On-site primary healthcare is now available at the recently established senior-oriented, affordable housing complex in Camden.
In the heart of Camden, New Jersey, a new development is making waves—the Oliver Station, an affordable housing complex for residents aged 55 and older. This mixed-use development, a collaboration between Virtua Health and The Michaels Organization, integrates a primary care office on-site to provide accessible healthcare directly within the community.
The $24 million Oliver Station complex, named after two New Jersey leaders, Rev. Thomas Clement Oliver, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver who passed away in 2023, is located just a few hundred feet from the PATCO Ferry Avenue stop. The building houses a new Virtua Health primary care office on the first floor, staffed by attending physicians, medical residents, nurses, social workers, and other health providers.
This development is part of New Jersey’s Hospital Partnership Subsidy Program, designed to build mixed-use communities near hospitals to improve health and housing equity. The project features 47 modern one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside a 5,200–5,350 square-foot clinical space.
For the residents, this means high-quality primary care that will be literally at their doorstep. The health office emphasizes ease of access for preventative care, chronic condition management, and geriatric care, addressing barriers many seniors face, such as transportation and mobility issues.
Located adjacent to the Ferry Avenue PATCO commuter station and less than half a mile from Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Oliver Station enhances transportation accessibility for residents and supports connection to advanced medical services. The community includes amenities such as a fitness center, laundry, and a community room to support well-being and social engagement.
Lettie Draine, 61, is one of the first people to move into one of the 47 apartments in mid-July. For her, the convenience of having healthcare services right in her building is a game-changer.
Oliver Station represents a model for integrating affordable housing with healthcare services. It is the second such community in New Jersey, following a similar development in Paterson supported by the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, which aims to replicate this approach statewide. This state-led initiative to expand affordable housing options with on-site health access is expected to influence future developments, improving health equity in underserved areas beyond Camden.
Dennis Pullin, president and CEO at Virtua Health, stated that the project will be life-changing for many people. Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen hopes that this project will serve as a model for other communities and make Camden a desirable place to live due to the availability of healthcare services.
Dr. Mithil Choksey, a geriatrician, stated that putting health care services at the center of housing solves problems related to access and time for residents, particularly for preventative medical appointments and follow-ups for chronic health issues.
Virtua Health is collaborating with other health systems and real estate developers to open more health housing complexes. The state agency’s Hospital Subsidy Partnership Program is helping to open more health housing complexes throughout New Jersey, with one already opened in Paterson.
In summary, Oliver Station’s combined affordable senior housing and healthcare services improve the residents' quality of life and represent a scalable approach to addressing intertwined housing and health disparities in New Jersey communities.
- The integration of a primary care office within the Oliver Station development, a collaboration between Virtua Health and The Michaels Organization, aligns with the objective of the State's Hospital Partnership Subsidy Program, which aims to build communities near hospitals to foster health and housing equity.
- The Oliver Station complex, with its on-site fitness center, laundry facilities, and community room, supports not only the health-and-wellness but also the overall well-being of its residents, providing an environment that encourages fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and social engagement.
- In an effort to expand affordable housing options with on-site health access, the state agency is collaborating with health systems and real estate developers, like Virtua Health, to open more health housing complexes, thereby improving access to healthcare services and investing in the real-estate market while addressing financial concerns of the residents.
