Little Falls, NY? (home, live, retiree)

[Jeromeville]

I only know Little Falls from going past the area on the Thruway. I recall that the view of the Adirondack foothills from that area was spectacular.

[ckhthankgod]

Nice little city. You shouldn't have any issues. Beautiful scenery in the area too. Closest decent sized city is utica about 15 miles West of there.

[m.babe]

Me and my husband are thinking about moving from nj to Little falls, we don't know if our kids are going to be able to acomodate to the change. The cost of living here in jersey is ridicolous. I have some friends that moved there a few years ago and they are doing well and love it. Every time they come to visit they seems so relax not like us allway running and under a lot of stress, I just want quality of live and have time spent with the kids.

[m.babe]

Originally Posted by m.babe

Me and my husband are thinking about moving from nj to Little falls, we don't know if our kids are going to be able to acomodate to the change. The cost of living here in jersey is ridicolous. I have some friends that moved there a few years ago and they are doing well and love it. Every time they come to visit they seems so relax not like us allways running and under a lot of stress, I just want quality of life and to have time to spent with the kids. How do I know this is a good decision.

[RollsRoyce]

Little Falls would be a nice change from the hustle and bustle of New Jersey. I've never lived there, however my grandparents grew up in the area and I have some extended relatives in the city. Little Falls and neighboring areas like Dolgeville, St. Johnsville, and Salisbury have amazing scenery, friendly people, and clean air. As long as you have employment opportunities or can telecommute this community would be an excellent place to relocate.

Once a major manufacturing hub, Little Falls had several industrial buildings along the Erie Canal that were brimming with potential. Several years ago, local business and political leaders redeveloped a blighted stretch of vacant factories into a neighborhood called Canal Place. Two of the most prominent buildings have been converted into Antique Centers that also include a furniture store, art gallery, and crafts store as tenants. Nearby buildings have been renovated to include several restaurants and other small retail businesses. Extensive infrastructure improvements including a new bridge that connects this area to downtown and Route 5, as well as decorative lighting and sidewalks have been installed. Canal Place is directly adjacent to the Erie Canal and offers excellent views of rocky cliffs and small mountains.

Here are some links to Canal Place shops:
Shops at 25 West Home
The Little Falls Antique Center
Canal Place - Little Falls

Article from Utica Observer-Dispatch on Canal Place and future upgrades:
Big plans in store for Little Falls' businesses - Utica, NY - The Observer-Dispatch


Another attractions include:

The Herkimer Home
Herkimer Home - Little Falls, New York
New York State Parks :: Herkimer Home State Historic Site

Beardslee Castle
Beardslee Castle - fine dining in a historic Mohawk Valley landmark restaurant. Little Falls NY

Local Newspaper Website:
Homepage - Little Falls, NY - The Evening Times

City Website:
http://www.littlefallsny.com/

School District website:
http://www.lfcsd.org/education/distr...hp?sectionid=1

Little Falls is also home to a hospital that is affiliated with Basset Healthcare, a major regional medical provider.
http://www.lfhny.org/

[siamesecat]

I'm sure Little Falls would be a big difference from NJ. We moved here 15 years ago, and it was much different than downstate. At that time it was a very friendly atmosphere (strangers said hello to you on the street), there were stores, other businesses, and you could leave your doors and cars unlocked.

I'm sorry to say that Little Falls has changed greatly in that time, and the recession has hit the area hard, although the city seemed to be in a recession much before it hit the rest of the nation. It is not a promising area anymore. We now have one grocery store, privately owned. They have no competition, unless you want to drive to Herkimer (we have many seniors, and people on Public Assistance, who do not drive). The quality of the food is poor. The produce is often past it's prime: fruit has lots of soft spots or changing colors, salad bags, etc are way past sell by date. Baked goods done in store have little flavor, bread often hard and old. You have to really watch out for the meat. It's often way past the sell by date. Hamburger: outside 1/8th inch is red, the rest inside is brown, sometimes smelly. Staff really doesn't seem to care when complained to.

