The overlooked role of school zones in early-stage feasibility

Article
Written By Arash Shahi

RESCON Newsletter: Residential Builder

Feb 1st, 2025 | Page 32

School zones quietly shape buyer demand, pricing, and absorption, yet they are rarely treated with the same discipline as zoning or official plans in early-stage feasibility. In this article for RESCON, Arash Shahi outlines how school catchments, rankings, and capacity rules influence what gets built and for whom, particularly in family-oriented housing and missing-middle projects. When these factors are deferred or handled informally, teams risk basing feasibility on incomplete assumptions.

The piece argues for a shift in approach: treating school zone data as a foundational planning input rather than a late-stage consideration. By highlighting the fragmentation and inaccessibility of current school data, the article shows how early, standardized integration can reduce rework, improve clarity, and lead to more predictable outcomes across planning and development workflows.

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