Financially, the school district already receives 100% of its budget through traditional taxation. In terms of crowding concerns, redevelopment does not simply mean more residential properties; it can also be used for the purposes of developing:
- Civic properties
- Commercial properties
- Cultural centers
- Open spaces
Anticipated Amount of School Children
The anticipated number of school children that come from a new residential unit is dependent on numerous factors, including the:
- Age
- Construction type
- Cost
- Level of amenities
- Number of bedrooms
Studies conducted by the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University, the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, and information from other New Jersey municipalities have shown that the number of school-age children in multi-family housing is dramatically lower than that which comes from a detached single-family dwelling and in many cases is nonexistent. During a recent Downtown New Jersey Annual Conference, the South Orange Village President stated that they were seeing one school-aged child coming from 33 units of multi-family housing.
Analyzing the impact of a project on the schools is an important part of the redevelopment process and one that the Town will prioritize as it proceeds through the planning process.