CNBNews

COMMENTARY

 

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNewsnet

 

 

Albert Countryman first worked for the Gloucester City News in 1991. One of his first assignments was to write an article about the development of the City’s Waterfront. When he returned to work on the paper in 1999, I asked him to do another article about the same topic. The purpose was to see what progress had been made with the redevelopment plans in the eight years he was away.

Gloucester City News Archives 1950-2006

 

That article was sent to me recently. There was no name just the article. After reading his story, I felt it bears repeating. I won’t comment on it, I think it speaks for itself.

 

 

A Flashback to August 1, 1991, when a then young reporter published a story on the front page of the Gloucester City News with the headline "Waterfront Development Plan Controversial”.

In it, city officials were quoted as saying "private devel­opment of the Coast Guard building is not feasible”.

 

The sixth paragraph stated: "Developing Gloucester City's waterfront has been discussed since the early 1980s."

Fast forward to the August 21 edition of the Gloucester County Times, with the headline reading "West Deptford Seeks Proposals For Hotel Along River."

 

One paragraph reads, "In addition to the hotel, the area around the cove would include a community center, a pub-he marina, shops, restaurants and a waterfront board­walk”.

Ironically, West Deptford first started talking about waterfront development a few years ago. The time to get something done along the Gloucester City waterfront is now.

There has been some action, as pointed out by Eric Fetterolf, the Gloucester City project coordinator for rede­velopment.  Definite things that will happen soon are

A fishing pier will be built from the northern point of Proprietor's Park out into the Delaware River. Some five trees will be replanted to increase parking at the existing lot twofold - cars will face the river and King Street.

A new paved parking lot will take the place of the exist­ing ball field with access diagonally from Water Street, Jersey Avenue, and King Street.  A concrete boat launch ramp with the appropriate barri­er walls will be built.

Tentative projects that should happen soon are:

The installation of 22 slip marina along the Delaware River.

The extension of the pedestrian walkway past the Over the Hill Gang table, toward the ball field parking lot, and then back toward King Street.  The extension of the walkway north through Gloucester Towne, with a gate in place during the evening to protect residents.

These are positive improvements and, to the credit of the current Mayor and Council, they have tried to speed things along. "We are very happy with the progress we are making," Mayor Robert Gorman said.

But, where is the restaurant? Where is the ferry?  What is taking the Holt Company so long to develop the Coast Guard building?

Progress is being made, but will Gloucester City be sur­passed by West Deptford?  I hope not.

Let's get the waterfront developed so I do not have to write another column about it in eight more years, said Countryman.

 

UPDATE-The Mayor and Council announced earlier this year (2022) that a developer was going to build 300 upscale apartments at the old Coast Guard Base.