There are many empty storefronts in the city. Small businesses have a really hard time here. Manufacturing has pretty much died out, and those jobs were the bulk of the employment in the area. Yes, the antique center is nice, but if people work in Little Falls they can't afford to shop at the antique center. The biggest employers would have to be the grocery store, the paper plant, Mickey D's, and the 3 gas/convenience stores. We have quite a few pizza parlors, one steakhouse, and 2 Chinese restaurants. There is a bus line that goes to Utica if you do not have your own transportation. People have been looking for work in Albany & Syracuse, as the majority of the jobs in the Utica area are in call centers, which typically pay about $8.00 an hour.

The housing prices have not declined in the recession, which means that there are a glut of houses on the market, all of which are very overpriced for the area. No one who makes $25000 per year (average income, and for a family it may be $30,000) can afford a house that costs $150,000.00 and above. Yes, the taxes may be lower than what you are used to, but many of the residents in the city are complaining about paying $3000-$6000 per year. That gets them a police dept with one car on the road, a fire dept with a chief that no one respects, garbage pick up at 2AM, and roads that are full of pot holes, frost heaves, etc, that are poorly plowed in the winter. Mostly the dump salt/sand combo on it, then let it go; it turns to muddy slush, and you slide up and down the hills the city is built on.

Did I mention snow? I'm not sure how much snow you get, but here in Little Falls we have been getting A Lot! Try 6-12 inches daily this winter, most days. It snows most years from the end of October, sometimes thru April. Being situated on the Mohawk River gives us more snow. Then, it's cold. Jan and Feb saw a lot of days that the air temp was 15 below zero, without adding in wind chill.

There are drugs, drug dealers, people with guns, and lots of people on Public Assistance. Most of the factories on the south side of the city (with the exception of Canal Place) are deteriorated and falling down. The kids at the high school think nothing of bringing knives to school. No, it doesn't happen much, but it does happen. And the middle school is now led by the ex-football coach, which shows you what the school emphasis is on.

It is a city (less than 5000) that has seen many better days, which is probably why there are so many houses for sale. The only people who have been moving into the area are transplants from NYC and other urban areas, because our real estate is less expensive than theirs. Not that that is a bad thing, but I think it's a sad comment on the economy of the Mohawk Valley. It would be nice if the powers that be did do something to revitalize the community; most of the funds earmarked for that end up going to build low income housing, or to rehab houses that end up being sold to people on the city payroll, at reduced prices.

Before you commit to moving, please come up and take a look around. Yes, the scenery is gorgeous, especially in the country areas outside the city. The mountain views are of the Allegheny range to the south of the city. And there are some gorgeous old houses in the city, and outside, but all will need updating.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by siamesecat

I'm sure Little Falls would be a big difference from NJ. We moved here 15 years ago, and it was much different than downstate. At that time it was a very friendly atmosphere (strangers said hello to you on the street), there were stores, other businesses, and you could leave your doors and cars unlocked.

I'm sorry to say that Little Falls has changed greatly in that time, and the recession has hit the area hard, although the city seemed to be in a recession much before it hit the rest of the nation. It is not a promising area anymore. We now have one grocery store, privately owned. They have no competition, unless you want to drive to Herkimer (we have many seniors, and people on Public Assistance, who do not drive). The quality of the food is poor. The produce is often past it's prime: fruit has lots of soft spots or changing colors, salad bags, etc are way past sell by date. Baked goods done in store have little flavor, bread often hard and old. You have to really watch out for the meat. It's often way past the sell by date. Hamburger: outside 1/8th inch is red, the rest inside is brown, sometimes smelly. Staff really doesn't seem to care when complained to.

