Headline: From Atco Movies to a 268K‑SF Warehouse — What Waterford’s New Development Means for I‑295 Travelers and Local Shops
By Ari Williams — 295Times.com (Waterford, Camden County)
If you grew up grabbing popcorn at the old Atco movie site, the change on that parcel will feel like the end of an era. A 268,000‑square‑foot warehouse is now under development on the former Atco Movies property in Waterford Township, and while it won’t play the latest blockbuster, it could play a big role in the local economy — and in how drivers use the stretches of I‑295 that serve Waterford and Atco.
What’s happening, in plain terms
The former Atco movie site — long a local landmark — is being redeveloped into a large logistics/distribution building. The size of the project (roughly 268K square feet) places it in the class of regional warehouses that have been locating near South Jersey highways over the past decade. Local planning and construction activity has already begun, and this parcel is one of several in the county undergoing major reuse as industrial or film‑production support space.
Why Waterford and the I‑295 corridor make sense
Waterford sits inside Camden County and sits within the web of roads that link South Jersey to the Philadelphia metro area. For distribution and logistics uses, proximity to I‑295 and other regional arteries is a major draw — it speeds deliveries into Philadelphia, I‑95/I‑76 connections, and points south and east across New Jersey.
If you’re coming off I‑295 at an exit that serves Waterford/Atco, you’ll notice more truck movements at peak hours as the project ramps up. A warehouse of this scale will bring regular inbound and outbound truck traffic, employee shifts, and service vehicles; that’s good business for local gas stations, diners, and sandwich shops, but it can also raise concerns about noise, road wear, and intersection backups on routes that weren’t designed for constant heavy truck flow.
Jobs, taxes, and neighborhood effects
The headline positives are straightforward: these projects typically add local jobs (from warehouse floor positions to site maintenance and security), and they expand the town’s tax base without adding school‑age children as often as residential developments do. For a small town like Waterford, that can mean more ratables to help support municipal services.
On the flip side, residents often worry about quality‑of‑life tradeoffs. Large buildings can change sightlines and neighborhood character, and increased truck traffic can impact safety and congestion. Sound‑stage or film‑support uses — because the parcel has been discussed in the context of “movie property” redevelopment — can add night and weekend work schedules that differ from typical daytime manufacturing or retail operations.
What local businesses might gain — or lose
Nearby eateries, bodegas, and service businesses frequently see a bump in daytime traffic once a warehouse opens and staff begin regular shifts. Local contractors, truck stops, and truck service centers can gain customers. Conversely, small retail establishments that rely on leisurely retail foot traffic (think antique stores or small boutiques) may not see the same benefits, since distribution center employees often eat on site or bring food from chain locations.
Community reaction and how to follow the conversation
Conversations about developments like this tend to split along familiar lines: people who prioritize jobs and ratables vs. residents focused on traffic, aesthetics, and preservation of local landmarks. If you want to see what your neighbors are saying, check local forums and business pages — Google Maps shows the site’s proximity to nearby roads and businesses, Yelp often carries reviews that reflect how local restaurants and services feel about new daytime customers, and community‑level coverage at NJ.com or Patch can provide reporting on planning board decisions and public comment.
Why this matters to drivers at your exit
If you use an I‑295 exit that serves Waterford or Atco, expect construction traffic during the build phase and increased truck activity when the warehouse opens. That can mean:
– Peak‑hour slowdowns on approaches to the exit or at nearby signalized intersections.
– More semis turning on and off main corridors — pay attention at industrial access roads.
– Shifts in where people stop for coffee or lunch, which can be an opportunity for local eateries that adapt to early or late shift schedules.
A couple of practical next steps for neighbors
– Watch the Waterford Township planning board agendas for final approvals, traffic‑impact studies, and posted mitigation measures (truck routing, signage, off‑site road improvements).
– Attend public hearings if you have concerns about hours of operation, lighting, or truck routes.
– If you’re a small business owner, consider adjusting hours or offering grab‑and‑go options to capture warehouse staff during shift changes.
Putting this in context
South Jersey has been experiencing a steady churn of former retail, movie, and industrial sites being repurposed for logistics or film‑production support. The Atco parcel is another example of that trend — one that carries clear benefits for municipal tax coffers and employment but also requires thoughtful local planning to manage trucks, traffic, and neighborhood impacts.
We’ll keep tracking this project and how it affects the I‑295 exits and corridors you use every day. For now, if you want a closer look, pull up the location on Google Maps to see road access and nearby businesses, and check local reporting on NJ.com or Patch for planning updates and public‑meeting notes. If you live or work near the site and want to share what you’re seeing or feeling, send us a note at 295Times — you’ll hear from me, Ari, and we’ll keep this community conversation going.
