moving from UK to Rockland County

[Empire44]

Originally Posted by SuburbanDweller

Empire, have you considered Piermont or Grandview on Hudson?

Thanks for this pointer Suburban Dweller

We hadn't thought of Piermont or Grandview on Hudson; my husband has sinced wondered about Blauvelt or Orangetown too. He thinks, as far as he can remember back, they are all 4 very nice areas; and he is keen as they are a little closer to the city!

I have googled them but not found very much. Can you tell me anything about them? Is it the Tappan Zee High School area? Any feedback on the schools, houses (looking to pay- ideally- $2200- 2500 a month rent for 3-4 bed single family home) neighbourhoods - are there other families?

I see there are a few state parks around there- not sure if we can take the dog, but even without him we are all walkers/ hikers and would love the open parks. (I'm not sure if any of our England parks are as big....although there is probably another Brit on here somewhere who would disagree with me!)

How about shops? I know that is very close to Palisades- the Palisades Mall I assume- but it would be nice to have at least one local convenience store, a library, a coffee shop!!

Thanks again.

[Richard Pilla]

All such valuable information, wonderful input from everyone makes this thread great.
Also Suffern / Montebello with Ramapo central schools can be another alternative for living. Within Rockland and easy commute to Manhattan by car, bus or commuter train all easily between 30 mins to 1hr.
Also BTW, Walmart in Airmont / Tallman part of Suffern area, has a grocery area and next to the Walmart is a Shoprite for all other groceries, etc. Its only about 6 miles from New City.
Suffern has the Good Sumaritan Hospital and the Newest Library in Rockland County. Schools are also award winning. Property taxes tend to be highest in Montebello and New City areas, but these locations are highly sought after by many creative, artistic and interesting people. Suffern / Montebello has a country playhouse that offers some very cultural performances. Suffern has the oldest and most ornate (Carnegie Hallesque) movie theatres with a saturday night live performace from the pipe organ up on the tier beside the stage. There are tutors for many creative arts programs through out the county.
Best Wishes.

[Richard Pilla]

My brother lives in Grand view and has his office in Nyack. He recently sold a home of his in upper grandview and it was going to be available for rent at about $2800 per month for a 3-4 bed 2 bath cape about 16 miles up from the GW Bridge. It was recently sold. Homes have been coming down in prices through out the county and region over the last couple of years in general. Rents haven't coming down much, however, although as more and more properties flood the market for sale, they may be competing more for renters and that may drive down rent prices.

[Empire44]

Thanks Richard, you guys are all so helpful.

We both like the idea of being nearer to the city and nearer to the water. My in-laws feel that Piermont would be a lot more expensive than New City, but looking in rentals in the New York Times online, they seem to be pretty similiar.

Does anyone know a little more about the schools in Piermont ? High School and Middle School. I gather that they are all excellent in Rockland County, but my dh is a little bias towards his old High School, Clarkstown South.

Is there a school bus for that area? Or do the kids get driven?

Does anyone know of a ballet school in the Piermont area? I had a great tip from this thread about one near to New City but if we are in piermont a closer one would be worth looking into. Although, how long roughly would it take to drive from say New City to Piermont?


From Piermont, where would the teens go/ hang out? Are there evening activities etc for them nearby?

Thanks again

[Richard Pilla]

From New City to Piermont its about 10 - 12 miles or so. Might take about 15 -20 minutes down Palisades Pky. There's a ballet studio in Pearl River. Classic School of Ballet I owned a home in Pearl River for 12 years. Many children of all ages. Many NYC Fire Fighters and Policeman have lived in Pearl River over the years. It holds the 2nd largest St. Patrick's Day parade in NY. Pearl River School district is very good also. And its about 10 minutes from New City or Nyack. Piermont is in south orange school district.
Pearl River is located in Orangetown, as is Piermont. Pearl River probably has lower property taxes than Piermont or New City. It also has the largest employer in the county and the tallest building in the county is located in Pearl River at Blue Hill Plaza.
New City has a golf course, Pearl river has a golf course, Suffern has a golf course, Rockland Lake up from Nyack has two golf courses.
New City is the county seat and more populated. Piermont is closest to NYC, more isolated to itself along the Hudson River.
Nyack has a hospital and many of the doctors tend live in the Nyacks (Upper & South) or New City area for proximity.
In general, rents for similar styled homes would be priced alike in any of these areas.
If you were to relocate up into Orange county, rents would be less accordingly, but that's also at least another 20 minutes up from Suffern or and another 35 mins from Nyack & TZ Bridge.

[DollyChrist]

nice to see all these friendly people helping you out and such..
but after reading all of this, it's time for me to come in.


school districts :

do not look into nanuet senior highschool. i attended BOTH clarkstown south and nanuet. nanuet is a school filled with lowlifes and everyone there ends up going to a community college or no college at all. it's not a respectable school.

out of all the schools in clarkstown, i highly suggest clarkstown south. clarkstown north is infested with cockroaches, (it's funny how people splurge on their high end taxes and yet the school does absolutely nothing to hire an exterminator) the children there are snobs, and are mainly hideous. you don't need your children coming in contact with them unless you plan on marrying them off to wealthy components. that my friend, is a whole 'nother story.

clarkstown south has the best reputation for college seeking students. 98% of the children there end up going to high end colleges.
it's an extremely large school. it has three floors, three assistant principals (each has their own floor) and one main principal. they work with children well and try to maintain the school correctly -which might i add, do a pretty awesome job.

the middle school is set up into wings in alphabetical order up to E.
they used to be set up for the area the children lived in; the wings are mainly used by everyone but they only matter during homeroom.
now, i think it's somewhat divided by grade. during lunch it goes by grade and all the wings have it with the children having their choice to sit in three different cafeterias all near eachother.

tappan is covered in small houses not worth the money.
they're old and pretty much crappy.

grandview on hudson area is extremely pricey if you want a normal space to live in. it gets too cold since it's right near the water and most rentals are tiny.


if you're still looking for a place to rent, then i have the solution for you.

my parents own two houses in rockland. one in tomkins cove and one in nanuet.

the house in nanuet has a large backyard that backs up into a wonderful stream and has two sheds. one shed is designed for a playhouse set up for kids; it used to be mine.

anyways. the house has three bedrooms upstairs and two bedrooms downstairs. there's a kitchen on each floor and there are two bathrooms, two living rooms, a dining room, and a garage in the house.

that house is going up for rent because they're moving full time into the house that i am currently living in - the house in tomkins cove.

the house belongs to the clarkstown district and goes to clarkstown south. the house is five minutes away from the palisades mall and you're 25 minutes away from the city. you're on a dead-end street which means a lot of privacy.

the rent is about 2500 a month. it's negotiable.

if you need any more information, email me at vtb08@aol.com with the topic of "Nanuet".

as for walking your dogs, there's a park down the street. it has a softball/baseball field, a large basketball court with four hoops and an entire actual playground.

the nanuet mall is two minutes away from us and jersey is nearly nine.

for ballet classes, Coupe has the best reputation and a lot of my friends attended it. it's only three minutes away from the house.


by the way, yes..you can walk dogs at Hook Mountain.

[Empire44]

DollyChrist, thank you for your post. I have only just seen it because I have been away but you've given me some great information! I have emailed you privately re. Nanuet.
Thanks

[Mr99Burns]

The only thing I can say to you is "Why".