Key to vibrancy, Howard said, comes from the community’s location just outside the Dayton Public School District. It’s a factor he believes helped entice nearly a fifth of all city employees to become residents there. “Our strength is real simple,” Howard said. “It’s called Huber Heights schools.”
City leaders fear the forced end to Dayton’s employee residency requirement could change the makeup of neighborhoods like Howard’s.
In the 26 days since the Ohio Supreme Court upheld a state law banning residency restrictions, 34 city employees — including 17 firefighters and 10 police officers — have submitted address changes outside Dayton.
“I think the lifting of the residency requirement will affect some neighborhoods more than others,” Dayton City Commissioner Nan Whaley said. “It is important for the city to pay close attention to these neighborhoods over the next five years.”
Keep reading: Survey says workers are likely to move out of Dayton
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