Waterfront politics: revisiting the case of Camden, New Jersey’s redevelopment

Abstract

The public policy responses to the enduring socioeconomic struggles of the urban core have dominated public discourse in postwar cities in the United States. Policy-makers have pursued numerous strategies to respond to the conditions of decline. Waterfront redevelopment is one of most common strategies to address these issues, although the benefits rarely extend beyond the core. In a case study of waterfront redevelopment in Camden, New Jersey, we analyze the politics of a project to demolish the Riverfront State Prison to capitalize on the city’s waterfront. Drawing on archival research and key informant interviews, we argue that the project failed because the problem definitions created by the political actors were misaligned with the community’s needs. We conclude by reflecting on policy impactions and questions on urban sustainability.

Keywords:

• urban redevelopment
• regeneration
• urban politics
• urban policy
• waterfront development