Neighborhood Charm and Quick Commute: Why Rutgers–Camden Faculty are Calling Camden “Home”

This is the life for nearly 100 Rutgers–Camden faculty and staff who live in Camden, a city whose headlines often overshadow its quaint neighborhoods and hearty camaraderie. From a criminologist who restored her historic home in the Fairview section, to a former Moorestown empty nester who relocated with his wife to waterfront apartment living, to a world-traveler who has finally put down roots in one city, to an urbanist steadfast in making a difference, all of these Rutgers professors now call Camden home. These stories reflect surprising glimpses into the everyday lives of Camden’s newest residents. 

Six years ago, Gail Caputo stopped renting in Haddonfield to buy property in a city she thought was perfect for her: Camden.

“It’s just convenient. I live three miles from campus. It’s really affordable. That’s why I wanted to live in Camden,” notes the associate professor of criminal justice at Rutgers–Camden.

While her house evolved from being boarded up to now resembling its original 1918 grandeur, Caputo also witnessed her street blossom. On Caputo’s block of eight homes in the Fairview section, more than a dozen trees have been planted, thanks to the New Jersey Tree Foundation. But while the neighborhood itself has improved physically, what Caputo likes best about living in Camden is definitely the people.

“There are good people that live around me. My neighbor will feed and take care of my dogs when I work and I’ll take care of hers when she works.  Another neighbor is known for baking pies. People know I’m handy, so they come to me to borrow tools,” she adds. “We all look after each other.”

Part of Caputo’s life in Camden includes a morning jog in which she sees her friends, and strangers, across town. Most people, she reports, say hello. When asked what surprised her most about living in Camden, she cites this friendliness.

“What surprises me is this ‘neighborhoody’ feel where people actually pay attention to each other. Maybe it’s the proximity of the homes to the street. Maybe it co

Alan Tarr, a Rutgers–Camden political science professor, also credits the people as to why he enjoys living in the city. He and his wife, Susan, have become involved with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, which has led to their development of a new set of friends. The couple has lived in The Victor, a 341-unit luxury apartment complex and landmark building near campus, for more than two years. After raising their children in Cherry Hill and Moorestown they decided to relocate to an urban setting.

“We have always loved city living, ever since we lived in Hyde Park in Chicago while I was attending graduate school at the University of Chicago,” Tarr remarks.

Camden perks for Tarr include the striking view of the Philadelphia skyline and the car-free lifestyle. “We love the proximity to campus – the best commute is a walk, not a ride,” he says. “And we are also able to take advantage of activities on campus, like Symphony in C concerts,” he adds.

Having things to do in Camden also surprised Jon’a Meyer, an associate professor of criminal justice at Rutgers–Camden, who purchased property on Penn Street in April.  

“When I have visitors, we go to Riversharks games, on walking tours, to the Aquarium or the Battleship, and of course, we walk across the bridge to Philly, which we consider a part of Camden. I’m still impressed by the city’s fairly lustrous past. In 1912, Camden was one of the nation’s top bedroom communities,” Meyer says.

While Meyer is now a Camden homeowner, she previously rented in the city at two different locations for over a decade. For Meyer, Camden has been the city that has held her heart (and her mailing address) for the longest period.

“I’ve lived in lots of cities in my life,” she adds. “Believe it or not, Camden compares favorably.” 

Robyne Turner, a recently appointed associate professor of public policy, decided to start her Rutgers–Camden experience by living near campus in the Cooper Grant neighborhood. A revitalization and community development scholar, Turner says deciding to live in Camden was about being close to work, but more so about practicing what she preaches.

“My thing is that if I’m going to teach urban revitalization, I need to live that,” notes Turner, who last lived in Kansas City. And while Turner admits that the Cooper Grant section is actually a welcoming neighborhood full of diverse neighbors and appealing architectural accoutrements, she still understands the pull of negative perception.

“Camden has a tough reputation, but I came here because of the revitalization needs of the city,” she says. “There is opportunity here for research and development, but there’s also a need to get past negative perception.”

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