Archive for the 'Gedney Farms' Category

Gedney Farms – White Plains NY – Single Family Homes

Gedney Farms White Plains NYGedney Farms White Plains NY:

When buyers are looking for high-end single family homes in White Plains NY – A home with plenty of green space and old-world charm – Gedney Farms is the first neighborhood that comes to mind.  Gedney Farms was named after John Gedney  who bought the land in 1740.   Gedney Farms was a working farm that remained within the Gedney family right through the Civil War.  It has long ceased to be farmland and is now a well established neighborhood.

Through much of the Gedney area the  zoning is for no more than three homes per acre, so most lots have at least .33 acres of land  which for lower Westchester is very difficult to find at a decent price.   The roads are fairly narrow the wind around giving the feeling of country roads. No checkerboard streets here!  This is also a plus because the streets are generally quiet as this discourages cut-through traffic that sometimes occurs in other parts of White Plains.  The homes are a mix of Tudors and colonials many of them built during the Great Depression or before with a smaller percentage being built in the 50s and 60w. This is a mature neighborhood with very little buildable land remaining.

The Ridgeway Golf Course:

The Ridgeway golf course defines the neighborhood and depending on your location.  It bisects the Gedney neighborhood in several places and many of the homes have spectacular golf course views. Some even have the fairways coming right into their back yards giving an illusion of  almost endless open space.  This type of amenity is difficult to match in lower Westchester and is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the City Center and the Ritz Carlton of downtown White Plains.  Some homes have their back yards extending right into the fairways.  It looks like open space as far as the eyes can see.

Unfortunately, at this time the fate of the Ridgeway golf club is not settled.  Although the club has no wish to sell its land to developers, difficult financial times may force that issue.  So far they have been holding on.  Much of the area is wetlands, so the quantity of building would be quite limited. Nevertheless, the loss of such a vista would be a blow to the area.  Everyone is hoping that this issue will resolve itself as the economy continues to improve.

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Gedney Farms Neighborhood is Rocked by Potential Sale of the Ridgeway Golf Club

Ridgeway Golf Course White Plains - Hathaway LaneThese days when New Yorkers think of White Plains NY, they think of high-rise luxury living at the Ritz Carlton or Trump Tower. However, White Plains has a softer more residential side concentrated at the southern end of the city. The dichotomy between the residential and urban ends of the city is actually quite politically charged. Locals often describe these conflicts as “north end” vs. “south end.”

Gedney Farms is one of the premier high-end single-family neighborhoods at the southern tip of the city. The lots are large – generally over over a third of an acre. The homes are elegant and graceful with many striking pre-war Tudors and Colonials gracing the winding streets. Dominating the scene are golf course views enjoyed by many residents – courtesy of the Ridgeway Golf Club. The neighborhood of Gedney Farms was rocked by the news that the golf course views that are such a dominating feature of the neighborhood might be a mere memory in a few years.

History of the Ridgeway Golf Course and Current Status:

The Golf course itself has been around since 1914 and was initially part of the famous Gedney Farms Hotel which burned down in 1924. The golf course was taken over by Ridgeway about 60 years ago. This recession has known no economic barrier and some Country Clubs have been hit hard. Ridgeway has been no exception. At an open meeting of Gedney residents on May 6, Henry Shyer, the president of the Ridgeway golf club laid the shaky finances of the golf club on the line. They need 65 new members at $15,000 a year to make up their budget shortfall.While seeking new membership, the 114 acre golf course has also been put on the market for $20 million. A provision of the sale is that the golf course remain a golf course for the next five years.

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