PW- brutally honest opinion please! (Manhasset, Manorhaven: estate, housing, rental)

[snforstuff]

could anyone give me some insight on the different sections of port washington (manorhaven, terrace, salem, pw north, baxter estates, etc.)? i am starting to realize that not all of port washington is equal. and please, give me your honest opinions no matter how offensive. i want to know exactly how the area is like before i decide to move there. i was actually told that manorhaven was pretty nice until i read some posts about it and just found out about the dump in salem.

[Glad2BHere]

Here is my summary.

Salem/New Salem is one of the nicest areas. We were planning to buy a home there. Then I found out about the landfill right behind Salem, did some research and found that homeowners were having boiler explosions in their basements due to the chemicals coming from underground. So we nixed that and PW altogether, b/c that was the only area we loved. Property values are great there despite this, but it concerned us too much. Supposedly it is under control, but that is a personal opinion if you feel ok with it knowing it is there and needs to be monitored.

Manorhaven, the worst of PW by far. Many many rentals and illegal immigrants. Mostly rentals I would say.

The terrace and PW North, main thing that bothers me is being so close to the section 8 housing.

Harbor Hills, nice, but very small.

Baxter Estates is very nice. I would say if you could afford this area it may be your best bet. But this is just MO.

Soundview, I could not stand. Very diverse at this point and very cookie cutter.

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

Here is my summary.


Soundview, I could not stand. Very diverse at this point and very cookie cutter.

Meant to say cookie cutter houses with the rows and rows of high ranches. Actually makes me dizzy to drive in Soundview. Also forgot to say that it feels very congested and claustrophobic.

There are some other areas of PW, but I can't think of their names right now. Maybe b/c none of them interested us enough to find out more about them.

[Port North]

Originally Posted by snforstuff

could anyone give me some insight on the different sections of port washington (manorhaven, terrace, Salem, pw north, baxter estates, etc.)? i am starting to realize that not all of port Washington is equal. and please, give me your honest opinions no matter how offensive. i want to know exactly how the area is like before i decide to move there. i was actually told that manorhaven was pretty nice until i read some posts about it and just found out about the dump in Salem.

I'll tell you the areas I'm familiar with:

Manorhaven- Stay away! Where most of the trouble in Port is. Rentals, gangs, assaults, illegals, worst elementary school in the district. Why pay Port prices to live there?

Manhasset Isle - Not as much traffic as Manorhaven, surrounded by water, however just a small step above Manorhaven and remember you have toxic waste at the old Typhin steel site. The positive is that (I think) Guggenheim not Manorhaven School services this area. Parts are semi-industrial and that is a turn-off for many.

Soundview - People are perfectly fine in this area, however the homes are on very small lots for the price. However if you want a very small yard with a large 1960's style house, this is the place for you. Schools are ok, Guggenheim and Sousa (I think).

The Terrace - This is the area I live in. Lots are bigger than Soundview but the houses are somewhat smaller (except for the knockdowns that seem to be increasing). The neighborhood has a 1950's "Leave it to Beaver" kind of feel. The streets close to Harbor Road have had some gang problems (2 incidents in the last 5 or 6 years) but nowhere near as much as Manorhaven. Housing values have seem to have held up quite well in this neighborhood and tend to be more expensive for streets north of Radcliff (because they are dead end and have less traffic). This is also the area that is experiencing the most knockdowns. Schools are ok, Daly and Guggenheim both are within walking distance. The Guggenheim Preserve is adjacent for those who want to be within walking distance to a nature preserve (something I like).

Harbor Homes/Harbor Road - Total ghetto, it was even worse before they reconstructed Harbor road and put up the new Harbor Homes section 8 housing. It vies with Manorhaven as Port's most troublesome area.

Baxter Estates - Nice area, pricey homes, Sousa schools, very hilly. Just a step or two below Sands Point.

Port south of Main Street - don't know too much about it other than it seems to vary a lot from street to street, can't give any detailed advice.

South Salem - decent sized homes on fairly large lots and nice people. The problems for me are the proximity to the toxic waste dump, many homes have no basements and many streets have no sidewalks; streets are wide with large turning radii which encourage people to speed. This is a problem if you want to safely wheel your baby around in a carriage. Area has held its value well. South Salem is a good school but too bad there is an old toxic dump right behind it. Exposure to methane gas can increase your risk of developing brain cancer. Check the stats to see if this plays out in the area's health stats.

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by Port North

I'll tell you the areas I'm familiar with:



Harbor Homes/Harbor Road - Total ghetto, it was even worse before they reconstructed Harbor road and put up the new Harbor Homes section 8 housing. It vies with Manorhaven as Port's most troublesome area.

.

In my post I referred to Harbor Hills, which is the area before the section 8 housing with all the splits. It is just a few blocks. I forget what streets are in this section. Do you happen to know? I wouldn't want the OP to get confused between Harbor Hills and Harbor Homes sections. Or is that area I refer to no longer called Harbor Hills (all splits, right off PW road).

