Valley Stream Question (Hempstead, Franklin Square, Merrick: big home, neighborhood, to buy)

[maisy123]

I grew up in VS. It was a nice place to raise a family. As far as I know it is still a good place to raise a family although the appearance has changed. I was in Hendrickson Park this summer. It looked better than it ever did when I hung out there. The dealers used to hang on the bridge and the lake was stagnant. What I saw this summer was a multicultural environment and I thought it was great. There was not one dominant race there but a varied group of tennis players, runners and bike riders. The park grounds looked great and I plan to go back with my kids soon. My mom still lives in VS near Firemans field and the houses are still maintained. The biggest disappointment is the lack of mature trees. It's amazing what a difference they make.

I have learned that when a comment is made on a board like this stating an area is deteriorating it usually implies a changing culture. Is this a bad thing? Not to me. We are 30 miles from the biggest melting pot in the world. To think LI would stay lily white forever is sort of ignorant. As a parent I hope to expose my kids to many cultures in the hope that they will grow up to have a knowledge and respect for the global population. I consider it my duty to produce well rounded cultured children that can compete in a global work force. Sorry for rambling on.

Back to point. Valley Stream is IMO a good place to raise a family. The schools are good but huge.

[fitdude7]

thanks for the reply. linden is roght off of hendrickson ave and sunset...looks to me like right next to the state park. any ideas?

[fopt65]

Originally Posted by fitdude7

thanks for the reply. linden is roght off of hendrickson ave and sunset...looks to me like right next to the state park. any ideas?

Not the best part of VS, but certainly not the worst.
Drive around the area and check it out,especially on weekends to see how the park would contribute to your noise level. Go over to Central Ave and look at the shops. Ride along Merrick Road to the Queens line and back. Come September check out the 2 high schools on Fletcher and the elementary school on Howell Road.

Get a feel for the neighborhood, not just the block the house is on.

Personally instead of using the internet to find houses and then check out the area, do it in reverse. Find an area you like by driving and scouting around, then look at housing.

You've posted about a few different areas. What type of area are you looking for? Demographics? Style of houses? Commute? Price range?

Maybe we can point you to different areas.

[Westbury Legend]

I have a quick question. Where exactly are the "undesirable" parts of Valley Stream?

[Seann]

Originally Posted by fitdude7

Anyone know??????

Is area by linden road and fletcher ave any good?

I live a few blocks from Fletcher/Linden. It's a gorgeous middle class area; the VS State & Hendrickson Parks gives that area a tranquil vibe. If you've ever driven by exit 15 on the Southern State's east bound lane, you can see the VS State Park on your right. Fletcher is located next to the Parks, and the 5th precinct is located one block away from Fletcher Ave. I've witnessed women walking their dogs at 4 am, so needless to say, it's a very safe area. It's nicer than Gibson, IMO.

Contrary to some people's opinion, Central Avenue is a very safe area, it just has a more pedestrian look in comparison to areas like Fletcher. It's loaded woth banks, office suites and pharmacys. There's no street element there at all, and VS's LIRR hub is among the best in the county.

To be honest with you, Elmont as a whole may have nicer homes and nicer blocks than Valley Stream. If you're not a xenophobe, it's an area I would definitely recommend. Not the Northern end by Hempstead Turnpike, but the Southern & Eastern ends( along Dutch Broadway, the VS and Franklin Square borders).

[llama8]

Originally Posted by Westbury Legend

I have a quick question. Where exactly are the "undesirable" parts of Valley Stream?

Mostly the parts on the Queens border and Green Acres. There is a lot of crime over there. Shooting/stabbings/robberies. The movie theatre has metal detectors due to a few shootings/stabbings there...and that was a few years back. I grew up in this area. Valley stream as a whole is still nice, but to me, the part that borders Green Acres is downright scary. I used to go there all the time and I refuse to shop there anymore. It has nothing to do with cultural differences, it has to do with crime rate. If you stick to Gibson and Westwood, you will be fine. Even Central VS isn't bad.

My friend taught at VS South HS (3 years ago) and she left because it was so bad. There were bb gun shottings in the parking lot, a stabiing, and fights (and according to her gangs) at the school. She is a tough girl and she was fearful of the situation (due to violence) Again this is second hand information, but just FYI.

