It seems that every new year, we expect a flood of massive changes in our state- and 2017 will be no exception! It seems that Southern New Jersey, in particular, will see a number of major transformations in areas ranging from retail and restaurant openings to industrial development. We’ll likely see some communities lose their schools, while others will gain health facilities, and even some historic sites will see their futures changed.
Here are the major changes coming to South Jersey in 2017:
More at the Mall
International fashion retailer Zara is set to open its first suburban Philadelphia location at the Cherry Hill Mall. The mall will need to expand to accommodate the 26,000 sq. ft. store, which is set to open in November. The expansion will be built in a parking area.
New Dining
Chef/owner Phil Manganaro plans on opening the ‘Park Place Cafe and Restaurant’ in Merchantville in early 2017, which will make Merchantville an even better place to live (as though it didn’t already have quaint architecture, ample walking paths and a range of high-level restaurants). The Park Place Cafe and Restaurant will serve as a cozy spot, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
Hospital Growth
A new medical specialty building is set to open its doors in April at Kennedy Health’s Cherry Hill hospital, with work on the patient tower to replace the existing hospital to begin in the Fall. The hospital’s Washington Township campus is also set for a makeover, but not until 2021.
Waterfront View
Development has already begun on one of the most costly projects ever planned for Camden: a $1 billion initiative to transform the city’s Waterfront, which will involve the development of commercial and retail space, housing, and a 180-room hotel. The groundbreaking ceremony will likely take place in the Spring.
The End of Camden High
While many historians and alumni have tried to defend preserving the “Castle on the Hill,’ officials have found that replacing Camden High School would be more cost-effective than a complete renovation (the school is over a century old). The school’s demolition will begin in the Fall, with a new Camden High set to be completed by 2021.
New Life for History
In Camden, the home where Martin Luther King Jr. stayed while attending a suburban Philadelphia seminary has earned a historic designation from the Camden City Historical Commission. If the home receives a state designation, the state would then apply to add the home to the National Register of Historic Places, which would put it in line for federal protection and possible funding.
Source: Courier-Post