The End of the Road for the Cross Keys Scene

    While the Cross Keys Scene will continue to remain interested in the future development of the Cross Keys Road corridor, the end of the semester will also mean the end of the Cross Keys Scene.  Stories will no longer be posted on this site.

    During the past three months, the Cross Keys Scene reported on the Cross Keys Road corridor and its impact on the businesses, residents, and the municipalities of Gloucester and Winslow Townships, New Jersey.  One of the highlights from this site included a Nov. 7 interview with Gloucester Township Mayor-elect, Dave Mayer.  Mayer explained his plans for furthering economic development along the Cross Keys Road corridor by building commercial properties.  In addition, Mayer explained the need for better communication about the planning of the corridor with neighboring Winslow Township.

    The Cross Keys Scene also featured coverage of the construction of the Cross Keys Road Bridge and its impact on businesses and commuters.  In addition, the Cross Keys scene reported on the proposed building of a $22 million, 53,000 square-foot Army Reserve training facility on either the Gloucester Township or the Winslow Township side of Cross Keys and Kearsley roads.  Although the Cross Keys Scene  hoped to provide readers with a decision on the facility’s location, the Army has still not reached a decision on the site’s location.

    In an effort to provide a visual perspective of the Cross Keys Road corridor and to provide easier navigation through the many economic development projects reported on, the Cross Keys Scene featured an interactive Google map under the “A Visual Perspective of the Corridor” page of the site.

     The Cross Keys Scene would like to thank all involved in helping to shape the stories reported on during this semester.   We would especially like to thank all of our readers who helped the Cross Keys Scene achieve over 1,000 views.

Seven Areas Impacted by the Economic Development of the Cross Keys Road Corridor

    During the past three months, the Cross Keys Scene focused on the economic development of the Cross Keys Road corridor and its impact on the community.  Although the development of the corridor provides the creation of jobs, shopping convenience, and choice, there is a need for more community coordination.  The reasons for this include a lack of traffic planning, land use rules, and a lack of planning between the municipalities of Gloucester and Winslow Townships.  In a final effort to show the impact of the corridor, the Cross Keys Scene presents seven key areas most impacted by the development of the Cross Keys Road corridor and ideas from key Gloucester Township, New Jersey community officials on how to improve community planning.   

Gloucester Township Fire District Five.   

    In order to prepare for the increase volume of fire calls along the Cross Keys Road corridor, Gloucester Township Fire District Five took a series of steps,  according to Gloucester Township Fire District Fives Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Barry Engelbert. “We have seen a 30 percent increase in calls since the development of the corridor began,” said Engelbert.   

    In addition to adding 24-hour in-station service to its residents, the Fire District expanded the Lambs Terrace Fire Company fire station.  Located at 1781 Sicklerville Road, the fire company serves the businesses and residents of Gloucester Township Fire District Five, including those along the Cross Keys Road corridor.  The completed $1.1 million improvement project that started over a year and a half ago added a second story to the building for fire personnel sleeping quarters as well as a new gym and offices.  According to Engelbert, “I think that the expansion of the station will show how important community planning is in dealing with the growth of the Cross Keys Road corridor.”   

Gloucester Township Fire District Five recently expanded the Lambs Terrace Fire Company fire station in order to prepare for the development of the Cross Keys Road corridor.

The Nike Base   

    Located at Berlin-Cross Keys and Williamstown-Erial roads, the over 40 acre site once served as a Nike missile defense base during the Cold War.  Now under ownership by Gloucester Township, overgrown brush and weeds replace the once standing missile silos and base barracks.  According to the Lakeside Business Park President and prospective bidder for the Nike Base property, Vincent Pennoni, the base went up for sale for commercial use by the township in 2006.  However, according to Pennoni, the sale fell through.    

    Gloucester Township Councilwomen-elect, Michelle Gentek, believes that the sale of the Nike site is crucial to the future of the growing corridor for bringing businesses and tax money to the township.  Gentek added, “It will be our job as township officials to aggressively market the Nike Base property, and I will work with the new Mayor in order to do that.”    

Councilwomen-elect, Michelle Gentek, believes that the over 40 acre Nike missile base at Berlin-Cross Keys and Williamstown-Erial roads needs to be aggressively marketed for commercial sale by Gloucester Township.

