Community meeting

Last night the Cramer Hill CDC held a community meeting at Faith Holy Temple (27th and River Road). A total of 22 community residents and stakeholders braved the rains last night to attend. The following items were discussed at the meeting:

1) The hiring of a nuetral facilitator. This facilitator would hold meetings between the CDC, the Cramer Hill Residents Association and Camden Churches Organized for People. The group has put together a Request For Qualifications to help make the selection of a facilitator. The nuetral facilitator will be hired by next Friday, September 8th.

2) An update was given on the letter written to Randy Primas, signed by the Cramer Hill Residents Association, CCOP, and the CDC to request a postponement of community engagement meetings by one month and seeking clarity on the purpose of each scheduled meeting. The City of Camden's Department of Development and Planning responded to the letter agreeing to postpone the meetings by one month and assuring that there will be clarity on the agenda for each meeting. A group will schedule a meeting with Mr. De in order to seek written clarity on meeting dates and agenda.

As we have agreed to do in the past the second part of the meeting was held in order to continue the Commmunity Benefits discussions over the past year.

At this meeting the following was discussed and agreed to:

1) There is an opportunty to have a peer-to-peer exchange with a group from Colorado who has negotiated a community benefits agreement with Cherokee. The peer-to-peer would assist Cramer Hill residents to learn how the agreement was made, what Cherokee was willing to give, and how the agreement was formalized. This is an opportunty to learn the how, what and why of a community benefits agreement. It was agreed that the groups should form a committee to go to Colorado and meet with this group in late October or early November. A letter will be written to a funder to seek support and facilitation of the meeting.

2) An introduction of the New Jersey Regional Coalition was given. The Coalition looks to provide affordable housing, mostly rental, in areas throughout the region. The group will create a committee to visit an affordable housing development in Mt. Laurel.

3) Those present agreed to have further community meetings in four locations of Cramer Hill in order to increase participation and begin discussion on land use and redevelopment. Dates for these meeting will be created in thecoming weeks, with the first meeting occuring as early as late September.

4) A discussion was held on the Relocation Process and an educational series of meetings that inform residents of their rights. These meetings will bring in experts that will disuss the issue.

As you can see alot of items were discussed and there is a large group working together to protect the interest of Cramer Hill Residents. Your voice in this process is equallly as important. If you have not attended a meeting or have stopped coming to the meetings for any reason, we invite you to come back. Your input an assistance is greatly needed.

The Cramer Hill CDC will hold a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for 14 new homes within Cramer Hill. The groundbreaking will take place on September 8th at 11:00a.m., on the vacant lot at 24th and River Road (behind the ice cream shop). The homes will be built on existing vacant lots owned by the CDC. Six of the fourteen homes are still available for sale. Homes include: Living room, dining room, kitchen and family room. Three bedroooms, and 1 & 1/2 baths; full basements and attics with storage capacity; front and rear porches; parking pad on site; and central air condition. You can alos customize your home with many options. Homes start at $98,175.00. For more information call Mariza at 856-964-2465.

Cramer Hill Community Meetings

Together with the Cramer Hill Residents Association and Camden Churches Organized for People, the CHCDC has requested and recieved a one month postponement to the Civic Engagement Meetings. The first meeting will be held on October 4th, 2006. We are awaiting a schedule for the remaining meetings. We encourage all Cramer Hill Residents and Stakeholders to attend these meetings. More to come.....