Camden will never be fixed. It is now a perpetually bottomless rathole for public funds. Camden's basic demographic reality will never provide for an alternative. The reason is that is is too close to Philadelphia. Although Camden has never been geographically more than 1/2 mile from Philadelphia - for many years is was access-separated by a large bridge-less river. So for those years Camden was it's own entity: industry, business, stores, restaurants, theaters, libraries, museums, schools, and assorted fine housing for everyone. But in 1925 the Walt Whitman Bridge to Philadelphia opened and the gradual exodus of money began. And by 1975 it was nearly complete. By 2000 even longtime industrial residents like RCA and Campbells Soup were gone. There is no work, there is no private money, there is no tax base, and anyone with money to invest takes it to Philadelphia. It is just too easy to get the Philadelphia.
Even Rutgers is just a leech. And every property they own gets removed forever from the tax rolls - as they pay no taxes.
Many years ago I bought houses in the last decent section of Camden; Fairview. At one time the city of Camden required all it's employees to live in the city. The police and fire departments chose to populate isolated Fairview - the farthest and least accessible from the center of Camden. As a result; it was a safe as a church to live there. Any criminal activity in Fairview was dealt with Very harshly - and the word spread.
Then Camden changed that law - as they could not find enough staffing who would agree to live in Camden - even in Fairview. <G>
I bought houses in Camden because they were solid, brick, cheap, and HUD had a waiting list of tenants to choose from. The checks always came on time and always cleared. Two or three years gross rent would recover the entire purchase price. And at that time I knew people in city hall and the HUD office so it was all low hassle.
But now - things have changed. <G>
This long abandoned house is the sole remnant of those halcyon days. And I fully expected it to be gone in the natural way of unpaid tax houses. But no; even Camden does not want it's own houses. Even the city recognises that they are worse than worthless and refuses to take them.
One answer for someone with limited funds would be to take over the house, pay the W&S liens, get the water turned on, and live there forever after. The city will never foreclose. However, I am not that person.
stephen
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Originally posted by
@Mary B.:
@Stephen S.
Is it near Rutger University? They are buying up property all over south NJ and are the only genuine chance of revitalization of anykind in Camden NJ. If not Rutgers Univ then donate it to some non-profit organization. Every tarnished neighborhood has a non-profit org that buys up vacants and hold them. Abused women & children shelters, drug rehab centers, half-way houses etc(bing/google and see whats active in Camden). A non-profit will have the pull and know-how to get the place renovated and those taxes depleted.
What made you buy in condemn, I meant, Camden NJ? Was it 30+year ago?
Kudos,
Mary
