What people notice first
A person who knew Camden decades ago and returns today may notice changes before reading a single statistic. Some buildings are new, some blocks are cleared, some streets have been resurfaced or redesigned, and some parts of the waterfront look very different from the old industrial riverfront. This article describes the kinds of physical change that are visible, and then explains why looks alone are a poor measure of how a city is doing.
Downtown and the waterfront
The most visible change is in the areas close to the river and to the main institutions. The riverfront has long had visitor attractions such as the aquarium and the Battleship New Jersey, along with entertainment venues and a waterfront park. More recently, office buildings and apartments have been added near the waterfront and downtown, and new facilities have opened for employers and for education and health care.
The campuses of Rutgers University–Camden, Rowan University’s local presence and the hospitals form a cluster of institutional buildings that has expanded over time. For readers interested in what is currently on offer, the waterfront articles on this site, and the waterfront transformation in particular, go into more detail.
Streets and public space
Street-level change is more modest and spread out. Cities across the country have adopted ideas such as complete streets, which aim to make roads safer for walking and cycling, and Camden has seen projects of this kind in places. Lighting, sidewalks, trails and small parks are other common improvements. Public space of this kind is often treated as civic infrastructure, intended for everyone rather than for a particular development.
Surveillance cameras and other safety technology also changed how some streets look and feel, which some residents welcome and others question.
Vacant lots and old buildings
Camden has had a large number of vacant lots and abandoned structures, a legacy of population loss and industrial closure. The physical change here can be subtle. Demolition clears dangerous buildings, vacant lots are sometimes cleaned, fenced, or planted, and some old structures are restored through historic preservation and adaptive reuse. Not every building can be saved, and cleared land is not the same as filled land.
A note on safety: vacant and abandoned buildings are unsafe, and entering them is dangerous and often illegal. They are best understood through history and records rather than by going inside.
Housing
Housing changes include new construction, rehabilitation of older homes, and in some places higher prices. A new townhouse or apartment building is easy to photograph, but whether it improves conditions for existing residents depends on its cost, who can live there, and what happens to nearby homes. Visual improvement and affordability are separate questions.
Why appearance is not wellbeing
A physical makeover can be real and still tell only part of the story. Consider what a photograph cannot show:
- whether residents can afford to stay in a renovated neighborhood;
- whether people have stable jobs and income;
- the quality of schools, health care and public services;
- whether people feel safe, respected and included in decisions;
- who chose the changes, and who was consulted.
Research on cities generally suggests that improved appearance can coincide with rising costs and, in some cases, displacement of existing residents. Whether and how much that applies in particular Camden neighborhoods is a matter of local data and debate, and it should not be assumed in either direction.
The reverse is also true. Parts of the city that look unchanged may have strong community ties, active organizations and cherished local places. A neighborhood that looks tired to a visitor may be a close-knit home to its residents. For this reason this site does not rank neighborhoods by how they look.
Looking responsibly
Visitors who want to see the changes should plan with care: check current hours and events, use official sources, be respectful in residential areas, and keep in mind that downtown and the waterfront are only part of Camden. Photographers should follow general etiquette for public places and be mindful of the people living on the streets they photograph.
The most useful way to read a changed streetscape is as a question rather than an answer. A new building shows that someone invested; it does not tell you who benefits. Looking at employment, housing and school data from public sources, and listening to residents, fills in what the view from the sidewalk leaves out.