Rutgers-Camden is overhauling a block of vacant, historic 19th-century buildings in a $60 million project to create new spaces for students, staff and the city’s community.
Developers broke ground on what Rutgers-Camden officials are calling the “Cooper Street Gateway Project,” campus officials announced last week.
The university plans to turn 14 vacant properties and empty lots along the 400 block of Cooper and Lawrence streets into a three-story facility to house parts of the campus’ Faculty of Arts & Sciences, which is currently located in separate buildings.
Contractors will also renovate homes on Lawrence Street into offices and guest accommodations for visiting faculty and create a shared outdoor space.
The plans also include a gathering space for all Rutgers students, staff and Camden residents, officials said.
“This project represents a substantial investment in the future of our institution, our students, and the people of Camden,” Rutgers–Camden Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We are lifting shovels today to officially launch this transformation of Cooper Street,” Tillis said.
Construction is expected to be completed by 2026, officials said.
Cooper Street, which stretches from Second to Seventh streets in Camden, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
The street was named in the late 1700s after a family that operated a ferry connecting South Jersey to Philadelphia before any bridges were built in the area. According to its National Register of Historic Places application, the district was recognized for its unique architecture and because it reflects a significant transitional period in American history.
The area was once a thriving neighborhood. Many of the homes still standing on the street today were built in the 19th century and are now owned or have been renovated by Rutgers-Camden.
On the 300 block of Cooper Street, Dr. Henry Genet Taylor, the founder of Camden’s first hospital, built a three-story home where he ran his medical practice on the ground floor. Rutgers purchased the building in 2001 and it reopened as the Writers House in 2015.
When Tillis announced the Cooper Street Gateway Project in 2022, he said its goal was to first preserve the historical nature of the Cooper Street buildings. While some dilapidated structures will be destroyed, the intention is to maintain the historic essence of the neighborhood, he said.
“Since the buildings within this proposal are part of the Cooper Street Historic District, we approach this project with respect and reverence for the rich history of Cooper Street and the and the people of Camden,” Tillis said.
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Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com.
