Local Analysis – Collingswood Borough

Collingswood was first settled in 1681 and incorporated as a borough in 1888. Collingswood’s history dates to the early 1680s when Quaker colonists established their farmsteads on the banks of the Newtown Creek seeking religious freedom and a new life in America. The borough is 1,190 acres in size and is considered a built up community. Collingswood is located in Camden County and is surrounded by the City of Camden, the Townships of Haddon, Cherry Hill and Pennsauken and the Borough of Oaklyn.

Haddon Avenue serves as the major retail district which runs from Camden City to Haddonfield. Its downtown is known for its wide variety of restaurants and retail shops. A number of residential houses along Haddon Avenue have been converted to office use. The Collings at the Lumberyard is a newly constructed 5-story, 104-unit upscale luxury apartment community featuring 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units. Along with the apartments there is 12,000 square feet of office and 1,500 square feet of retail space. It is located along Haddon Avenue and close to the PATCO high speed rail system.

The borough is also home to two theater companies, the Collingswood Community Theatre and the Collingswood Shakespeare Company. They perform throughout the year.

Outdoor recreation is usually performed at Knights Park. Located across from the high school, it acts as the home field for some of the school’s sports activities as well as the Borough’s recreational programs. During the Summer season, outdoor movies and classical concerts are offered at Knights Park.

The Collingswood School District serves public school students from grade pre-K to 12th grade. There are 5 elementary schools (Pre-K to 5); a middle school (6 to 8) and a high school (9 to 12). Students from Oaklyn and Woodlynne attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

Single-family residential provides almost 75% of the tax ratables based upon assessed valuations followed by commercial uses which are primarily found in the downtown area along Haddon Avenue.

The area surrounding the subject is a small commercial district featuring a variety of neighborhood-oriented commercial enterprises, offices and apartment users including numerous restaurants.