Advice please - Long Island North Shore areas (Oyster Bay, Huntington: mover, house prices)

[OvertaxedOnLI]

Huntington can be chancy, depending on where the house is located. I think most people here are thinking of Huntington Village (along 25A) which is between Cold Spring Harbor and Centerport. The downside to living in or very near the village is that the traffic can be a problem and finding parking nearby wherever you want to go (store, restaurant) can be challenging sometimes.

Like Smithtown, there is the village of Huntington and also the Town of Huntington which covers a multitude of areas: some very very good (like Huntington Bay), some quite nice, and some.. well.... not very nice at all.

Northport and East Northport can be quite affordable and I'd suggest you do some serious looking there.

Fort Salonga is also nice if you want to be by the water. Not sure what the school district is there.

Be careful if looking in or around Kings Park. I've heard both good and bad about the district. There is also a huge abandoned State Hospital area that's been wrangled over for years re: what will be done with it. Recent news seems to indicate there's a good chance that it (or part of it) may end up being the site of a huge outlet mall (another Tanger Mall, for anyone already familiar with it). This could be good or bad depending on your point of view. There are also others who think all or most of this land should be preserved as open space or parkland. It is a shame, because it is being used for NOTHING at the moment (that I know of).

The local newspaper for Long Island is called Newsday. It has an online edition. I don't think links are allowed here but if you tack the usual website thingies onto the front and back of the name, you'll find it.

The MLS entity for Long Island is called MLSLI . Again, do the usual website thing and you'll find that too.

[Joe L]

Originally Posted by JustSayNo

I feel your pain, and felt it in your post. I have always dispised politics and politicians, I don't think there is an honest one in the bunch, I CAN NOT trust the local gov. to do what is right and what taxpayers want, and I DO have to FORCE them to do so.
Empathy and Sympathy here Joe L., stay strong!

Its been WWIII, 2 or 3 were jailed in the Roslyn school district
The Nassau County district attorney is now after The Town of Nort Hempsted (Great Neck, Roslyn, Manhasset) Building inspectors, councilpri*ks, Supervisor and "other friends of the flock" were allowing funny stuff to go on under the the table's.

Read:
http://www.lifamilies.com/news/detai...pstead-67.html

By the time the Nassau County district attorney's investigation began (in May), the DA's office found blocked access to TNH department computers, formatted hard disks. To add employee's were suddenly found reassigned, unavailable or no longer around.
The town Supervisor "Mr.Jon" now walks around with a cell phone to his ear “Shhhh-- In a meeting” as he ducks down the hall
It great comic relief !
Hell, Paris Hilton does the same to avoid talking to papparazzi and reporters she dont like. JEEZ WHAT BRAINS, JUST BRILLIANT as if everybody is a sheeple.

After your laugh or exchange you get addressed by some desk women with an attitude worse then a law school educated DMV worker who sends you off on a wild goose expidition (READ BELOW).

They have moved code enforcement out of Town Hall and into somebody’s house in Roslyn (nice job huh?) this person is never home or returns calls unless your Donald Trump or Mitilda Cuomo.
When a bulldozer shows up on a Saturday morning you still get an answering machine, cops dont know what to do since they cant get a restraining order.
By the time you drag some suit out of Edisons Pub between noon and 2PM weekdays whatever was in the way of some builder has been bulldozed “Emm...the old rotten tinbers” all the evidence is ground up in some landfill.

Now many Town Halls are being remodeled, (updated as they call it)
I wonder what other computers and paperwork, old deeds and serveys on paper is hitting the dumpster's during the big "dust clouds" and sudden epidemic's of rotten timbers in Manhasset, Port Washington, Old Roslyn and Glen Head?
They already finished Great Neck

This is how these wise guys set thing up to cover there butts wile paid for vacation on St. Barts, Italy, Isreal whatever

[OvertaxedOnLI]

You may want to read my two recent posts on the "Best School Districts" thread in this forum, if you are looking at living and/or schooling in that Locust Valley/Sea Cliff (a/k/a Gold Coast) area.

I doubt things have changed much from the time of our experience there, to now.

[Joe L]

Originally Posted by JustSayNo

Joe L., obviously you are a long-time LI resident and you have seen the massive changes, and declines, of the area.

I used to live in Huntingon, by the harbor, and believe me that is what is ahppening, knocking down perfectly good, mid-century homes, and building 2 McMansions in their place 5 ft. from each other! Absolutely horrible, and ruining the small town charm of so many villages! It is all about the money. Tahat is why we lft LI a year ago, could not take it any longer.!

Some good news ;
The police just took a couple Town of North Hempstead people out in handcuffs!
The building inspector, BZA people owned a development company on the side under a ghost name was approving off his own stuff and taking bribes from others !
If they start singing some councilmen and the supervisor may be next!

[stratoguzzi]

Sea Cliff if you can afford it.Good schools,small downtown looks like America did 20 years ago.Strict code enforcement.Lived in Glen Cove my whole life and went to public schools.If YOU move to Glen Cove send your kids to a private school.

[Relayer85]

My vote is for northport. I grew up in that town and the school district is wonderful. We have a strong music program and we just recently got the IB (International bacheloreate) program started there. The downtown area is gorgeous and there's all kinds of little shops and parks to walk around in. The thing to not miss is the Cow Harbor Day parade in September/October. Yeah, the housing can be a little pricey but if you're willing to spend the money, it's worth it. It has a small town feel. Everyone kinda knows everyone else from either some sort of sport, school, activity, etc. It's a great place to raise kids.

[GCGuy]

I say of the towns you listed, Sea Cliff is the place. Glen Cove schools, though. I think the lower grades are good b/c it's only Sea Cliff and Glen Head kids. After that.

I agree with other posters...Northport is great al around. What are you looking to spend, where do you work...that's important. Huntington is great, but look to houses in Elwood, Half Hollow Hills, etc. schools...not Huntington or even S. Huntington.

As far as areas going down, it's not really that way. Yes, there are some areas by the trains in many towns that are not great, but overall it's ok.

More info would be helpful, though

[Lexismommy]

Sea Cliff and Glen Head share their own school district, The North Shore Public Schools. Only children from Sea Cliff, Glen Head, and parts of Brookville and Old Brookville use these schools. So no need to worry about your kids sharing a high school with the Glen Cove area.

[ObserverNY]

For the person looking for the best public schools on the North Shore with a smalltown feel, consider:

Jericho
Oyster Bay
Manhasset
Roslyn
Cold Spring Harbor
Wheatley

Syosset - good system but taxes are extraordinarily high

Locust Valley and soon Glen Cove have made the worst administrative mistakes by becoming involved with the International Baccalaureate Organization. Northport and Commack are also throwing their taxdollars away on this Swiss based program that is nothing but smoke and mirrors to try and make less than superlative districts look better than they are. This program has caused divisiveness, controversy and has been detrimental to AP (Advanced Placement) offerings. SAY NO TO IBO!

[ocngypz]

Sea Cliff. Housing is on the high side, but the taxes aren't as bad as other communities. Elementary aged children attend Sea Cliff Elementary, middle school aged children the North Shore Middle School in Glen Head.. and then North Shore High School across the street.

And not a bad commute into the City if that's where you work. I did it for years.. and years.. and years.