SJBiz_AroundTown_xxxx_Cnty_0719_AroundTown 7 / 19 / 19 2 : 46 PM Page 2 Philanthropies , which is the charitable giving outlet of founder Michael R . Bloomberg , invested more than $ 1 million in collaboration with Cooper’s Ferry , Rutgers University - Camden and city officials to tackle illegal dumping in Camden . “ You’re now having these national founda - tions looking at Camden and looking to make investments , ” says Myers , who is attributing the efforts to “ strong leadership ” that includes Moran , Cappelli and other county officials . “ It’s absolutely imperative that you have a shared vision for that inclusive prosperity . They 11 Cooper are interested and willing to make their invest - ments and leverage those dollars . ” that works to plan and implement urban rede - 11 Cooper velopment projects in Camden . Five neighbor - The city isn’t just a thriving one for businesses New Neighborhood hood parks were revitalized last year , including but for people living there or looking to move Centerville , a neighborhood southeast of the Alberta Woods and Fourth and Washington , into the riverside community . A ribbon - cutting main waterfront area , will be home to 255 brand - and others like Reverend Evers and Whitman was recently held for 11 Cooper , the first apart - new homes , says Nick Cangelosi , vice president Park will see improvements . ment complex to break ground in over a of development for Camden - based The Cooper’s Ferry and the city have collabo - decade . The building will hold 156 units , mostly Michaels Organization , a leader in residential rated on a park program called Connect the at market rate . real estate . About 300 dilapidated housing units Lots , a series of outdoor activities that’s And right on the waterfront , the first hotel built in the 1930s are being transformed . designed to “ engage residents , entertain in nearly five decades is set to open on an “ We’re truly building a new neighbor - visitors , invigorate neighborhood open spaces empty lot next to the old Campbell’s Field . The hood , ” says Cangelosi , “ introducing new public and aid in community transformation . ” Camden 180 - room Hilton Garden Inn is projected to streets , lighting and landscaping . That’s some - Night Gardens , Camden’s Got Talent and open in 2020 . thing that’s very important to us . ” Camden Peace Games are just some of the “ We’re looking at the convenience of a new Sixty - four historic homes in the Cooper Plaza offerings in which residents and others can hotel for the first time in 50 years on the neighborhood along Haddon and Washington take part . Camden waterfront — that is remarkable , ” says avenues are being redeveloped with new “ The idea is to take parks that are under - Moran . “ If that doesn’t tell you or expresses the roofs , exteriors , bathrooms , basements and utilized and put in free programs , and we hire level of confidence the Hilton Garden Inn has more . That project is expected to be completed local organizations to put together the pro - inwhat’s happening in the city , I don’t know what in September . gramming , ” Myers says . “ When you start does . We’re excited about that . I had the priv - “ It’s great to talk about some of the corpo - looking at data , you find increased usage , ilege of meeting recruiters hiring up to 75 new rate centers , but it’s instrumental to revitalize the increased attendance and increased commu - full - service jobs at that hotel , where Camden res - entire city , ” Cangelosi says . “ That’s great you nity engagement . ” idents are a priority . ” have all these businesses and institutions , but At the new American Water headquarters , which opened in December , a nearly 100 - year - Cooper’s Ferry Partnership FACTS old pier was converted into a 2 - acre public park Dollars are also being invested in residential UANDRES FIG that is serving as a venue for Connect the Lots . areas and parks . The city of Camden and The ribbon was cut for the park in May . Camden County are devoting more than $ 10 There’s a new nationwide trend that’s million into the city’s parks department and the manifesting itself in Camden and that’s philan - state is adding more than double that , says Joe $ 7MILLION thropic and private sector entities making Myers , vice president and chief operating investments in the city , Myers says . Bloomberg officer of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership , a nonprofit The amount of grant money NJ Transit gave TO THE CAMDEN COUNTY FREEHOLDERS TO FINANCE A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT WILL SPAN MLK BOULEVARD The number of restaurants PHILADELPHIA RESTAURATEUR MICHAEL SCHULSON IS REPORTEDLY OPENING ON THE WATERFRONT Centerville SouthJerseyBiz.net | VOLUME 9 ISSUE 7 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | 19