The controversy over where some CRDA funding used to go…. inched closer towards ending last week. The site of the old, 35 acre Pennsauken Mart has been sold for $6.2 mil. The land has been vacant and weed covered since the Pennsauken Mart was knocked down, via eminent domain in 2007. The buyer will construct mixed-use properties; both residential and commercial.
$3.1 million from the recent sale funds will be sent to the CRDA for use in Atlantic City.
“The Camden County Improvement Authority, CCIA used $16.5 mil in Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) funding to knock down the Mart, to make way for a hockey stadium. The economic crisis in 2008 and severe environmental damage to the property put those rebuilding plans on hold for close to 10 years. As of 2011, via pressure from NJ Gov. Christie, all CRDA funding now must be directed at helping the economy of Atlantic City.
Will NJ Assemblyman Chris Brown keep pushing for the remaining $12mil to be returned to Atlantic City?
From the NJ Assembly Republicans Website: In 2002, the CRDA awarded a $24 million grant to Camden County to help build a civic center on the site of the former Pennsauken Mart. When plans fell through for the civic center, the money should have been returned to the CRDA.
An agreement lowered the grant amount to $16.5 million for a residential and retail development project in 2006. Since then, the CRDA has moved the deadline for Camden County to complete a project on that site. For years, Camden County repeatedly missed the deadline and has not shown any progress on developing the property.
Let’s be honest, we gave them $16.5 million and after 13 years, they have nothing to show for it, Brown said. It’s only fair to ask for money they have not used to come back to help our middle-class families and senior citizens.