_{Oliver Station a collaboration between The Michaels Organization and Virtua Health, is a vibrant new housing and health care community in Camden's Whitman Park neighborhood.} 

Oliver Station, a transformative 47-unit facility for seniors in Camden that integrates housing and health care, created in collaboration by Virtua Health, The Michaels Organization and the NJHMFA, celebrated a grand opening Thursday. 

The $24 million facility, located at 1800 Davis Street in Camden’s Whitman Park (near the PATCO Ferry Ave Station), is intended for individuals 55 and over.  

Its uniqueness stems from the 5,200-square-foot primary care practice situated on the first floor to be run by Virtua Health. 

The practice, which will include 10 exam rooms, will be staffed by internal medicine physicians, who have additional education in complex and chronic diseases. Moreover, the practice is a training site for medical residents (newly graduated doctors who are completing their required medical training). This academic model provides patients with a high level of care, as they receive attention from both a teaching doctor and a resident at each visit. 

The practice also provides a full spectrum of related services to keep you well, including health literacy education, nutrition counseling, and other supports for the social factors that affect health. 

Even more, the practice will welcome non-residents, serving as a vital resource for the broader Camden community. And it sits less than a half mile from Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, the health system’s hub for specialized care, including advanced cardiovascular and organ transplantation services, should a higher level of care be needed. 

The name Oliver Station pays homage to the Reverend Thomas Clement Oliver (1818 -1900), a conductor on the Underground Railroad who briefly lived in Camden. He once presided over the Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church, Camden’s oldest African American institution and a refuge for freedom seekers, according to the State of New Jersey. 

The name Oliver Station acquired a second meaning in August 2023, following the death of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver. 

Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen said the historical significance of the building is well intentioned. 

“Lt. Governor Oliver recognized the link between safe housing and sustainable health, and she advocated for those who encounter barriers to achieving both,” he said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to her – and the Reverend Thomas Clement Oliver – with this beautiful addition to Camden’s Whitman Park neighborhood.” 

Work on the facility began in 2023. It included a $4.1 million contributions from Virtua Health and a $4.2 million from the NJHMFA.