$6.5 Million Recovered to Clean Up School Site Acquired by Eminent Domain

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority has obtained $6.5 million dollars from three former owners of a 14 acre property in Camden to pay for the cleanup of environmental contamination of the property, which is adjacent to a Camden Elementary School.   The property is the site of the old Stockton Station apartment complex and will be used as a park.

The contamination was alleged to occur more than 50 years ago when various parties were alleged to have dumped hazardous substances there.

The property was acquired by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority in 2007 for $8.1 million through the exercise of eminent domain.   The recent payment for environmental remediation is the result of a settlement between the State of New Jersey and the former owners which was agreed to in May of this year.

For more on this matter, read Matt Katz’s story in the Philadelphia Inquirer.