This paper offers a mixed–method analysis of the municipal–level consequences of an affordable housing development built in suburban New Jersey. Opponents of affordable housing development often suggest that creating affordable housing will harm surrounding communities. Feared consequences include increases in crime, declining property values, and rising taxes. To evaluate these claims, the paper uses the case of Mount Laurel, New Jersey—the site of a landmark affordable housing legal case and subsequent affordable housing development. Employing a multiple time series group control design, we compare crime rates, property values, and property taxes in Mount Laurel to outcomes in similar nearby municipalities that do not contain comparable affordable housing developments. We find that the opening of the affordable housing development was not associated with trends in crime, property values, or taxes, and discuss management practices and design features that may have mitigated potential negative externalities.
¿Los Proyectos de Vivienda Asequibles Dañan a las Comunidades Suburbanas? Crimen, Valores de Propiedad e Impuestos en Mount Laurel, NJ. (Len Albright, Elizabeth S. Derickson y Douglas S. Massey)
Resumen
Con el uso de varios métodos de análisis, este artículo ofrece un análisis de las consecuencias a nivel municipal de un proyecto de vivienda asequible construido en la zona suburbana de New Jersey. Los opositores a proyectos de vivienda asequible generalmente sugieren que la creación de este tipo de proyectos daña a las comunidades aledañas. Las consecuencias temidas incluyen incrementos en crimen, reducción del precio de las propiedades, y aumento de los impuestos. Para evaluar estos argumentos, éste artículo usa el caso de Mt. Laurel, NJ – el caso de un proceso judicial y el subsecuente proyecto de vivienda asequible. Utilizando un diseño de grupos de control a través de una serie de tiempo, comparamos las tasas de criminalidad, el valor de las viviendas y el valor de los impuestos a la propiedad en Mt. Laurel con los de municipalidades cercanas que no tienen proyectos de vivienda asequible similares. Encontramos que la apertura de dicho proyecto de vivienda asequible no está asociada con cambios en los niveles de criminalidad, en los valores de las viviendas, e impuestos. Asimismo discutimos prácticas de administración y cuestiones de diseño que pueden haber mitigado las externalidades negativas potenciales.
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