estate/2013/09/project-considered-for-former-prison.html | accessdate = 2014-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Terruso | first = Julia | title = Developer wants to build a World Trade Center in Camden | newspaper = [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] | date = September 11, 2013 | url = http://articles.philly.com/2013-09-11/news/41940512_1_north-camden-world-trade-centers-association-international-trade | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141030022442/http://articles.philly.com/2013-09-11/news/41940512_1_north-camden-world-trade-centers-association-international-trade | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 30, 2014 | accessdate = 2014-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Laday | first = Jason | title = Camden World Trade Center in sites of firm targeting former Riverfront Prison plot | newspaper = South Jersey Times | date = September 9, 2013 | url = http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2013/09/firm_announces_interest_in_developing_world_trade_center_in_camden.html | accessdate = 2014-05-28}}</ref> However, this proposal never came to pass.

In September 2016 the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] opened the [[Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex]] on the Waterfront.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20160924_Sixers_open_big_new_practice_complex_in_Camden.html|title=Sixers open big new practice complex in Camden|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2016/05/camden_future_for_philadelphia_76ers_taking_shape.html|title=Philadelphia 76ers on Camden move: 'We just feel like this is home'|date=5 May 2016|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2016/09/sixers_open_training_facility_in_camden_photos.html|title=Philadelphia 76ers open training facility in Camden (PHOTOS)|date=23 September 2016|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://billypenn.com/2016/06/02/inside-the-sixers-82-million-new-jersey-facility-theyre-basically-getting-for-free/|title=Inside the Sixers' $82 million New Jersey facility they're basically getting for free|publisher=|accessdate=14 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2016/09/20/waterfront-76ers-practice-facility-camden/90693030/|title=Sixers practice facility set to open on Camden Waterfront|publisher=}}</ref> The new headquarters and the state-of-the-art, 120,000-square-foot practice center was made possible in part by $82 million in tax credits approved by the [[New Jersey Economic Development Authority]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Laday | first = Jason | title = Philadelphia 76ers CEO: Camden practice facility will be 'biggest and best' in U.S. | newspaper = South Jersey Times | date = June 10, 2014 | url = http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2014/06/philadelphia_76ers_ceo_camden_practice_facility_will_be_biggest_and_best_in_us.html | accessdate = June 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Laday | first = Jason | title = Philadelphia 76ers set to move office, practice space to Camden with $82M tax break | newspaper = [[The Star-Ledger]] | date = June 10, 2014 | url = http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2014/06/philadelphia_76ers_set_to_move_office_practice_space_to_camden.html | accessdate = June 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Jason | first = mark | title = Sixers to move headquarters to Camden | newspaper = [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] | date = June 11, 2014 | url = http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20140611_Sixers_to_move_headquarters_to_Camden.html | accessdate = June 11, 2014}}</ref>

==Development incentives== [[File:The End of Cooper St..jpg|thumb|At the foot of Cooper Street]] In October 2013, [[Herschend Family Entertainment]] announced they would add an attraction adjacent to the Adventure Aquarium, a {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}}, 25-story [[observation tower (ride)|observation tower ride]] with a [[moored balloon]] and [[Gondola (balloon)|gondola]] that would carry passengers above the site offering views of city, the [[Delaware River]] and the [[Philadelphia skyline]]. It was planned to open in Spring 2015.<ref>{{cite news | last = Roncace | first = Kelly | title = Observation tower in Camden promises views of city, Philadelphia skyline | publisher = South Jersey Times | date = October 31, 2013 | url = http://www.nj.com/indulge/index.ssf/2013/10/camdens_adventure_aquarium_announces_observation_tower_for_spring_2015.html | accessdate = June 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name =skyview>{{cite web | last = Maule | first =Bradley | title = Camden To Finally Get Its Gondola | publisher = | date = November 6, 2013 | url = http://hiddencityphila.org/2013/11/camden-to-finally-get-its-gondola/ | accessdate = June 6, 2014}}</ref>

The state of New Jersey has offered numerous tax incentives to corporations to locate in Camden, many along the Waterfront and Port of Camden districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/11/companies_get_13b_in_incentives_to_move_to_camden.html|title=Companies get $1.3B in incentives to move to Camden|date=14 November 2016|publisher=}}</ref> In November 2014, the state offered tax incentives to [[Lockheed Martin]] to relocate 250 jobs to labs at the L-3 Building and Waterfront Technology Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2014/11/new_jersey_eda_awards_10-year_107m_tax_break_to_lockheed_martin_to_open_facilities_in_camden.html|title=New Jersey EDA awards 10-year, $107 million tax break to Lockheed Martin to open facilities in Camden|work=NJ.com|date=11 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njeda.com/web/Aspx_pg/Templates/Pic_Text.aspx?Doc_Id=156&menuid=815&topid=719&|title=Leasing Opportunities: Waterfront Technology Center at Camden|publisher=|access-date=November 15, 2014|archive-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116055601/http://www.njeda.com/web/Aspx_pg/Templates/Pic_Text.aspx?Doc_Id=156&menuid=815&topid=719&|url-status=dead}}</ref> Proposals to build two towers {{convert|590|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=106993|title=LPT Camden Waterfront Tower B, Camden - SkyscraperPage.com|work=skyscraperpage.com|accessdate=25 September 2015}}</ref> and {{convert|450|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=106992|title=LPT Camden Waterfront Tower A, Camden - SkyscraperPage.com|work=skyscraperpage.com|accessdate=25 September 2015}}</ref> were unveiled in September 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/real-estate/2015/09/liberty-property-trust-1b-campus-camden.html#g1|title=Liberty Property Trust to construct $1 billion worth of real estate along Camden, N.J., waterfront - Philadelphia Business Journal|date=24 September 2015|work=Philadelphia Business Journal|accessdate=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2015/09/24/major-development-coming-camden-waterfront/72731058/|title=$700M development coming to Camden|date=24 September 2015|work=Courier-Post|accessdate=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20150925_Project_aims_to_transform_Camden_waterfront__surprise_skeptics.html|title=Project aims to transform Camden waterfront - and surprise skeptics|date=25 September 2015|work=Philly.com|accessdate=25 September 2015}}</ref> Other elements of the project began construction in December 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2016/12/camden_waterfront_development_to_commence.html|title=New details about Camden's $1B waterfront redevelopment revealed|date=10 December 2016|publisher=}}</ref> [[American Water Works]] opened its new headquarters. A new Hilton Garden Hotel broke ground in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/business/2019/05/new-hotel-will-have-sweeping-views-of-philadelphia-skyline-oh-and-its-in-camden.html|title=New hotel will have sweeping views of Philadelphia skyline. Oh, and it's in Camden|date=27 May 2019}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Barnegat (lightship)]] *[[Cooper Grant, Camden|Cooper Grant Historic District]] *[[List of tallest buildings in Camden]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{coord|39.935593|-75.126809|type:adm3rd_globe:earth_region:US-NJ|display=title}}

[[Category:Neighborhoods in Camden, New Jersey]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Camden, New Jersey]] [[Category:Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in the United States]]