There are many empty storefronts in the city. Small businesses have a really hard time here. Manufacturing has pretty much died out, and those jobs were the bulk of the employment in the area. Yes, the antique center is nice, but if people work in Little Falls they can't afford to shop at the antique center. The biggest employers would have to be the grocery store, the paper plant, Mickey D's, and the 3 gas/convenience stores. We have quite a few pizza parlors, one steakhouse, and 2 Chinese restaurants. There is a bus line that goes to Utica if you do not have your own transportation. People have been looking for work in Albany & Syracuse, as the majority of the jobs in the Utica area are in call centers, which typically pay about $8.00 an hour.

The housing prices have not declined in the recession, which means that there are a glut of houses on the market, all of which are very overpriced for the area. No one who makes $25000 per year (average income, and for a family it may be $30,000) can afford a house that costs $150,000.00 and above. Yes, the taxes may be lower than what you are used to, but many of the residents in the city are complaining about paying $3000-$6000 per year. That gets them a police dept with one car on the road, a fire dept with a chief that no one respects, garbage pick up at 2AM, and roads that are full of pot holes, frost heaves, etc, that are poorly plowed in the winter. Mostly the dump salt/sand combo on it, then let it go; it turns to muddy slush, and you slide up and down the hills the city is built on.

Did I mention snow? I'm not sure how much snow you get, but here in Little Falls we have been getting A Lot! Try 6-12 inches daily this winter, most days. It snows most years from the end of October, sometimes thru April. Being situated on the Mohawk River gives us more snow. Then, it's cold. Jan and Feb saw a lot of days that the air temp was 15 below zero, without adding in wind chill.

There are drugs, drug dealers, people with guns, and lots of people on Public Assistance. Most of the factories on the south side of the city (with the exception of Canal Place) are deteriorated and falling down. The kids at the high school think nothing of bringing knives to school. No, it doesn't happen much, but it does happen. And the middle school is now led by the ex-football coach, which shows you what the school emphasis is on.

It is a city (less than 5000) that has seen many better days, which is probably why there are so many houses for sale. The only people who have been moving into the area are transplants from NYC and other urban areas, because our real estate is less expensive than theirs. Not that that is a bad thing, but I think it's a sad comment on the economy of the Mohawk Valley. It would be nice if the powers that be did do something to revitalize the community; most of the funds earmarked for that end up going to build low income housing, or to rehab houses that end up being sold to people on the city payroll, at reduced prices.

Before you commit to moving, please come up and take a look around. Yes, the scenery is gorgeous, especially in the country areas outside the city. The mountain views are of the Allegheny range to the south of the city. And there are some gorgeous old houses in the city, and outside, but all will need updating.

Little Falls has guns and drugs everywhere? That's news to me.

Also, Little Falls is far from being a HS Football powerhouse. So, I don't think there is much emphasis on Football in the schools. i'm not saying they are bad, but Football isn't that big there. Basketball if anything, but Football is so-so.

[siamesecat]

I never said Little Falls has guns and drugs "everywhere". I'm saying what was once a sleepy little town is now dealing with the same things other cities and towns are dealing with, and we're not a bucolic setting anymore. Guns, yes. Recently there was a raid, and they pulled out unregistered firearms. About 2-3 years ago they raided another house, got a wad of money, illegal drugs, and illegal firearms. Sent dad and friends to jail, the kid went back to NYC.

Drugs are here, just like everywhere else. People around here are still touchy about the meth lab on Johnnycake. A few guys were busted around Xmas time for dealing RX drugs. Marijuana fields seem to be popular outside the city, inside the city they sell. About 3 years ago a high schooler got expelled for dealing RX drugs to sixth graders. He went back to school the next year, until he got his girlfriend pregnant, and dropped out. When people have no job, no money, & too much time on their hands they get creative, sometimes in a good way, and sometimes in ways the rest of society has deemed unacceptable.

Little Falls may not be a HS football powerhouse outside of Herkimer County, but within they county they are, at least to locals. The big deal is homecoming, and getting to the dome. Basketball doesn't come anywhere near that. They recruit football players from outside of the district. For girls softball is big, and they do very, very well. Basketball is definitely not the emphasis here.