The Shoppes at Cross Keys   

    Located at Cross Keys Road and the Atlantic City Expressway, The Shoppes at Cross Keys  offers shoppers a varied selection of upscale stores.  Councilwomen-elect Gentek believes that Gloucester Township needs to bring in more high-end stores in order to attract consumers from out-of-town.  Gentek does not believe that the township has done enough to promote the corridor as a premier business and shopping center.  According to Gentek, “Promoting the Cross Keys Road corridor is key, and we have to promote it so that it is something special that people will want to come to.”   

    Gloucester Township Councilman, Frank Schmidt, believes that the township’s tax abatement program will help attract new businesses to the promenade.  This initiative allows a business to only pay an incremental percentage of taxes for the first five years after opening.  According to Schmidt, “That is an incentive for businesses to come here and get started.  It is very exciting for Gloucester Township and it is very exciting for the tax payers.”   

Gloucester Township Councilman, Frank Schmidt, believes that the township's tax abatement program will attract upscale businesses to the promenade.

Vacant Circuit City   

    Following the 2008 bankruptcy of the consumer electronics store, Circuit City, the store’s Gloucester Township location became vacant.  According to Councilwomen-elect Gentek, the township can not do anything with the property because the developer is under lease with the owner of the builder.    

    Councilman Schmidt believes that community planning needs to seek out businesses in order to attempt to get them to fill vacant properties in Gloucester Township.  However, Schmidt believes that the current economic recession may prevent the planning board from finding a tenant.  “With the economy so bad, things are moving as slow as possible until people become more confident to invest and try to open up new businesses and obtain key loans,” said Schmidt.    

Circuit City's Gloucester Township location went vacant when the national consumer electronics chain went bankrupt in 2008. Councilwoman-elect Gentek does not believe that the township can do much about finding a new tenant for the building.

 Lakeside Business Park   

    Located next to the Nike Base, the Lakeside Business Park opened in 2005.  When completed, the park will contain over 200,000 square feet of office space.  However, according to the Lakeside Business Park President, Vince Pennoni, more than half of the complex requires completion.  Pennoni hopes to continue construction early next year.  “I would estimate that construction of an additional three buildings would begin next March, and I expect to have everything done by next November,” said Pennoni.  In addition to the economy negatively impacting construction of Lakeside, Pennoni believes that Gloucester Township needs to reduce taxes in order attract businesses.   

    Evan Zweben, the senior associate for the real estate agency, Colliers Lanard & Axilbund, helps businesses find space at Lakeside.  He does not believe that the Cross Keys Road corridor will attract outside businesses.  According to Zweben, “Just like the stock market, the corridor boomed when things were good, and now when times are hurting you begin to come to the realization that the people with businesses along the corridor live in that area.  You are not really attracting any businesses from outside the area.”    

Over half of the Lakeside Business Park remains unfinished according to the developer of Lakeside, Vince Pennoni.

 Cross Keys Road at Wilton’s Corner   

    This section of Cross Keys Road contains a dip in the road.  According to Lambs Terrace firefighter Johnny Flinn, the strip of road creates numerous hazards.  “We get at least 20 fire calls per year because the dip in the road creates flooding when it rains,” said Flinn.  In addition, Flinn believes that the poor planning of Cross Keys Road creates dozens of motor vehicle accidents.  “I can not even tell you how many times we have been called out for accidents in front of Wilton’s Corner.  It begins to become an inconvenience after a while, and I just hope that the county finds a way to fix the road,” said Flinn.   

    Councilman Schmidt remains dedicated to working with Camden County Freeholders in order to receive funds to fix roads in Gloucester Township.   

According to Lambs Terrace firefighter, Johnny Flinn, the Wilton's Corner section of Cross Keys Road causes the fire company to respond to numerous floods and traffic accidents because of poor community planning.

The Winslow Side of Cross Keys Road   

    Councilman Schmidt and Councilwoman Gentek believe that better coordination between the municipalities of Gloucester and Winslow is vital in order to sustain the growth of the Cross Keys Road corridor.  Both officials believe that Gloucester Township can start by opening up communication with Winslow’s Mayor and council officials.    

    In 2004, Winslow passed a sewer moratorium.  Councilwoman-elect Gentek believes that the Gloucester Township side of the Cross Keys Road will develop much quicker than Winslow’s side of the corridor because of the municipality’s restriction on sewer connections.  Gentek added, “I think that makes it even more important to communicate with Winslow on the development.  We should do that primarily through our planning board and our county’s planning board.”   

    Councilman Schmidt agrees with Councilwoman-elect Gentek, and he hopes that better planning with Winslow will, “ make the corridor as efficient as possible for both communities and the commuters that travel Cross Keys Road between the Black and White Horse Pikes.”   

