Last demolition company backs out of Camden project

The lone demolition company still under contract to perform some work as part of Camden's large-scale demolition project backed out of the agreement Thursday, according to the city.

Burlington County-based Winzinger Inc. had been awarded the contract to raze 101 buildings as part of the city's planned demolition of almost 600 abandoned and dilapidated properties. But after numerous problems arose with contracts issued in the bidding process, city officials asked the Camden County Improvement Authority to take control of the project earlier this month.

Now the authority, which had been assisting Camden from the beginning, is preparing to put the contracts to demolish the rest of the properties back out to bid.

In light of that development, representatives of Winzinger opted to retract their contract and put that portion of the work back out to bid with the rest, said Camden spokesman Vincent Basara.

The city began the demolitions, believed to be the largest such project in the state, in October. Officials said last year they hoped to have it finished within 18 months. No new timeline has been set.