Cathedral Kitchen

2001 – The Board of Directors of the CK determined that a permanent location for its operations was necessary to ensure the stability of the meal program and to allow the CK to expand services to enable dinner guests to become more self-sufficient. During its history, the Cathedral Kitchen has moved seven times, always operating in rented or loaned space. With each move, meal preparation became more and more difficult, yet the number of dinner guests continued to grow. The current location of the Kitchen was never meant to be permanent. The space is being loaned to us and it is woefully inadequate for the program.

September 2003 – CK and the Camden Redevelopment Agency (CRA) agree on a location for the new facility at 1514 Federal Street.

January 2004 - Clemens Construction Company was hired to manage the design/build project.

September of 2004 - Work on the project began with the development of the programming for the building, which was facilitated by DAS Architects. Space requirements were mapped out with the input of CK staff and board members, and conceptual designs were assembled and reviewed. Exterior elevations and a rendering of the building were completed.

Rendering of the new building prepared for DAS Architects

December 2004 – A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between CK and the CRA to include the CRA’s demolition of the existing building (demolished in September of 2005) and environmental testing and remediation (began in October 2005) to deliver the land in buildable condition. The site was designated a “brownfields” site by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

January 2005 - The project entered the design development phase, and DAS began to develop the drawings for the building. Sustainable design elements were included to achieve LEED certified status for the facility.

The floor plan allows for feeding the poor, as well as providing other services.
April 2005 - Applications for zoning variances were approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and site plan approval was obtained from the Camden City Planning Board.

July 2005 – The Diocese of Camden kicked off the silent phase of the capital campaign with the first gift to the project of $250,000.

November 2006 - CK kicked-off the public phase of its capital campaign, headed by Gil Medina (former State Deputy of Commerce and now with Cushman Wakefield) and Cal Maradonna (Rutgers University). These two individuals were college classmates many years ago and have joined together to lead the campaign.

Supporters gathered at Cathedral Kitchen to kick off the public phase of the capital campaign. Pictured above are (R-L) one of CK’s original founders and current board member Domenic Vallone, Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Gil Medina and Cal Maradonna, Executive Director Karen Talarico, board members Ed Clarke and Maribel Patruno, supporter NunzioPatruno, and the building’s architect David Schultz.

January 2007 – The CRA and CK entered into a Redevelopment Agreement that provided for the transfer of the 1514 Federal Street site to CK.

August 2007 – Environmental remediation at the site was completed

September 2007 - Clemens obtained construction bids for the facility and a contract was signed for the construction of the building. The closing for transfer of ownership of the site from the CRA to CK took place on September 7.

Pictured above is Carrie Turner of the Camden Redevelopment Agency handing over the keys to the new site to CK’s Executive Director Karen Talarico and Board President Tom Bergbauer, Jr.

A groundbreaking ceremony occurred September 14; construction is expected to take six to eight months.

Pictured here (R-L) are Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Cal Maradonna and Gil Medina, Camden’s Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, Carrie Turner of the Camden Redevelopment Agency, Mujiba Salaam Parker of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, The Most Reverend Joseph Galante, Bishop of Camden, Executive Director Karen Talarico, and Board President Thomas Bergbauer, Jr. Pictured in the background is Cathedral Kitchen’s Chef, Clyde “Pop” Jones.

Fall of 2007 – Site work is begun and the steel structure which will form the frame of the building is ordered for delivery in December of 2007.

Soil is delivered and compacted to support the building foundation.

SPRING 2008

The site is finally ready for construction to start.

The building footprint is marked out.

First pour! Concrete is poured for the building foundation.

The walls go up! Because the property sits on a flood plane, the first floor will actually sit 5 feet above the ground.

The concrete boom pouring the back foundation wall.

Inside the foundation before the fill arrives.

Constructing the rebar for the front ramp.

Front ramp takes shape.

The plumbing starts going in.

300 yards and 1.2 million pounds of concrete is poured to create a five-foot rise to the first floor as a result of the site being on a flood plane.

The frame goes up in May!

CK Board President, Tom Bergbauer, and Executive Director, Karen Talarico, make regular visits to the site to oversee the progress.

Fast forward to October 31, 2008, when Cathedral Kitchen held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on the finished building.

The new commercial kitchen is designed to accommodate our meal program, as well as be a teaching facility for students in our Culinary Arts Training (CAT) program.

We hope our new facility will be a beacon of hope in the community of Camden.

To volunteer to serve dinner at the Kitchen or for any other volunteer opportunities, please email volunteer@cathedralkitchen.org or call 856-964-6771.

Cathedral Kitchen

Our New Home

Project Timeline/Photos