An undeveloped strip of land on the Winslow Township side of the Cross Keys Road corridor. Both Gloucester Township council officials Gentek and Schmidt believe that there needs to be better coordination between the two municipalities about the development of the corridor.

Update: Army Reserve Training Facility Decision Postponed for Third Time

    The Army Corp of Engineers postponed their decision on the location of a $22 million, 53,000 square-foot Army Reserve training facility on Cross Keys and Kearsley roads for a third time this year.  The Cross Keys Scene reported on Oct., 17 of this year that the Army had planned to make a final decision on the facility’s location by the end of this past October.
    The Gloucester Township, New Jersey side of Cross Keys Road remains the top choice for the Army, with a site across the street on the Winslow Township side as an alternative.  However, according to the Army Corp of Engineers chief public affairs officer, Todd Hornback, “We are still in the process of evaluating proposed locations for the facility.”
    According to Hornback, public comments are an important tool needed to help the Army make its final decision. “We value the public’s comments highly, so we are continuing to look at them in order to make the best decision possible,” said Hornback.
    The Army does not have an exact date when a decision will be made on the location of the facility.  According to Hornback, “Until we thoroughly review all public comments, no decision will be made.”

Cross Keys Road Bridge Nears Completion

    After almost nine months of construction, the construction of the Cross Keys Road Bridge will conclude on Dec., 22 of this year according to South Jersey Transit Authority’s project manager, Tom Canto.  The Cross Keys Scene first reported on the construction of the bridge on Oct. 10 of this year. 

    Located at the Atlantic City Expressway at Interchange 41, work on the bridge began this past April.   The SJTA widened the bridge from four to six lanes, in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion.  According to Canto, work is in the finishing stages.  “We still have a few areas of the bridge to pave, along with striping of the road and some minor landscaping around the bridge,” said Canto. 

    Four out of the six lanes of the bridge opened in late November.  Canto hopes to have the remaining two lanes opened prior to Dec. 22.  Canto added, “We have been able to remain on schedule during the entire construction process.”

    Canto believes that the expansion of the bridge will significantly reduce the amount of traffic on Cross Keys Road.  According to Canto, “I think that the widening of the bridge will ease traffic congestion for commuters along Cross Keys Road, and will make it easier to get onto the Atlantic City Expressway.”

The Cross Keys Road Bridge will be completed on Dec. 22 of is year.

Local Entrepreneur Opens Business Along Corridor

    While the Cross Keys Road corridor features numerous national businesses, a local entrepreneur decided to take advantage of the economic development along the Cross Keys Road corridor and open up his own franchise.  In May 2004, Gary Chernow, started his own independently owned franchise of the printing and shipping company, PostNet.  Chernow’s store is located at 521 Berlin-Cross Keys Road in the Acme shopping center in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.

    Prior to opening up his franchise, Chernow owned a restaurant for 20 years.  Chernow’s decision to enter the printing and shipping business results from his research about potential businesses along the corridor. “I live in the area, and when I saw what was happening with the corridor I decided to do some research to find out what type of store the corridor still needed.  I saw that there was not a printing and shipping store along the corridor, so I decided to open my own franchise,” said Chernow.

    Although other businesses along the corridor interviewed by the Cross Keys Scene believe that construction of the Berlin-Cross Keys Road Bridge impacts business, Chernow sees the construction as a way to take an aggressive stance towards finding new business.  According to Chernow, “If the bridge is an issue, I just have to go out and get business somewhere else such as in Winslow.”

    In addition to offering printing and shipping, Chewnow’s PostNet shop provides a wide selection of services including  notary, office supplies, and Graphic Design.

The owner of the Gloucester Township franchise of PostNet shown in this photo, Gary Chernow, offers a wide selection of services.

Stanbery Development Reaches out to Local Businesses

    The Ohio-based developer of the Shoppes at Cross Keys, Stanbery Development, plans to obtain its remaining leases by reaching out to local businesses.  Located at Cross Keys Road and The Atlantic City Expressway in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, the Shoppes at Cross Keys opened this past May.  The shopping plaza provides a variety of shops and restaurants. 

    According to Stanbery Development’s Asset Manager, James Westfall, the shopping center already contains 80 percent tenant occupancy.  For the remaining leases, Stanbery Development plans to obtain leases from local businesses.  Over half of the final composition of the shops will deal in high-end men and women’s clothing.  “The final total make-up of the center will be 65 percent national upscale clothing retail for men and women,” said Westfall.  The rest of the center will include restaurants, specialty stores, and local businesses. 

