Congressman Andrews Champions Jobs by Growing Rutgers Campus
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Camden, NJ – Monday, at a topping off ceremony, Congressman Andrews and local officials unveiled the completed steel framework for the new Rutgers graduate housing building, which has created 250 construction jobs and will create 25 retail jobs upon completion. Congressman Andrews has been a supporter of this project since its inception ten years ago, and has played a key role in its negotiations. His efforts led the Rutgers Board of Governors to approve the construction of the project, which is bringing new jobs, new revenue, new residents and a brighter future to South Jersey.
This new facility, located at Fourth and Cooper Streets, addresses the housing shortage for graduate students looking to reside near the Camden campus. The majority of the 102 units will be configured as three or four bedroom apartments, and will include bathrooms, kitchens, and living areas. Once completed, this new building will also include 7,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor, student gathering spaces, a fitness center, a mail room, a business center with study space, and a Green roof deck that will be accessible from the residential tower. Green roofs reduce energy costs with natural insulation, create peaceful retreats, and absorb storm water, reducing the need for expensive drainage systems. Wireless access will also be offered throughout the facility.
“These 250 construction jobs are only the beginning,” said Congressman Andrews. “This building will bring 350 new residents to Camden, which spurs the construction of a restaurant , and after that movie theaters, supermarkets, medical practices and law firms. This isn’t just about these 250 construction jobs, or the 25 retail jobs that will be immediately available on the first floor of the building – this is about the sustainable growth of a neighborhood that will revitalize Camden, our region, and help to lead our country to the prosperity we so richly deserve.”
This building will be the first new housing at Rutgers-Camden since the Rutgers-Camden Tower opened in 1989. The Rutgers-Camden residential complex currently houses 520 graduate and undergraduate students. Rutgers plans to grow its enrollment to over 7,000 students with 2,000 students living on or near campus. This new building will be completed in August of 2012 and will bring Rutgers halfway to its goal.