Spend some time reading the local paper Homepage - Little Falls, NY - The Evening Times or the Herkimer paper Homepage - Herkimer, NY - The Evening Telegram or the utica paper Herkimer County - Utica, NY - The Observer-Dispatch or even the local forum Little Falls Forum - Topix (sorry if I wasn't supposed to post that link). Layered in with all the odd stuff are usually discussions about subjects important to the people in the area. Right now there is a lot of discussion about the city pool, which closed 4 years ago. They recently decided to spend $350,000 to renovate it (it didn't meet safety standards before), and residents are complaining about the cost. That's a lot of money for this area.

No, Little Falls is not a crime ridden, drug ridden place, but it does have the same problems other areas do, and is not as well off financially as it once was. Come up and take a drive down Main Street, and Furnace Street, as well as the end of Loomis nearest the baseball field, to get an idea of one side of the city. Then head up to Overlook Ridge and Jacksonburg Heights. Then compare the two. (Overlook is at the edge of the city limits, Jacksonburg is actually in the town)

[jhaney]

I grew up in Little Falls in the 60's and 70's. I have not been back since 1977. A great small town with lots of history. I am trying to locate my mother who I believe still lives there. As a child I was taken by my father to another state and not allowed to go back. I am now a mother and grandmother and want to find her if she wants to be found. My mothers name is Patricia Sheehan Vail. She lived on Garden Street the last time I saw her.

[albrecrj]

My wife and I purchased our retirement home here in Little Falls, NY, three years ago, and since we have not yet retired, spend most weekends and much of the summer and all holidays here. We spent 20 years traveling up and down the East coast looking for a place to settle and finally narrowed our search to NY's Mohawk Valley. For us, it was going home, back to our roots, after being away for 40 years.

When we bought our wonderful house -- three-bedroom Arts and Crafts brick -- we had no idea what we were really purchasing. With the home came a wonderful way of life. Our first afternoon on the front porch -- minutes after closing on the house -- neighbors stopped by to introduce themselves and to offer their help and friendship. This is an old-fashioned neighborhood in many ways. When someone is sick, food is sent in from across the street. When someone is at work, an at-home neighbor will shovel his steps. When a snow storm hit last winter, I had three different neighbors snow-blow us out. I had a flat tire on my car last weekend; four separate neighbors stopped by to ask if I needed help. Drive through this tiny city and you will see immediately that the houses are great, but the neighborhoods are better. It's better in Little Falls.

For us, the quality of life here is enhanced by a vibrant YMCA, a healthy faith community, an absolutely great food coop, a summertime farmers' market (homemade pies and other kitchen goodies, grass-fed and organic meats, dairy products, and vegetables at reasonable prices), and the Erie Canal Trail for biking and walking. That trail alone can add years to your life. Supporting all that is a large coordinated network of healthcare that is supported by two regional hospitals. It's better in Little Falls.

What's missing here? Foodies will find restaurant fare limited. There is a nice restaurant with a remarkable wine list that serves a French-inspired menu, and there is a small Italian restaurant with great sandwiches and good red sauce. And there is the usual mix of diners, one notable one in the canal district, that serve good sandwiches. But if you are looking for variety, the unexpected, and high quality -- beyond two or three places -- you won't find it in town. If you intend to settle here and care about good food, come prepared to cook. Maybe it's time to buy that great set of kitchen knives and to sign up for a cooking course. While there is a spectacular donut shop here, it's tough to get good beer here in town. The closest civilized pub is on Varrick Street in Utica, 30 minutes away. There is no community garden here, no dog park, no municiple wireless, no home-grown energy production, no active municiple internet site. But there is opportunity for any of us to work on these issues with the new mayor and city leadership. There is a core of progressive people in this community who are standing up and taking action to solve problems. There's nothing but potential here.

By the way, we have no contact with the school system and just can't comment. Read the other blog entries for that.

Why not join us and make it even better in Little Falls?