History that’s worth repeating

Here’s a brief but very interesting history of Pennsauken that I ran across in the Courier-Post.

Pennsauken was inhabited by Indians before it was settled by Europeans in the 17th century.

Pindasenakun, the early version of the name Pennsauken, means tobacco pouch, according to the Lenape Indians.

In 1678, four Indian chiefs sold Petty’s Island to Elizabeth Kinsey for 600 gilders. The chiefs agreed to protect her from dangerous hogs for payment in rum and powder in return.

The island is named for John Petty, an Indian trader who owned it in 1732.

The Quakers of William Penn’s Philadelphia who wanted to engage in lotteries rowed to the island beyond the Quaker law.

At a Pennsylvania-New Jersey convention on April 26, 1783, the island was officially made a part of New Jersey.

In 1684, Chief Tallaca agreed to sell the land along Pennsauken Creek and release all claims to it.

A further stipulation of the treaty stated Tallaca and his men would protect the new owners against any encroachments by other tribes.

Pennsauken Creek was essential for transportation and its banks were the sites of various enterprises, including a colonial plantation.

From the early 1700s through the 1800s, the area was one of vast farms and orchards.

Also in the 1800s, Pennsauken was a favored resort for Philadelphians.

After its incorporation in 1892, Pennsauken Township grew as an industrial, commercial and residential community.

Pennsauken Industrial Park stands in the northwest part of the township. Business areas run along Haddonfield Road, Route 130, Route 73, Westfield Avenue and Church Road.

Housing developments populate just about all sections of the township.

The Central Airport opened in 1929.

With the development of larger aircraft, which required longer runways, and the 1939 opening of Philadelphia International Airport, Central Airport was forced to gradually discontinue commercial operations.

In 1952, the property was sold for $1 million so a shopping area could be built there. The airport closed in 1957.

There’s a bit more at the Wikipedia site.

Grant funds for Pennsauken Fire Department

According to an announcement made today by NJ Senator, Robert Menendez:

…four New Jersey fire departments will be receiving funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants. The senators reiterated the need to improve the operations and safety capabilities of New Jersey first responders’ to subsequently enhance public safety across the state.“Firefighters are some of our state’s bravest individuals – they selflessly risk their own lives to save others without hesitation,” said Menendez. “This additional stream of funding for fire departments helps ensure public safety, and I am glad that these departments will be able to enhance their procedures and preparedness.”

“Firefighters are often the first to respond to an emergency,” said Sen. Lautenberg. “They put their lives on the line to keep us safe and deserve our support. Grants like these go a long way toward ensuring the fire departments across New Jersey have the necessary resources to enhance their response capabilities and protect our communities.”

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants will be dispersed among four municipalities in New Jersey—Port Murray, Pennsauken, Landisville, Paterson — to improve their operations and safety efforts and for vehicle acquisition. The Pennsauken Fire Department will receive the largest share, receiving $675,000.

Maple Ave bridge reconstruction project

Well here’s a redevelopment project of sorts. According to the Courier-Post:

Reconstruction of the Maple Avenue Bridge over the NJTransit Atlantic City rail line in Pennsauken will begin on or before Feb. 7, the New Jersey Department of Transportation announced today. NJDOT expects the construction to last about one year.

During construction, Maple Avenue will be closed at the bridge, blocking through traffic, NJDOT said. Suggested detour routes are Church Road to Haddonfield Roads to Maple Avenue for westbound traffic and Haddonfield Road to Church Road to Maple Avenue.

The new Maple Avenue Bridge will be raised 4 feet on the existing alignment to provide 20 feet clearance for the railroad below, NJDOT said. It will have a 12-foot travel lane, 12-foot shoulder and 6-foot sidewalk in each direction.

The End of Suburbia

That’s the title of a film about the coming dire event known as Peak Oil; that point in time when we will have used up half of the world’s oil supply. News about this film isn’t really new, it was produced back in 2004. In fact it’s sequel: Escape from Suburbia was released some months ago. I bring it up here because these films are relevant to the issues de-suburbanization and first-ring suburbs.

The website promoting the film: End of Suburbia.com says:

As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today’s suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow?

That’s precisely what some think will drive people from the exurbs back to the inner cities and first ring suburbs close to them; a process called desuburbanization. I’m exploring the notion that these trends could very well impact directly on Pennsauken.
For more about the sequel, visit EscapeFromSuburbia.com.

For more about the peak oil issue, check PeakOil.com.

For more about desuburbanization and first ring suburbs, stay tuned right here!

Pennsauken Mart lawsuit settled

An issue regarding the redevelopment of the Pennsauken Mart site has been settled. Progress on the redevelopment project, known as Renaissance Walk was in jeopardy. Here are the details according to the Courier-Post:

The Camden County Improvement Authority approved an out-of-court settlement Tuesday with two home builders who claimed their proposals to develop the former Pennsauken Mart site were treated improperly.

Plaintiffs K. Hovnanian Enterprises Inc., and D’Anastasio Corp. of Pennsauken, will have “certain negotiation rights” on land left over after the authority’s chosen developer completes its project.

Scarborough Properties will continue developing a large apartment complex on the site, according to a resolution passed by the board.

Additional details were not released Tuesday because all parties had not signed the agreement, authority counsel said.

Neither John D’Anastasio, nor his lawyer, Jeffrey Baron of Voorhees, was available Tuesday for comment.

The 35-acre site is at the intersection of routes 73, 90 and 130.

The settlement does not call for a cash payment to either party.

The suit had the potential to stop or delay work on the mart site, which has been a financial and public relations train wreck since 2000.

The board also approved spending $85,000 for unanticipated environmental issues at the site, including ground water and soil contaminated with tetrachloroethene, widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for metal degreasing.

The former mart — now called Renaissance Walk — appears to be back on track

The settlement was announced at a meeting of the Authority.

What I find curious in the Courier’s article is the following:

Director Terrence M. Carr said he did “not want to vote” on two of the related resolutions and abstained on a third.

Carr would not comment on why.

Overall, Carr abstained on six of eight votes Tuesday. Three dealt with the Pennsauken Mart. Carr is a Pennsauken resident and a township employee.

What’s up with that? While Carr is not compelled to explain, I think he has a moral obligation to his neighbors in Pennsauken to explain his actions.