Anyone familiar with North Babylon? (Islip, West Babylon: townhouses, neighborhood, property tax)

[romy07]

Hi Everyone,

My fiancee and I are planning to move to Long Island (North Babylon) in a few months. We are an interracial couple (im black, he's white) and have a small baby. We're trying to give our son a better enviroment to grow up in (we currently reside in a very "unstable" neighborhood in Queens County) I've been doing my own research and aside from what happened at the HS and the demographics, I don't know much about the attitudes of people in this town. We've actually lived in Rockville Centre before and never had a problem, very high class (but expensive) neighborhood and we felt right at home. But this was pre-baby/family era. Please someone give me info!!!! thanks.

[NDL]

I don't think you'd have a problem in North Babylon...

[OvertaxedOnLI]

I agree, no problem in North Babylon (or West Babylon, Deer Park, or Babylon itself, for that matter... although Babylon Village does impose its own village property tax on homes within it).

[romy07]

Finally some feedback, lol.
My fiancee and I actually went out to the town to get a feel of it. We had lunch at a nearby restaurant and everyone seemed pleasant and family oriented. You would see like, a few minorities here and there but everyone seemed decent. Overall, I didn't feel too out of place. I was beginning to get worried reading all of the posts here - yes it is very expensive, what we'll be paying. I was just worried that this was one of those "better than thou, we make a million a year and stay out of our community" kind of places. Babylon Village is so lovely, wish we could afford it, lol. Any attractions (really) worth visiting around North Babylon? Feedback is appreciated, thanks.

[OvertaxedOnLI]

Originally Posted by romy07

Any attractions (really) worth visiting around North Babylon? Feedback is appreciated, thanks.

First thing that comes to mind, of course, is that you're a quick drive from the beaches. Just hop on Sunrise Highway (Rt 27) eastbound for a couple of exits, to Robert Moses Parkway and that'll take you right down to Ocean Parkway and all the beaches. Of course that's not much help at this time of year

There is an equestrian center in North Babylon itself, though many people in the surrounding area don't even know about it: http://babylonridingcenter.com

Belmont Lake State Park is very close, and quite beautiful at any time of year: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=159

Connetquot River State Park is only about 10 minutes or so east of N. Babylon, right along Sunrise Highway (Rt 27), as well. http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=69

Practically next to Connetquot State Park is the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Oakdale: http://www.bayardcuttingarboretum.com

Then there is Heckscher State Park as well: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=153

(by the way, I hope all the people who complain about LI becoming "entirely paved over with shopping malls" take note of this list, which covers only a relatively small region of LI.... )

From spring through fall, there is a very nice place in Bay Shore called Brightwaters Farms which not only has good plants but fresh produce and a small farm which kids love: http://www.brightwatersfarms.com

There are many other kid-friendly attractions on LI (Atlantis Marine World, the LI Childrens' Museum, the AirPower Museum, Old Bethpage Village, Splish-Splash Water Park, etc.) but I've limited this list to things I can think of that are within a 10- or 15-min drive at most. There may well be many more in that area but not having young kids anymore has put me more than a little "out of the loop" on that subject...!

As for other LI attractions, the list is quite long, and don't forget the gazillion wineries out on The Forks!

If you happen to be in Babylon Village again, check out the Carriage House Restaurant. They have a price-fixed dinner during the week that is a very good value (excellent food too!). http://www.babyloncarriagehouse.com

Another popular eating place nearby is the Milk & Sugar in Bayshore (but it is often crowded and noisy, and service can be either good or bad depending on your luck). There is a tiny take-out place in Bayshore called Tullulah's (no website) that has the best food we've had in a long while. Everything absolutely fresh, made to order, and super-healthy by the owner/chef. They don't advertise and don't need to, because the place does a booming business just via word-of-mouth!

[NDL]

Looks like you were given excellent suggestions...

There really isn't a lot to do in the North Babylon/Babylon area, aside from parks, villages, etc.

And if you're interested in visiting quaint villages, be sure to look at Sayville Village, and Farmingdale too:

www.fdale.com

All in all, you made a good choice in North Babylon, although you might want to look at homes in Deer Park too.

[dholz82]

North Babylon isnt terrible- My BF lives in the townhomes on Phelps lane and its nice there-Babylon Village though-WAAYYYY better.

[romy07]

taxed on Li, you sure know your stuff -
I'm going to check out all of the links and I appreciate the info. This website is awesome w/o having to do all the researching. And what's better than people who live and breathe the area? North Babylon=not very exciting huh? lol. I would love to live in Babylon Village, I'm more familiar with the area, which seems very diverse. But it would be even more expensive (the taxes are incredible) than North Babylon. Also, someone mentioned townhouses? I didn't see any when I was out there, I have to check out the price range. I'm orginally from UWS Manhattan, so I don't love strip malls, I prefer lots of shops, withing walking distance, lol. I guess deer park is worth looking at, but is it still babylon?? Thanks again every body.

[OvertaxedOnLI]

Originally Posted by romy07

I'm orginally from UWS Manhattan, so I don't love strip malls, I prefer lots of shops, withing walking distance, lol. I guess deer park is worth looking at, but is it still babylon?? Thanks again every body.

There's often confusion for people from out of area, about the difference between a Town (meaning a community) and a Township. Deer Park, the town (community) is indeed part of the Town(ship) of Babylon; but so are the towns (communities) of Babylon Village, West Babylon, North Babylon, Amityville, North Amityville, Copaigue, Lindenhurst, North Lindenhurst, East Farmingdale, Wheatley Heights, Wyandanch, and the beach communities of Oak Beach, Gilgo Beach, and Captree (whew!). So the Town(ship) of Babylon covers a lot of ground! One benefit to being in the Town(ship) of Babylon is that you're entitled to get a pass to use the Babylon Town beaches, whereas a nonresident cannot do so.

Deer Park has no "downtown" area; where it is not residential, it is stripmalls and industry. If you're looking for a true village area within the Town of Babylon, that would be Babylon Village, the Village of Lindenhurst, and the Village of Amityville (although INHO Amityville is the "least village-y" of those three).

The Village of Farmingdale does have a large shopping area. Part of Farmingdale is in Nassau County and part is in Suffolk, by the way.

The 'downtown' area of Islip (not Central Islip! that's totally different) is a fairly decent size but not nearly as large as the Villages listed above.

The Village of Sayville, farther east, is indeed very nice! The Village of Patchogue is farther yet, and though I haven't been there in quite some time I understand that it is starting to undergo a renewal. Also, the downtown area of Bay Shore has really come a long way in recent years from being a mainly depressed area to a quite nice one. Lots of restaurants and shops have opened up in nicely refurbished turn-of-the-century buildings. The metamorphosis is good to see!

[NDL]

The below link might help:

http://www.townofbabylon.com/demographics.cfm

Not that I can really add to the already great information provided you, on Long Island, a 'township' is like a borough. In other words, while you live in the borough of Queens, you most likely refer not to the borough of Queens, but the town/section that you live in: (E.g.: Ridgewood, Bayside, Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Whitestone, etc.)

Same goes for over here. The Town Of Babylon is like the 'borough,' but individual towns (E.g. Babylon, North Babylon, Lindenhurst) are the sections/town.