Building Demolition In Camden Closes Two Major Roads; Buses Detoured
By Pat Loeb
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- Two major blocks of downtown Camden, New Jersey will be closed to traffic all week, beginning today, for the demolition of a vacant, eight-story building, once hailed as a sign of revitalization.
The 50-year-old "Commerce Building" is scheduled to become a parking garage. Camden officials say crews will remove the "skin" of the building this week, then later the steel frame.
Broadway will be closed between MLK Boulevard and Federal Street and Federal Street will be closed between 5th and Broadway so demolition crews can begin dismantling the building.
Officials say they'll remain closed to vehicles for at least a week, but pedestrians will have access.
Local businesses and the Walter Rand Transportation Center on Broadway will remain open. Buses will be detoured.
The building opened with great fanfare in 1965 with a Woolworth's on the ground floor and offices above, but the owner went bankrupt within three years and the building began a long, slow descent.
It's been mostly vacant for the last 15 years. Its last tenant -- a pizza shop -- moved out last year as the city fought to seize it through eminent domain.