A New Future For The Gateway of Cherry Hill

There is not much more to write about the new Garden Racetrack renovation.

It`s almost hard to believe that the Racetrack has been gracing Cherry Hill landscape for almost 60 years, since it was originally built by 4 residents of Camden in 1942, when the GI`s started coming home. Since the fire destroyed it in 1977, it has been closed more than open – and soon, in the not-to-distant-future, it will be gone.

In its` place will be a new Community Cultural Center (seating 1500 people), which the developers said will be open for Cherry Hill community use, a retail shop center, a corporate center, with a great location next to the totally renovated train station, which will allow commuters to travel from Atlantic City into Center City, which will also include a coffee shop, etc.

The new Garden State Park may well become the place to live for 55 and older residents, who are looking for freedom from lawns, over-crowded cellars, and more but who are not ready to settle into a retirement community, far from Center City and other attractions.

Yes, the new property on Rt. 70 could very well become the mecca for South Jersey, with residents able to work at the Park, live at the Park, and then travel in for a show or play in Philly – all without a car!

All together the old Racetrack covers 220 acres of prime Cherry Hill land. It represents one of the last large pieces of land surrounding Cherry Hill, and, hopefully will end the exodus of businesses looking for a prime location, whether it be a corporate office or an upbeat fashion boutique, catering to Cherry Hill residents and the surrounding area.

While the anticipated revenue from the new Garden State Park is around $11 million dollars, the win-win situation involved with the current plans for housing is that the residents who move there will not impact on our school system, much as a housing development could.

Residents will have to have at least one member of the household be the `young` age of 55, and no children 18 will be allowed. The newly formed `in-crowd of this Cherry Hill community, will enjoy their choice of condo or town-house living, with separate garages or underground parking lots. All underground parking facilities will include elevators for inclement weather. The plans right now call for 738 Townhouses and condos. The plans for the condos are for 4-story buildings, with their own underground garages.

One of the nicest aspects of this `contemporary – yet futuristic plan is, that the current residents surrounding the old Garden State Park have been taken into consideration.

Mr. Dwyer, Realen Properties, assured the 200 or more in attendance audience, that the old, but stately Gatehouse will be kept, and that 3rd Avenue will be lined with trees, as a buffer zone. Haddonfield Road will also be `smart-scaped` with trees and the wetlands will be preserved. The runoff from the water tower, will not cause flooding or water problems in current neighborhoods, and the intersection where Chapel Avenue, Third Avenue, Haddonfield Road meet will be designed NOT to lure more traffic into the area.

The access from the Park onto Rt. 70 needs widening, and the current maintenance area, with the leaky tanks, will be attended to. Hiking trails will be created, but limited access to them will be designed from the outside, The gates and ironrails will be renovated and retained to previous stately grace. There will be 75 acres of open space between 3rd Avenue and Rt. 70, and the Park will include a 7-acre lake. All trails will open to Haddonfield Road.

At the main entrance to Sayer Avenue, a boulevard will be created to exit to Martin Avenue to Haddonfield Road, which will run the entire site.

The Retail area is approximately 575,000 sq. ft., with hopes that upscale specialty shoppes will locate there. All in all, the entire park will be a showplace of serenity, while providing ample space for corporate, Park residents, business and a new restaurant to co-exist together.

Yes, Mayor Levin was right...a NEW, gateway is what Cherry Hill needs, and will soon have in the near future.

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Author: Kathy Haughwout, Mgr. Editor the Cherry Hill Connection