After Nearly 130 Years In Haddonfield, Nonprofit Moves To Mount Laurel
By Ian Bush
HADDONFIELD, N.J. (CBS) --- For well over a century, a nonprofit that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and brain injuries has called Haddonfield home. But now, Bancroft is making a move to Mount Laurel.
After voters in that Camden County borough last year said no to the school district's plan to buy Bancroft's 20 acres, Bancroft boss Toni Pergolin says, "We did go through a pretty comprehensive process to see if we couldn't renovate our facilities right on the Haddonfield campus."
Pergolin says it didn't make sense -- too much upheaval for the 220 students who live there, for one. No other Camden County property fit the bill, so they bought 80 acres of land at Routes 295 and 38 in Burlington County.
How long until a larger school and residential facility open? "We hope the shovel will be in the ground in about 18 months; from there, we think it'll be another 18 months to two years," Pergolin said.
Bancroft's Haddonfield site is now on the market with Mayor Jeff Kasko pinning his hopes on a mixed-use development. "I think the school district would like to use some of it, and we have a lot of people who see the need for additional park space and open space," he said.