How Would Freightway Development Boost School Enrollment? Trusteese Examine Scenarios

After a failed attempt to develop the Freightway site from 2017-2020, the Village Board is relaunching a study to evaluate the potential impacts of building residences, commercial space and parking at the neglected site.

As a first step, the Village Board declared themselves as the lead agency for a Generic Environmental Impact State, or GEIS, “that studies a range of realistic scenarios before any development decision is made and a developer is selected. This means examining a broad range of "what if" scenarios and evaluating how different approaches could affect Scarsdale. If the study concludes that redevelopment cannot meet Scarsdale’s community standards, the Village has no obligation to move forward.”

In order to narrow the scope, the consultants are examining three scenarios, for 100, 200 or 300 residential units at the site. For the purpose of this study, consultants are envisioning condominiums and rental units. The consultants plan to have a draft of the GEIS to the Village Board in a month or so and the Village plans to hold Public Comments sessions on December 3, 10 and 15 (if all are needed).

At a work session of the Village Board on October 27, 2026 the consultant presented an analysis of the potential increase in enrollment to the Scarsdale Public Schools from the three development scenarios.

In order to estimate the number of additional children, they looked at similar developments but said “it is difficult to find comparables.”

For the purpose of the study, they assumed that 50% of the units would be studios and one bedrooms, 40% would be two bedrooms and 10% would be three bedrooms.

One way to estimate the number of school age children is to use census data but the drawbacks are that it has a large margin of error. They did use something called “The Rutgers Study”, which is commonly used in SEQRA impact studies, has a large dataset, and can be broken out by specific housing types, sizes and median value.

Here are the multipliers using the Rutgers Data:

Another method used data from NYC suburban counties and estimated enrollments based on that method.

The consultants also analyzed individual buildings in comparable school districts in our area. Here are those results, which estimate that there would be one additional child per every four units.

Using that multiplier they came up with the following numbers of additional students that would result from the three scenarios.

And last, they the presence of school age children in existing multifamily units in Scarsdale as shown here:

Using the case study multiplier of .256 children – or about one student for every four units, they estimated that 26 students would be added in 100 units, 52 in 200 units and 77 in 300 units. See the presentation here:
Working with the school district they found that the projected enrollment increase could be accommodated at Scarsdale Middle School and Scarsdale High School.

They assumed that the additional elementary school students would be assigned to Fox Meadow Elementary School – and said that in scenarios 1 (100 units) and 2 (200 Units) the capacity could be accommodated but there would be a need for additional staffing.

For the 300 unit scenario, they said that more space would be needed than is currently at Fox Meadow and for all scenarios, there would be transportation impacts.

The study also notes, uncertainties about special education costs. It says:

Special Education, ENL & Support Services

-May require additional staffing or may be accommodated within existing staffing.
-New enrollment adds to existing fiscal and operational uncertainties associated with the provision of these services.

At the full meeting of the Village Board that followed the work session, the board voted to adopt the final scoping document for the Freightways draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement.

Commenting on the Freightway Development Project at Village Hall, Jay Muse who owns Lulu’s Bakery said, “…I want to raise a concern that should have been addressed during the last Freightway redevelopment process, and frankly, should not still be an issue today. As a Garth Road business owner, property owner, and landlord for 25 years, I raised these same concerns six years ago. We were never directly approached or meaningfully included. We were simply expected to hear about public meetings and show up. The last process, as we all know, stalled, and I believe in part because people felt that their voices weren't being heard. And I don't think we can afford to make that mistake again. Your planning documents identified 16 privately owned commercial properties along Garth Road. My question is: Have those property owners, business owners, and residential tenants been contacted directly? If not, can we make that a priority this time? And not just through public meetings, but through meeting meaningful direct outreach. I wouldn't have heard about this meeting unless someone had told me. Another concern is commercial viability. Has the village conducted commercial vacancy and business retention studies to understand why existing storefronts remain vacant and businesses are turning over? For example, CVS, 13,000 square feet, vacant for three years, collecting dust. Your own Freightway studies raised concerns about struggling retailers and vacant storefronts years ago. What specific steps has the Village taken to investigate and address these vacancies, and how we can responsibly plan a major redevelopment without first understanding why existing commercial spaces remain empty. Will the studies address business interruption, potential revenue losses, parking displacement, and customer access during construction? Will the studies evaluate the effects of construction noise, vibration, and traffic on the residents living along Garth Road in Scarsdale. Before this project advances further, directly engage the business owners, property owners, and residential tenants who may be affected, and give us a meaningful role in the planning process this time. We're not asking to stop progress. We're just asking you to be included in it.”