Camden Public Works crews spent Tuesday cleaning up an unused gas station that county and city leaders identified as the turning point of the disaster.

The property is located just off Thorndyke Street along the westbound lanes of Admiral Wilson Boulevard leading to Camden and Philadelphia.

Camden city inspectors said the property, which last functioned as a gas station in 2019, resulted in thousands of dollars in code violations, including overgrown weeds, failure to clean up graffiti and failure to secure the property.

“The conditions here on this particular property are completely unacceptable,” Mayor Vic Carstarphen said. “It has become a haven for garbage. It has become a haven for crime and it has become a haven for negative activity.”

Gilbert and Emily Rivera can see the property right outside the windows of their family home.

“It’s hard because you’re a homeowner and when you look out your window you want to see a beautiful view, but instead you see people throwing trash,” Emily Rivera said. “Not a pretty sight.”

Gilbert Rivera is excited about city crews cleaning up the property.

“I’m so glad to see this,” Gilbert Rivera said. “I’m so happy, wow! It’s been a long time.”

However, the cost of the cleanup is $25,000, and the municipality is demanding a refund from the property owner.

The city plans to foreclose on the property, even though city inspectors complained that property owners did not respond to notices of violations.

The owners of the property, Pontus Capital Shell Portfolio LLC, are affiliated with Pontus Capital, which has issued the following statement:

“We share the City’s concerns regarding the condition of the property and appreciate the opportunity to provide context to this complex situation. The Camden property is currently subject to a long-term lease with a tenant who recently filed for bankruptcy. Under the terms of this agreement, Tenant assumes full responsibility for the maintenance and continued operation of the property Even though the tenant has failed to comply with these obligations, our ability to take immediate remedial action is legally constrained by both the existing lease terms and the tenant’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.

The ownership group, comprised of out-of-state passive investors, has never occupied or maintained legal title to the property. “Despite not generating any rental income for several years, Pontus is committed to working constructively with the City of Camden to resolve these issues within our legal limitations.”