Archive for the 'Walkable Neighborhoods in Westchester' Category
Every once in a while its good to treat yourself. A friend of mine, Janet, came up from the city one night a few weeks ago to enjoy a some village life in Tarrytown NY. She was on her way back from a trip across the Tappan Zee bridge – so the location was perfect for both of us. We decided to try our luck at Sweet Grass Grill – which has gotten a lot of buzz as one of the best restaurants in Westchester since it was opened by David Starkey a little over a year ago. There are quite a few fine Tarrytown restaurants, but few had such consistently fine feedback.
The atmosphere is informal and in keeping with the turn-of-the century flair of Tarrytown’s Main Street. The paintings and facade reflect the artistic nature of the village perfectly. Dining outside is terrific, but on that evening it was actually quite warm so air conditioning won over the great outdoors.
The restaurant offers a seasonal menu and uses as much locally grown produce as is possible.
Janet enjoyed the lamb cooked two ways. A shoulder which which was actually ground up like a meat ball and a braised loin. They were accompanied by a spicy carrot sauce that includes carrots currents and chives. Added to the dish are lentils Twhich she told me really added flair and flavor. Janet is a true foodie and a great cook in her own right – so for her to be duly pleased is impressive.
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I was in Tarrytown NY last night enjoying a late latte at Coffee Labs and wandering around enjoying one of the nicest evenings this summer has had to offer up. Suddenly – right in front of me is this tree. It’s an ordinary tree like all the others on Main Street. It’s around 11 PM and I was tired. But there was something different about the tree…It had a bunch of paper notes hung on it like ornaments on a Christmas tree. I looked at the pieces of paper and they all had writing scribbled on them. Each note began with “I wish.” Then on the trunk of the tree was a little box which held the paper pieces and a pen – and on the box it said “Wish Tree.”
I looked at the notes and to my delight very few of them were trivial. I saw nothing like “I wish I had a nicer car” or “I wish I could afford a bigger house.” Instead many of them were wishes made on behalf of others. Truth be told, we seem to have precious little of this these days. In a world that leans more and more towards the “I’ve got mine” or “Let them eat cake” mindset – it was so refreshing to see this tree with all these wishes – many of the totally unselfish.
Although I do business in many villges in Westchster NY – Tarrytown is on of my favorite locations. Truth be told, this is one of the reasons I like Tarrytown so much. It’s vibrant – at 11 PM the streets were packed – no sleepy village feel here. They don’t roll up the streets at 6 PM. People were still dining – coming out of the Tarrytown Music Hall and walking the downtown. But it is also a community with a heart and soul of its own.
I apologize for the quality of the photos – but I didn’t have my large camera with me – these were taking from my “older” iPhone – not the newer fancy model with better pixel density.
One of the tags on the collage below in the collage states simply “I wish all these wishes could come true!” I do too!
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Tarrytown NY is known for its shopping and fine dining. Tarrytown NY restaurants are known for their variety and quality and during the summer months tables and umbrellas dot the landscape of Broadway and Main St. while residents and visitor enjoy outdoor dining. Personally, I like Tarrytown. It has all the charm of a turn-of-the-century Westchester village with an artsy edge that gives it personality and just a touch of funk. Although restaurants like Sweetgrass Tarrytown which offers only the best in organic fine dining, there is an informality that is very appealing and not as apparent in some of the villages along the Long Island Sound. Since Tarrytown to Grand Central is only 37 minutes by express train, this is a commuter village with a vibe all its own.
Attention condo/cooperative board members and management. I know that times are difficult and that units are not selling like they were. This is particularly true since the tax credit has just expired. Westchester condos and coops are often the first step on the ladder to home ownership – so complexes that have entry to mid-level prices will be impacted the most by the expiration of the first time home buyer’s tax credit. The inventory of condos for sale Westchester NY is very high.
But nothing is worse for values in your complex than a ton of listings just sitting on the MLS going nowhere. Ok – so how can you help move these units ….let me count the ways.
1. Don’t make getting through the front line-security something akin to the landing at Normandy. Security is great – requesting a card from the agent is fine, but make sure that the building is actually accessible including the amenities. After all the buyer is often buying the lifestyle associated with the complex. It does no good for me to say “Oh and you should SEE the gym!” When they can’t see the gym because it is locked and no one has an access key.
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Like the rest of Larchmont, homes zoned for the Chatsworth Ave Elementary School feature the best of what a Westchester bedroom community has to offer. Homes in this particular school zone cover two distinct neighborhoods.
Homes in the Village of Larchmont:
Homes in the village of Larchmont feature tree-lined streets and pre-war homes packed with Old-World charm and character. They range in style from rambling Victorians with wrap-around porches, graceful colonials and impressive Tudors. Typically, the homes in the village sit on smaller lots, though there is still a feeling of space and privacy. These are mature neighborhoods with old-growth which adds to a sense of privacy.