    According to Westfall, a key challenge facing local entrepreneurs looking to open a business deals with the current economy.  “We are lucky that the majority of our national tenants signed leases prior to the economic recession, but unfortunately for a lot of local businesses it is going to be hard to find and receive finances during this economic recession.”  However, Westfall believes that Stanbery Development will be able to reach 100 percent tenant occupancy during the next couple of months.

    Westfall thinks that the shops location next to the Atlantic City expressway will attract a significant volume of new customers to Stanbery Development’s property.  In addition, Westfall also believes that the completed construction of the Berlin-Cross Keys Road in December will attract customers from neighboring Winslow Township.  According to Westfall, “I think that once the bridge is completed, a lot of residents from Winslow that may have been cut off during the bridge’s construction will be more inclined to want to come over and check out our shops.”

    The fast food restaurant chain, Bok Bok Fresh, and the women’s apparel store, Coldwater Creek, will open at the Shoppes at Cross Keys this December. 

The Shoppes at Cross Keys Road features a variety of shops and restaurants

A Visual Perspective of the Cross Keys Road Corridor Will Launch This Saturday

    The Cross Keys Scene will launch an interactive Google Map this Saturday, Nov. 21 on the “Visual Perspective of the Corridor” page of the site.  The purpose of the map will be to show readers the amount of area that the corridor covers as well as to provide readers with an easy way of navigating through the various economic projects featured on The Cross Keys Scene.

Cross Keys Bank Branch Sees Little Impact Caused by Economic Development

    With the continuing economic development of the Cross Keys Road corridor along Gloucester and Winslow Townships, New Jersey, the Gloucester Township branch of Beneficial Bank sees little impact with the corridor’s expanse.  According to the Assistant Vice President, Bank Manager, Douglas Rowe, slow economic growth in Winslow Township and location both contribute to a lack of new customers to the bank’s branch.

    Located at 483 Berlin-Cross Keys Road, the branch opened in early 2007.  Beneficial Bank targets both commercial and personal customers.  However, according to Rowe, a lack of economic progress across the street in Winslow fails to attract new clients to the branch.  “We were promised that the development of the Winslow side of Cross Keys Road would provide our branch with new customers, but unfortunately Winslow has been much slower in its growth of their side of the corridor than expected.”

    The Cross Keys Scene previously reported on a proposed Howard Johnson’s Inn on the Winslow side of Cross Keys Road.  However, Rowe does not believe that his branch would see any benefit from the hotel for a few years.  “Considering the slow growth along the Winslow side of the corridor, I doubt that the Howard Johnson’s would be completed for at least another two or three years.”

      The location of the branch in relation to the Cross Keys Road Bridge also contributes to a lack of new customers to the bank’s branch.  According to Rowe, “We are about a mile and a half away from the bridge, which is too far away for us to see any increase in traffic volume.” 

     Despite the slow economic development in Winslow Township, Rowe remains optimistic about the future of the developing corridor.  According to Rowe, “I think that there is a lot of potential for new businesses along Winslow, which will be good for other businesses along the Gloucester Township side of the Cross Keys Road corridor.”

The Gloucester Township branch of Beneficial Bank sees little impact from the economic development of the Cross Keys Road corridor.

Cross Keys Gym Provides 24-Hour Service to Customers

    A 24-hour, seven-day-a -week gym recently opened in late October of this year.  Located at 611 Berlin-Cross Keys Road in the Shoppes at Cross Keys in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, Anytime Fitness is the only gym of its kind in the southern half of Gloucester Township. 

    According to General Manager, Timothy Brickner, the fitness center appeals especially to emergency responders because of the center’s easy accommodation to shift work. “We have many firefighters, police officers, and Emergency Medical Technicians that joined our gym because they like the idea of being able to work out around their shift schedules.” Brickner added, “We value all of the emergency responders of the community and reward them with a 10 percent hero discount.” 

    Anytime Fitness prides itself on being a “specialized boutique fitness center.”  The most popular forms of exercise according to Brickner include cardio weight training and Zumba classes.

    Brickner believes that Anytime Fitness stands out from other clubs located along the Cross Keys Road corridor because of its dedication to customer service. According to Brickner, “We concentrate more on customer service and offer a more hands on approach in helping our members achieve their goals.”

           

Interview with Gloucester Township Mayor-Elect Dave Mayer

Goucester Township Mayor-Elect, Dave Mayer, talks with a campaign supporter during his victory celebration on Tuesday night.