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by Port North

I'll tell you the areas I'm familiar with:

Manorhaven- Stay away! Where most of the trouble in Port is. Rentals, gangs, assaults, illegals, worst elementary school in the district. Why pay Port prices to live there?

Manhasset Isle - Not as much traffic as Manorhaven, surrounded by water, however just a small step above Manorhaven and remember you have toxic waste at the old Typhin steel site. The positive is that (I think) Guggenheim not Manorhaven School services this area. Parts are semi-industrial and that is a turn-off for many.

Soundview - People are perfectly fine in this area, however the homes are on very small lots for the price. However if you want a very small yard with a large 1960's style house, this is the place for you. Schools are ok, Guggenheim and Sousa (I think).

The Terrace - This is the area I live in. Lots are bigger than Soundview but the houses are somewhat smaller (except for the knockdowns that seem to be increasing). The neighborhood has a 1950's "Leave it to Beaver" kind of feel. The streets close to Harbor Road have had some gang problems (2 incidents in the last 5 or 6 years) but nowhere near as much as Manorhaven. Housing values have seem to have held up quite well in this neighborhood and tend to be more expensive for streets north of Radcliff (because they are dead end and have less traffic). This is also the area that is experiencing the most knockdowns. Schools are ok, Daly and Guggenheim both are within walking distance. The Guggenheim Preserve is adjacent for those who want to be within walking distance to a nature preserve (something I like).

Harbor Homes/Harbor Road - Total ghetto, it was even worse before they reconstructed Harbor road and put up the new Harbor Homes section 8 housing. It vies with Manorhaven as Port's most troublesome area.

Baxter Estates - Nice area, pricey homes, Sousa schools, very hilly. Just a step or two below Sands Point.

Port south of Main Street - don't know too much about it other than it seems to vary a lot from street to street, can't give any detailed advice.

South Salem - decent sized homes on fairly large lots and nice people. The problems for me are the proximity to the toxic waste dump, many homes have no basements and many streets have no sidewalks; streets are wide with large turning radii which encourage people to speed. This is a problem if you want to safely wheel your baby around in a carriage. Area has held its value well. South Salem is a good school but too bad there is an old toxic dump right behind it. Exposure to methane gas can increase your risk of developing brain cancer. Check the stats to see if this plays out in the area's health stats.

I would agree with all of this pretty much. Except Soundview. I was turned off to Soundview being so close to Manorhaven and saw it changing 5 years ago. I can only imagine now.

[Port North]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

In my post I referred to Harbor Hills, which is the area before the section 8 housing with all the splits. It is just a few blocks. I forget what streets are in this section. Do you happen to know? I wouldn't want the OP to get confused between Harbor Hills and Harbor Homes sections. Or is that area I refer to no longer called Harbor Hills (all splits, right off PW road).

You mean the neighborhood across from St. Peter's? I'm not sure if that is the name. Nothing wrong with that area, has housing values similar to Salem.

You can't mistake the Harbor Homes (Section 8 Projects), it has a sign out front with the name on it.

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by Port North

You mean the neighborhood across from St. Peter's? I'm not sure if that is the name. Nothing wrong with that area, has housing values similar to Salem.

You can't mistake the Harbor Homes (Section 8 Projects), it has a sign out front with the name on it.

Yes, I believe it is the area by St. Peter's. All splits, you can't miss them. They all look exactly the same.

I know you certainly can't miss the section 8 housing. Although they just remodeled it and it does look a lot nicer, don't you think?

[Port North]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

I would agree with all of this pretty much. Except Soundview. I was turned off to Soundview being so close to Manorhaven and saw it changing 5 years ago. I can only imagine now.

Soundview really isn't bad at all, I haven't heard of any problems in that area, even in the apartments. It's pretty dull looking through.

The whole thing with crime in Port is that for the most part its gang on gang violence. If you are not Hispanic and not a member of a rival group you probably don't have anything to worry about. These gangs here don't really seem to get involved with property crime or violent crime against strangers all that much (at least not yet).

That being said I would avoid jogging alone late at night, especially through Manorhaven or the Harbor Road area, just to be on the safe side. Also to be honest, in the summer I hear groups of men speaking Spanish roaming the streets outside my house at 2AM and I know that they don't live in my immediate neighborhood. I hate to say it but they are probably up to no good.

Considering the cost of living in Port (even Manorhaven) it is ridiculous that should even have to worry about this type of thing at all.

[Port North]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

Yes, I believe it is the area by St. Peter's. All splits, you can't miss them. They all look exactly the same.

I know you certainly can't miss the section 8 housing. Although they just remodeled it and it does look a lot nicer, don't you think?

It does look better, let's hope it stays that way!