Cooper's Crossing

Location: Camden, NJ. Waterfront area of downtown industrial city

Cooper Crossing is located in a historically significant location along the Camden waterfront, an area that has served as a link between Philadelphia and Camden since the first ferry was establised in 1695. However, the Camden waterfront has fallen into deep repair as manufacturing left the city and vacant land, crime, and unemployment swelled. In 2002, the City of Camden proposed an economic development master plan that was adopted in March of 2002 which has since attracted numerous big tourist destinations to the waterfront that are sporadically placed, leaving gaps in the urban fabric of the waterfront.

The Cooper Crossing project is intended to serve as a town center that ties existing Camden destinations together not only for visitors to enjoy the waterfront, but also to create a 24-hour space for people working and living in Camden to enjoy downtown. The city extended the grid system to the waterfront, increased mixed-use construction, and has concentrated civic uses and public parks along the river to help make Camden a healthy, attractive community. The plan includes 1,500 new housing units, 500,000 square feet of commercial office space, and 150,000 of retail, dining, and entertainment. the architecture and urban patterns for Cooper Crossing were modeled after local urban traditions historically found in Philadelphia and Camden. Recent tourist destinations that have sprung up downtown include the Adventure Aquarium, the Freedom Ferry, the Camden Aerospace Center, a minor league baseball stadium, and other popular destinations.

In efforts to bring more economic activity to Camden and revive the area, local and regional governments have made promising efforts to increase transit access to the Camden waterfront. This includes increased ferry service to and from Philadelphia, extended light rail between the two cities, and a cross river proposed aerial tram with year-round service. This increase in transportation aims to further build the connection between Camden and neighboring Philadelphia.

Transect Zone(s): T5 center, T6 core.
Status: Plan Approved
Project or Plan's Scale: District
Features: Civic buildings & parks, Live/work, Mixed uses, Transit oriented development, Waterfront.
Land area (in acres): 70
Total built area (in sq. ft.):
Total project cost (in local currency): 200
Retail area (in sq. ft.): 150000
Office area (in sq. ft.): 500000
Industrial area (in sq. ft.):
Number of hotel units:
Number of residential units (include live/work): 1500
Civic uses (type and size): Ferry Terminal Square, Market Square, Riverfront Esplanade
Parks & green space (in acres): 13
Project team designers: Torti Gallas and Partners (master plan), Urban Design Associates (pattern book)
Project team developers: Steiner + Associates, Inc., in association with Dranoff Properties; MRA International Inc., Copper's Ferry Development Association

Previous site status: Brownfield (former industrial)