Relocating to the Catskills area? (Sullivan, Liberty: crime, Home Depot, neighborhoods)

[Pidgett]

Nice post Peachgirl!!!

[Peachgirl]

Originally Posted by Pidgett

Nice post Peachgirl!!!

Thanks, Pidgett! Hope it helps Ll w/her decision!

[lilibrarian]

Haven't been by in awhile. Thanks for the informative post, Peachgirl. It's funny, everyone I know who has a second home in Sullivan are construction workers or gay. Good info about Liberty, I think I thought it was a place to stay away from, like Monticello. Thanks again.

[girlandpup]

Originally Posted by Peachgirl

You only THINK you're kidding! *grin*

I live in Liberty, lived in Woodstock/Saugerties for years, and am originally from Westchester. Although I adore the great mix of people and the availability of arts/outdoors/offbeat touristy junk near Woodstock, the area gets more like Westchester - in terms of congestion, cost of living and stripmalls - daily. Sullivan, on the other hand, is just beginning to see an economic turn-around as people realize it is the last reasonably-priced "commutable" (2 hours) county, so while you will have a 45-minute drive to do a day's shopping-mall-type shopping, and you must reconcile yourself to doing most 'regular' purchases at Wal*Mart or else driving to multiple little communities for mom-and-pop stores, if being a consumer is not way up on your list, that's not a big deal. Both my husband and I own our own businesses (he's a contractor and I'm a web designer) and neither of us have had a problem finding work. In fact, while housing prices plunged recently (as they did everywhere), construction is actually UP here, and Liberty's Main St. has seen numerous cute shops open in the past year or so - an antiques store, an artisan bakery, a coffeehouse, a new age shop, several cafes - as has Jeffersonville (adorable town!)

Roscoe & the Manor are both rural but nice - but they add 20 minutes to your "real shopping" commute, are prone to SERIOUS (as in, deadly) flooding (bad for HOI rates), and can be quite isolated in winter if it snows a lot. The Manor seems to be enjoying a resurgence spurred by attention from NYC's gay community, which has positioned the town as a sort of Vermont-esque "come buy a farm for cheap and retire early in the glorious, open-minded Catskills" place... which it is consequently (slowly) becoming. No bad thing, except that property prices are creeping up inexorably as people start to actually WANT to move here!

The schools are what you make of them - we are very involved and have had a great experience in Liberty - but the best are Sullivan West and TriValley, followed by Liberty. Avoid Monticello and Fallsburg like the plague! Also, please note that Rock Hill, which is closer to Orange Cty and has "expensive" (for here) neighborhoods like Emerald Green, is in the Monticello school system - which is becoming increasingly riddled by NYC gang recruiters!

Bottom line: it's a bit of culture shock here sometimes, but in the end, I don't think I'd move even if offered the chance. I've grown fond of knowing my local shopkeepers and never sitting in traffic

I know this is an older post, but just saw it as am now looking into Ulster and maybe Sullivan County to relocate from NYC. I was greatly hoping someone could tell me why the above line of "Avoid Monticello and Fallsburg like the plague!" What is it about those two areas? There is a POSSIBLE job opportunity in Harris (know anything about that town?? It's not even in city-data). I can't move without a job, so am trying to be flexible about exactly where I move based on where I get a job, but am hoping for Ulster County area (I love New Paltz, although probably too expensive for me).

Any thoughts and opinions are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!

[Pipewrench]

Try the Bullville NY area in Orange County. It's beautiful and much closer to areas to find work.

[girlandpup]

Originally Posted by Pipewrench

Try the Bullville NY area in Orange County. It's beautiful and much closer to areas to find work.

Thank you! I was asking about Sullivan County only b/c there is a possible job opportunity for me in the town of Harris in Sullivan County. I think Harris would be too rural for me, which is why was asking about surrounding towns/areas. That particular job is not a definite, so I will look into Bullville area, as you suggested, (but wanted whatever info. and opinions about the area of Harris so can make best decision for myself). What about Ulster County, though? Thanks, again, for your response.

[Peachgirl]

Originally Posted by girlandpup

I know this is an older post, but just saw it as am now looking into Ulster and maybe Sullivan County to relocate from NYC. I was greatly hoping someone could tell me why the above line of "Avoid Monticello and Fallsburg like the plague!" What is it about those two areas? There is a POSSIBLE job opportunity in Harris (know anything about that town?? It's not even in city-data). I can't move without a job, so am trying to be flexible about exactly where I move based on where I get a job, but am hoping for Ulster County area (I love New Paltz, although probably too expensive for me).

Any thoughts and opinions are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!

Hi there!

I wrote that line and my reasons were, basically, that as compared to other towns in the area, those two have a higher crime rate (Monticello esp.) and lower standard of living over-all... although in my original post, I was addressing the school systems more than anything else, which, in those 2 towns, have a VERY active gang problem. That is not to say you can't find some nice neighborhoods, but you have to be careful. If you have no kids, you'd be much less affected, and both have some very nice residential areas. Monticello is where WalMart, Home Depot, etc are, so if you are a shopper... well, Sullivan is probably not your BEST choice unless you like to drive *grin*.. but Monticello is the spot.

Harris, by the way, is a little teeny section between Monticello and Liberty. I'm not sure which school district it belongs to - I think Monticello. It houses the local hospital and not much else! If your job op is there, you should know that after several years of economic ups-and-downs, the hospital is finally enjoying a fiscal resurgence and a greatly improved reputation, especially in its oncology and maternity/l & d depts. (Also, it's nursing staff in general is well-regarded.) The ER still has reputation problems, but they do seem to be working on it.

Hope that helps!

[poshaccent]

I like Columbia county. We moved into a village near Hudson in November from Washington DC and found it to be great. We live outside of the town in and found the amenities in nearby Hudson (antiques and coffee) and the shopping malls in Greenport (Wal mart, Tractor supply, all the rest ) to be a great benefit. Hudson is not for drifters or people looking for work... except maybe reasonably priced electricians (know any??). Electrical contractors here want WAY too much money and hourly rates for contracts, perhaps your husband can undercut these guys and build up a reputation for hard work and fair prices. He'd be in demand.

Our contractor is considered a rare exception and has met every inspection on time and on budget.

People here seem to comes in two flavors, working class and artists/antique dealers. The town has an odd mix of Walmart and cafes, antiques and drifter artists, lots of contractors and working moms. Its SUPER small town. The hospital and prison are the the largest employers. Its is as it says its is ... a rural arts town ... heavy on rural.

Outside of the town it is farm country so of course a car is necessary and I see plenty of locals walking. The train station is helpful for going into NYC and it leaves almost every hour.

Ro mee houses are CHEAP outside of Hudson. The neighbors have all been nice and in the Hudson proper even the antique dealers get to know you if you go to Muddycup or any of the other local hangouts. Its a funky town though I prefer living outside of the town and going in when I want to.

A word of advice, investigate where you want to live before you move there. I did and I LOVE it!

[HomerBrink]

PoshAccent - Do you know anything about Tivoli??

[OCNYISHOME]

Village of Wallkill in Ulster County is a short drive to New Paltz and much less expensive. It is located on the Township of Shawangunk [after the mountain ridges overlooking this area] which also offers great country living but in easy reach of commuting routes and larger areas like Newburgh, Poughkeepsie and Middletown which will offer emplyment opportunities. Have lived in Bullville are most of my life and love it. Offer easy access to Sullivan but is closer to civilization....with that also comes higher real estate prices. Pine Bush schools are requested by many of my clients...Valley Central Schools also bumps into that area try googling school reports on both