Camden high-rise gets a bad grade from the feds

A Camden apartment high-rise targeted by local officials for its allegedly dangerous, deplorable living conditions has been given a failing grade by federal housing inspectors.

Much of the rent for the 321 units in Northgate I is paid by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which subsidizes low-income tenants. The building, near the Ben Franklin Bridge, passed an inspection this spring. But in an inspection this month, it received a score of 27 out of 100, according to a HUD spokesman. A passing grade is 60.

In March, local officials held a news conference at Northgate I to urge federal intervention. The building's owner has 60 days to fix problems cited in the inspection, or Northgate I will lose its federal subsidies.

"While we are disappointed in the results of HUD's inspection and take issue with some of its findings, we knew when we began the process of making repairs that we had much to do," owner Ephraim Hasenfeld said in a statement. "The building is already markedly improved. Our residents are seeing and appreciating the results of our efforts." - Matt Katz