On Tuesday night at 9:45 pm inside a dimly lit packed ballroom located inside the Valleybrook Country Club in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, supporters eagerly awaited the arrival of the newly elected Mayor of Gloucester Township. A cover band named Retro Junk loudly played a cover of the Cars My Best Friend’s Girl in the corner of the ballroom while energized campaign helpers celebrated the achievements of the campaign.  Just moments ago, campaign staff announced the victory of Democratic mayoral candidate and former assemblyman, David R. Mayer, over Republican incumbent, Cindy Rau-Hatton.  Mr. Mayer arrived at 10:00 pm to a crowd of cheering applause to make his acceptance speech.  The Cross Keys Scene interviewed Mayor-Elect, Mayer, following his victory on Tuesday night about his plans for the Cross Keys Road corridor.

Q. Part of what you ran on during your campaign dealt with economic development.  How much of your plan is tied to the  Cross Keys Road corridor?

A. Well certainly the southern part of our town is really the hub of economic development. It’s the fastest growing   part of our community, because it has the most available land.  If you look at the Nike Base ,which is owned by the town now.  We purchased that in 2003. That is key to economic development.  Once the economy starts coming back I think we will have many folks that are interested in developing that land for commercial purposes.  Moving forward, Cross Keys Road is not only a growing section population wise, but also in terms of potential as far as available land.

Commercial Property

Solar Energy

Q. What are some of the specific things you would you like to see be done with Cross Keys Road?

A. I think that we should build commercial properties along the corridor.  You have a lot of rooftops not only in our town but also in Winslow Township that would feed into commercial property there.

A. I would envision commercial property or development along Cross Keys Road along with a combination of solar energy.  By that I mean the back portion of the Nike Base that is next to the Lilly Elementary School.  I think that we should take the back half of the Nike Base and look at developing a solar panel field that would work in concert with some of the other areas in our town.

Q. Another issue that you ran on during your campaign dealt with the Army training facility on Cross Keys and Kearsley roads.  What is your position on that?

A. I am against that facility going on Cross Keys Road at the location that they chose. We have Camden County College,  Lakeland, and the County Vocational School in our town, and we welcome them.  However, they do not pay taxes. To have the federal government come in and take another parcel of property along Cross Keys Road that is a non rateable is not the best economic plan for our community, especially when there is available land at Lakeland and the Vocational School.

Q. When do you think that the Army will come to a decision on the location of the facility?

A. My opinion is that they have already made a decision.  The manner in which the Army conducted its analysis was flawed.  Under the Base Closure and Relocation Law, the Army is required to do an alternative analysis on two sites.  The Army chose Gloucester  and Winslow Townships.  However, the Army’s analysis was flawed because they did not realize that Winslow Township has a sewer moratorium in place.  To me, this is not a viable location because Winslow does not have sewer capacity for that parcel of land.  This is another example of government tripping over itself to make another mistake.  I will do my best to stop it, but I think that the Army has already made a decision.

Shared Services

Better Communication

Q. Considering that Gloucester Township shares opposite sides of the street with Winslow Township, how do you plan to work with Winslow on economic development?

A. Part of the problem with government is that we tend to only look as far as our boundaries are concerned.  That does not foster good planning.  Because of a lack of water or sewer, Winslow will not be able to develop land along the corridor for at least two or three years.  What we have to do is tear down the geographic barriers and communicate better planning between the two townships’ planning boards and government bodies.

A. We should also be talking to Winslow about shared services.  Whether it is sharing our resources for public works, sharing courts, or sharing purchasing, I think that is a real direction forward.

Q. Finally, how do you plan on fixing the police shortage of manpower as the corridor grows?

A. Part of the problem with police is that they are expensive for the taxpayers because of the benefits and their salaries.   It’s part of their job and it’s a very difficult job.  What we can not do is keep going back to the taxpayers and asking them to pay more.  Our position has been during the campaign and will be is that we will use the revenue generated from what we call the “red-light cameras.”  The State of New Jersey already approved “red-light cameras,” similarly to what they have in Philadelphia.  The cameras would take pictures of people going through red lights.  We already have sixteen cameras approved for traffic lights on Blackwood-Clementon Road.  We would use the revenue generated by the cameras solely for hiring additional police officers.  This would take the burden off of the taxpayers to hire more police officers.

Thank you so much for your time Mr. Mayer, considering how busy you are and congratulations on your victory.

Thank you. I appreciate it very much.

In this video from Dave Mayer’s official Youtube campaign web page, Mr. Mayer talks about his background and campaign.