[fitdude7]

Thanks for the replies. I have an idea of where westwood is but where is Gibson?

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by Seann

To be honest with you, Elmont as a whole may have nicer homes and nicer blocks than Valley Stream. If you're not a xenophobe, it's an area I would definitely recommend. Not the Northern end by Hempstead Turnpike, but the Southern & Eastern ends( along Dutch Broadway, the VS and Franklin Square borders).

For those who may not be familiar with Elmont:

Elmont is a hamlet (an unincorporated area) in the northwest part of the Town of Hempstead, in the west part of Nassau County, along the Nassau/NYC (Queens County) line.

Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of Elmont in the Town of Hempstead is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of Bellerose Terrace, the Village of Floral Park, the Village of South Floral Park and the Village of Stewart Manor; on the east by the Hamlet of Franklin Square; on the south by the Hamlet of North Valley Stream; and, on the west by New York City (the Nassau/Queens County line).





The Hamlet of Elmont has a different border than does the "Elmont, NY 11003" ZIP Code postal zone (i.e., a place can have an "Elmont, NY 11003" mailing address and not be in the Hamlet of Elmont and a place can be in the Hamlet of Elmont and have other than an "Elmont, NY 11003" mailing address): places that have a "Elmont, NY 11003" mailing address that are not in the Hamlet of Elmont are in the Hamlet of Franklin Square; and, at the same time, there are places in the Hamlet of Elmont that have a "Valley Stream, NY 11580" mailing address.


For a good set of town-by-town maps showing all the villages and hamlets in each of LI's 13 towns (3 in Nassau County and 10 in Suffolk County): http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-resource.html

[VillageOfWestbury]

Originally Posted by Seann

I live a few blocks from Fletcher/Linden. It's a gorgeous middle class area; the VS State & Hendrickson Parks gives that area a tranquil vibe. If you've ever driven by exit 15 on the Southern State's east bound lane, you can see the VS State Park on your right. Fletcher is located next to the Parks, and the 5th precinct is located one block away from Fletcher Ave. I've witnessed women walking their dogs at 4 am, so needless to say, it's a very safe area. It's nicer than Gibson, IMO.

Contrary to some people's opinion, Central Avenue is a very safe area, it just has a more pedestrian look in comparison to areas like Fletcher. It's loaded woth banks, office suites and pharmacys. There's no street element there at all, and VS's LIRR hub is among the best in the county.

To be honest with you, Elmont as a whole may have nicer homes and nicer blocks than Valley Stream. If you're not a xenophobe, it's an area I would definitely recommend. Not the Northern end by Hempstead Turnpike, but the Southern & Eastern ends( along Dutch Broadway, the VS and Franklin Square borders).

I used to live in VS. In terms of panache here is how I would rate the sections of VS in descending order:

1. Parkwold (hidden section just east of Franklin Hospital) - Expensive - Stately Tudors probably in the $700K+ range.

2. Westwood - think Cornwall ave north. Pretty train station...very picturesque.

3. Millbrook - extreme eastend behind Green Acres Mall. Very nice homes on smallish lots....

4. Birchwood & Fletcher (next to VS state park) - Also very nice (no sidewalks on birchwood)

5. Gibson - Nice starter homes...

[TomMoser]

Originally Posted by llama8

Mostly the parts on the Queens border and Green Acres. There is a lot of crime over there. Shooting/stabbings/robberies. The movie theatre has metal detectors due to a few shootings/stabbings there...and that was a few years back. I grew up in this area. Valley stream as a whole is still nice, but to me, the part that borders Green Acres is downright scary. I used to go there all the time and I refuse to shop there anymore. It has nothing to do with cultural differences, it has to do with crime rate. If you stick to Gibson and Westwood, you will be fine. Even Central VS isn't bad.

My friend taught at VS South HS (3 years ago) and she left because it was so bad. There were bb gun shottings in the parking lot, a stabiing, and fights (and according to her gangs) at the school. She is a tough girl and she was fearful of the situation (due to violence) Again this is second hand information, but just FYI.

Are you talking about the Green Acres section that is south of the mall? I remember this as being an upscale predominantly Jewish area. Has that changed?