25Hz wrote:Hawaiitiki wrote:RWERN wrote: Waterfront property is hot and I could easily see the Camden waterfront become something akin to the waterfront in Hudson County (particularly Jersey City and Hoboken), in which light rail access would be invaluable.
Tell me you're kidding.
Land there is cheap, and it is across the water from philly... It isn't inconceivable that it could become a mirror like jersey city has become...
Camden does indeed have many geographic and historical similarities to Hudson County, NJ, however it is now a different ball game down there. Philadelphia is still a major major city in the United States but over the past 50 years, its relevance has undoubtedly slipped. While in that time, New York City has solidified its place as America's most influential city. Hoboken and JC have boomed because NYC is plum-out of places to put people. This is not true in Philadelphia. Camden also still ranks in top-violent crime rates in the United States and would top more lists, if its declining population wouldn't make ineligible for many crime statistics. This does not bode well for a development in the next 20 years.
Despite my grim assessment of Camden, I do wholeheartedly support a "River-Line integrated" rail line connecting Rowan and the Camden Waterfront/PATCO. I just believe we need to look at Camden as more of a Newark(and its recent boom) than Hob/JC.