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The last thing north Camden needs is a lacrosse field, skating rink or parking garage. Lets get real people – This is a city. Let’s stop trying to make Camden something that it’s not, and focus on the beautiful architecture and possibilities that exist.

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We think the early consensus is to have the Save Our Waterfront (SOW) steering committee members work together over the next few weeks to meet throughout the neighborhood and talk about these issues prior to a meeting with the eventual design consultant. This would allow the residents and stakeholders an opportunity to become prepared and engaged prior to the meetings with the eventual design consultant (the current proposal calls for at least two meetings with the design consultant but that could change).

We think it will also be important to work with the existing SOW steering committee members and ask for their assistance in reaching out to their members, friends, and constituents. Along these lines, Pastor Margaret with Grace Lutheran Church has invited Cooper’s Ferry to talk with members of the congregation next Wednesday evening and solicit input regarding the “Triangle” design workshop. We encourage other stakeholders to do the same. The success of this process will be dictated by the initial work and engagement over the next few weeks by the steering committee members.

It seems pretty clear that “One Large Meeting” isn’t a successful format. Often meetings are not well attended and we seem to get the same limited cross section from the neighborhood.

I believe that to engage our community fully, we need to have multiple smaller meetings and in multiple locations. I would advocate a series of meetings moving around the neighborhood–there seem to be natural concentrations/locations where people gather—Northgate, lower State Street Corridor, Bible Tabernacle Church, Camden Lutheran Housing, Holy Name are some I think about. I am sure there are more–especially along Eerie Street and down along front street. Why not use the design process to help us build community within North Camden as well as solicit ideas for the triangle. That would be a double win and set the stage for further follow-up and community input/building.

I disagree with allowing Rutgers to build a parking garage on the site of
the demolished Riverfront State Prison. While I understand the need for
student parking, I feel that property would not be the best location for a
garage. As a North Camden resident, I feel completely isolated from the
Rutgers community. The area is already cut off from residents as it is and
building a parking garage on the waterfront would further isolate
residents. Also, a parking garage would not make an aesthetically pleasing
addition to the waterfront.

The best way to utilize such a sought-after real estate property would be
to bring in a business that would either encourage tourism to the City of
Camden or turn it into a greenway for residents and tourists alike.

Thank you,
Shirley Irizarry

Carson Prairie Stores …