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Split Camden Board OKs Plan To Raze Landmark Hotel

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Camden officials have approved plans to demolish a city landmark.

The city planning board recently voted 3-2 to raze the Plaza Hotel, which operated for several decades before being shuttered in 1985.

Supporters of the plan say the run-down building is a safety hazard that stands in the way of improvements to the area. Calling the site "beyond repair," they say the cost of meeting modern building codes would be prohibitive.

But many activists urged the board to spare the hotel, citing its historical significance. They say that allowing the site to be razed rewards the hotel's owners for allowing it to deteriorate.

No date has been set for the demolition, but officials say it could occur in the coming weeks. Future plans for the site remain under discussion.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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