Plans Scrapped For Observation Tower In Camden

By Mike DeNardo

CAMDEN, N.J., (CBS) – Plans for an observation tower in Camden near the Adventure Aquarium have officially been abandoned.

When it was announced in October 2013, then-Adventure Aquarium executive director Kevin Keppel envisioned the 300-foot observation tower would boost area tourism.

"We absolutely are sure that it's going to be an incredibly popular attraction."

But the $5 million project to be designed and built by London-based Tower Systems, LTD never got off the ground.  Now, the plan has been officially scrapped, says Aquarium spokeswoman Deanna Sabec.

"It was a number of factors. I think the overall concept and design -- it didn't work for us after it was proposed and then brought to the actual site where we were going to build it."

Sabec says to the best of her knowledge, Tower Systems, LTD had never actually built an observation tower like the one planned for Camden.  The company did not return our call requesting comment.  Sabec says the Aquarium has no plans to revive the concept with another vendor.