Pennsauken has much in common with older suburbs throughout the state and nation. For one, it’s fully developed yet desperate for redevelopment and new construction. The last few years have been peppered with plans that have not delivered on the redevelopment promises held up by officials.
At least not yet. Will they ever?
- Petty’s Island and the waterfront: last word was that the project would be scaled back (2007), no word since.
- Pennsauken Mart: the land is being cleared but the proposed ice rink is out; or is it?
- Rt 130 Corridor: has anyone heard of this? It was news in 2006. Any progress?
Do I seem a little disheartened? You bet and I think most Pennsauken residents feel likewise.
To be fair, let me sing praises for the single visible exception: the boathouse on the Cooper River!
In a recent post, I opened up the question of the dilemma facing “first ring” suburbs like Pennsauken. We have precious little open land available, so we have to pick and carefully choose to redevelop choice parcels if we hope to revitalize the town by drawing people back from the newer “exurbs” to the east.
Future posts will weave various threads together: the declining prospects of “first ring” suburbs, the de-suburbanization trend and the various redevelopment projects that could decide the fate of Pennsauken for many years to come.
