Ithaca - live downtown or bit further out?

[superchief]

Thanks, Cobra. You're not the 1st Californian I've run into who has moved there/or is thinking about it. I have emailed you privately. Let me know if you didn't receive it.

superchief

[Taboo]

Superchief,

Housing was run down and there are lots of trailer park areas. Yes, some of the housing is cheaper but you get what you pay for. We found a really cute 2400 sq.ft. log cabin on acreage but a trailer was right across the street and there was a questionable shack right next door. This was in Catherine. My expectations were kinda middle class. Not rich by any means. Taboo

[Taboo]

Superchief,
Sure, I was expecting what I grew up with. Modest size homes (1500 sf or so) that were nicely kept. I found LOTS of trailer homes and questionable looking single family ones. Found a great log cabin in Catherine with a view and 20 acres but there was a run down trailer across the street and a shack right in the corner of the front yard that had a huge flatbed type trash container in the front of it. I am sure there are nicer neighborhoods that have houses close together but you must remember that your child will have to interract with the kids from the questionable homes in school. Go visit schools while they are in session, check the report cards online (from the state), and drive drive drive around the towns and neighborhoods. Don't mean to be depressing but I was very excited before we went there a few times. Now the area is out of the question for us and our girls.

[Ex-Ithacan]

^ Not sure exactly where you're talking about Taboo. I grew up in Ithaca, and while there is a Catherine Street in Collegetown, I don't know of a town called Catherine. There is one trailer park in the city, but that's near an industrial area, and many Ithacans don't even know about it. While there are some less than desirable areas, the city has plenty of nice houses in several neighborhoods. I get the feeling Supercief is more interested in a more urban neighborhood than one out in the country anyway.

[sweetana3]

check out ecovallage of Ithaca (google for the website). It is a great cohousing development with a very interesting group of people.

[liza.judy]

My husband and I are approaching the other side of the children/family spectrum, with both of our kids grown and just about out of the house.

We have heard that Ithaca is a liberal town, one with many cultural opportunities.

Any comments? Thanks much.

liza.judy

[Tioga]

You "Cali's" wantin' to homestead in Ithaca will want to buy in real close to Ground Zero(The Commons). That way you'll be within the immediate blast area of all that Ithaca "Enlightenment and Trendiness".............Author's disclaimer: Living in a nearby county, we are required(by law, I believe) to occasionally deflate the egos of Ithacans and wannabe Ithacans..LOL!

[vicarian]

Catharine? I'm pretty sure that's in neighboring Schuyler County.

I would venture out to say that the farther you away from Ithaca, the weaker the far left tilt is. The Commons are definitely the epicenter of counterculture and far left politics, and the city is very liberal, the town liberal, the suburban areas moderate, and the rural areas conservative (this is a broad brush I'm using, so no offense meant to anyone). The funny thing is, you can go from radical to republican in less than a thirty-minute drive, because Ithaca is such a small city.

[jgreg]

If you are looking for something a little further out, you might consider Trumansburg, about 10 miles to the North. It’s a small town, that doesn’t lean quite as far to the left of Ithaca – at least when I was growing up there.