Global InformationRiverfront State Prison information
Riverfront State Prison (RSP) is a former prison in Camden, New Jersey, that was operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections from August 12, 1985, to 2009.[1] It was located in the neighborhood of Cooper Point at the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Elm Street.[2]
The prison first opened after the state paid Camden money in exchange for receiving a plot of land that was used to establish the prison.[3]
In 2007, while the state was preparing to close Riverfront, it considered establishing a replacement state prison in Cumberland County, which already had three other state prisons.[4] When officials from the city of Bridgeton, New Jersey, heard of a state report proposing to move Riverfront's prisoners to South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, Bridgeton officials opposed the plans.[5]
Riverfront closed in 2009. The state had a savings of $43 million per year.[6] The 16-acre site is considered surplus property by the state[7] the buildings were demolished in 2009.[8][9]
In May 2013 the New Jersey Economic Development Authority announced that it would seek developers for the site.[10] In September 2013 Waterfront Renaissance Associates announced that it proposed to build the Riverfront World Trade Center, a development of 2.3-million-square-foot campus on 16 acres (6.5 ha) on the site. The project would be built in four phases, the first of which would be a promenade along the Delaware River.[11][12][13]
- ^ "THE REGION; $31 Million Prison Opens in Jersey". The New York Times. 13 August 1985.
- ^ "Riverfront State Prison Driving Directions." New Jersey Department of Corrections. Retrieved on December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Modern, nice view 24-hr. security True, razing Riverfront State Prison for condos could bring benefits. But there's no escaping the costs." The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 22, 2003. B02 South Jersey Editorial. Retrieved on December 1, 2010. "It was built 18 years ago, when city officials sold out North Camden. The state paid millions to Camden, which was broke at the time. In return, North Camden got guard towers and razor wire along its waterfront"
- ^ Jackson, Miles. "IS A NEW PRISON NEEDED?: Facilities offer steady employment in Cumberland Co." Daily Journal. June 23, 2007. A1 News. Retrieved on September 27, 2011.
- ^ Martins, John. "Bridgeton doesn't want Camden's state inmates." The Press of Atlantic City. May 23, 2007. Retrieved on September 27, 2011. "City officials on Tuesday night condemned what they say is a state plan to relocate more than 1,000 inmates from Camden's Riverfront State Prison to one of the county's three state prisons."
- ^ Megerian, Chris. "N.J.'s inmate population declines, officials credit less crime, prisoner re-entry programs." NJ.com. Sunday July 18, 2010. Retrieved on December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Christie signs bill to auction former Camden prison". 7 February 2013.
- ^ Trethan, Phaedra. "From prison to park: Camden's Cooper's Poynt opens", Courier-Post, June 5, 2017. Accessed November 29, 2022. "Sadler, a co-founder of Save Our Waterfront, was front and center in 2009 when Riverfront was demolished."
- ^ "Former Camden Prison Site Cleared for Redevelopment".
- ^ Laday, Jason (May 29, 2013). "NJ to begin seeking redeveloper for former Camden prison". South Jersey Times. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- ^ Kostelni, Natalie (September 9, 2013). "Project considered for former prison site in Camden". Phlladelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
- ^ Terruso, Julia (September 11, 2013). "Developer wants to build a World Trade Center in Camden". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
- ^ Laday, Jason (September 9, 2013). "Camden World Trade Center in sites of firm targeting former Riverfront Prison plot". South Jersey Times. Retrieved 2014-05-28.