Introduction
Grand Avenue in East Camden runs parallel to Marlton Avenue, from Berkley Street to Baird Boulevard. With Eutaw Avenue, it is one of two streets running lengthwise within the rough triangle formed by Baird Boulevard, South 27th Street, and Marlton Avenue.
The street is named for no one or no thing in particular, it just seems to be a name chosen almost at random. The street itself almost appears an afterthought, development being done in fits and starts. There are indications that there were plans at one time to extend the street across Baird Boulevard, in back of the supermarket on Marlton Pike straight through to Bank Street.
An alley runs in back of the houses on Baird Boulevard, from the 2600 block of Mickle Street to Grand Avenue. In the triangle formed by this alley, Eutaw and Grand Avenues, is a city-owned playground, with basketball courts. This playground was unfortunately the site of drug sales and gang activity in the 1980s and 1990s.
One row of homes in the 200 block of Grand Avenue were built prior to 1947, part of the development that occurred in the 200 block of Eutaw. Shortly thereafter the Washington Apartments and the Beth Israel Synagogue were built, and row homes were built in the block between Midvale and Baird Boulevard at about the same time.
Grand Avenue — March 14, 2004
Grand Avenue as seen from Berkley Street, including the former Beth Israel Synagogue — March 14, 2004.
2 New York Men Held in $500,000 Heroin Bust
Camden Courier-Post —
Following the largest seizure of heroin here in recent memory, two New Yorkers are accused of trying to sell about a pound of the drug to an undercover investigator.
Paul Rivera, 38, of the Bronx, and Jorge L. Arudell, 35, of Elmhurst were being held Monday at Camden County Jail.
They are accused of conspiring to distribute 440 grams of heroin. Rivera and Arudell allegedly tried to sell the drugs for $80,000 to an undercover investigator in East Camden.
The heroin — with a street value of $500,000 or more — was bound for two East Camden drug markets, said Camden Police Detective Fred Davis. The drugs were seized Thursday at a home in the 200 block of Grand Avenue, Camden.
The seizure is the largest amount of heroin confiscated at any one time in Camden in recent memory, law enforcement officials said.
Also seized were $4,000 in cash and four vehicles.
Federal Magistrate Robert Kugler ordered Rivera held in lieu of $50,000 cash bail during a hearing in Camden Monday.
U.S. District Court Judge Joel B. Rosen ordered Arudell held without bail on Friday.