Convenience is a very big amenity of this part of Larchmont. It is easy to leave the car behind and walk to shops and fine dining. Many leave the car and walk to the train and end up doing their shopping on their way home. Most locations in the village are eaily accessible by foot to Metro-North. Walk Scores range from very walkable to walker’s paradise – which is very unusual for single-family home neighborhoods.
Real estate in Scarsdale NY has a remarkably sparse number of cooperatives located within the Scarsdale municipality. The famous Garth Road cooperatives – though conveniently located with resepect to Metro-North and village shopping, are not truly in the Village of Scarsdale. If you are looking a cooperative that is located in the Village of Scarsdale with easy access to the train station as well as shops and Scarsdale restaurants, then the Chateaux of Scarsdale is one complex that fits the bill. The location couldn’t be better for the commuter - you can even grab a quick morning drink at Starbucks on your way to the train platform.
The Chauteaux in Scarsdale NY:
The Chauteaux is an elegant pre-war garden complex located just off of East Parkway on Chauteaux Circle. Mature growth gives and the unique garden-style buildings a tremendous amount of grace. The setting is peaceful in spite of being in the middle of the village. And you can’t ask for a better location. You can easily leave the car for day to day errands. Shops are just around the corner, dining out is just steps away.
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When people think of real estate in Scarsdale NY they tend to think of single- family homes and high-end cooperatives with Old-World charm. Scarsdale Manor is one of the larger cooperative complexes on the famous Garth Road. The area reflects the mature elegance of Scarsdale Village and features many pre-war complexes that were converted into cooperatives in the 1980s. It is a mature community with very little space for new development.
Scarsdale Manor Complex:
Scarsdale Manor like many of the buildings surrounding it, is a pre-war complex which is reflected in the grace of the structure and the grace that the units inside convey. A 1 BR unit can range in size from 725 – 950 sf while 2 BR units range from 900-1250 sf. Many of the 1 BR units are sold as Jr.4’s . To me this is a misnomer. The extra room is really dedicated dining area – or dining room – and not truly a dedicated area like a home office as the term implies. Many of these units have been renovated from top to bottom allowing buyers to enjoy the best of the old as well as the new. And speaking of modern amenities, the complex is wired for FIOS, Cablevision and Direct TV.
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This area is not part of the Larchmont village proper – but is rather part of the unincorporated portion of the town of Mamaroneck. This small grouping of Larchmont condos and cooperatives are just a stone’s throw from both the train and the village.
Location, Location, Location:
Although the neighborhood is right next to the village as well as the train station, the area is tree-lined and not very urban in nature. The area is sandwiched between a single family residential neighborhood and the village. The area is highly walkable such that you can definitely leave the car and walk to fine dining, shopping and general errands. For the most part, buildings in this small section have a walk score of over 90 out of 100 making this section of Larchmont a Walker’s Paradise.
For walkers and bikers the beautifully landscaped Manor Park provides a wonderful escape from the day-to-day hubbub of life. One can easily stroll through the village and the single family neighborhoods as well. Many of the buildings exude old-world charm as many are from the pre-war era. Cooperatives dominate the landscape although there are a few condominium complexes as well. For more information about Larchmont including a video of the area go to Living in the village of Larchmont.
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This is a lovely area of Larchmont. Larchmont NY homes typically evokes tree-lined streets and mature neighborhoods. This area does not disappoint on any of these. The area is strictly residential – yet for the most part it is walkable neighborhood – many of the homes being a mile or less from the train station and parts of the village. Some areas are somewhat further from town – so walkability depends upon you precise location. However, many in the area opt to leave the car and walk. The streets are tree -lined and the neighborhoods are established with mature trees. Homes for sale in much of Larchmont generally tend to have a distinctively Old -World charm about them Pre-war homes. Tudors seem to dominate the area although Colonials are very much in evidence as well. But don’t let the age of these homes fool you. Most of them have aged gracefully and boast many upgrades that can give you the best of both worlds: old world charm – with modern amenities. The lot sizes run the gamut from roughly 0.12 acres to over an acre in larger homes. In general, the homes close in to the village sit on smaller lots.
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Zachys Wine & Liquor is a famous Scarsdale Landmark:
Located on 16 E. Parkway in the heart of Scarsdale Village Zachys Wine & Liquor is a landmark unto itself. They are in their 65th year and anyone who knows anything about wine, knows Zachys. Wine affectionados come from all over to shop there. They host exclusive and wine tastings. For example, the most recent was on Saturday with a big Italian wine tasting.
In truth, I was more than a little intimidated. I was certain that someone who knows something (but not a lot) about wine would be in well over their head walking into such such a famous place. Not so at all. They were actually very patient and helpful. As I was wondering through the maze of bottles I had started to feel a bit lost and a staff member rescued me and helped to find exactly what I was looking for. They weren’t the least taken aback that as a hard-working real estate professional – I wasn’t in the market for a $200 bottle of wine. In the end, they found a nice Zinfandel that suited my taste and my budget.
If you want to explore further, the best option is to take the time to go there. They also have an excellent web site which I found informative and fun – http://www.zachys.com/
© 2010 Ruthmarie G. Hicks, http://thewestchesterview.com. All rights reserved.
