Need info on best places to live between Syr and Rome (New York: apartment, crime)

[teebopop]

Next year we are moving to NY. We are looking in areas surrounding Turning Point Casino. We're retired, and we love to gamble.

But more importantly, we need to know the best places to fish that a handicapped person can go to without having to walk a great distance to get to shore and we're unable to climb up and down shore lines.

Also, when we fish we like to eat them so it would have to be an unpolluted place.

I don't know if this is allowed (and I'm sure the moderator will let me know) but I would love to either receive real pics of areas like places around Oneida Lake (which is unpolluted, right?) of villages and towns.

Finally, and this is really high on our list, there has to be good medical care. Especially cardiac care.

Please help us choose. We don't want to live in the valleys. We need to be able to get to the store easily when it snows 15 feet. Or at least live in a place where the neighbors care about whether you live or die during a storm.

If I am allowed to receive photos please send to teebopopp[at]gmail[dot]com - just remove the symbols and type it normal. No spam please. We are serious.

Also, need to know about places to live. A nice place. Apartment is fine.

Folks,we want to live in a community that really gets what it means to be a community.

We have a year to do this research and since we don't travel well hopefully y'all can help.

Thank you in advance.

teebopop

[Maynerd]

I'm assuming you're talking about Turning Stone Casino. It's been about a dozen years since I've lived there, so my information may be a little dated, but here's my two cents....

Oneida Lake is fine for fishing, and I'm pretty sure handicapped access won't be a problem.

If you're looking for a place near Turning Stone, I'd consider Rome. When Griffiss AFB closed, housing values there fell off a cliff, and haven't fully recovered. It's just 15 - 20 minutes from Turning Stone. You can fish right in town on Wood Creek (it's stocked), or a couple miles North of town at Delta Lake State Park.

I lived there for about six years (again, it's been a while though), and felt right at home. I think it had the 'community' atmosphere you're looking for.

Good luck.

[teebopop]

Thanks for the reply Maynerd.

Actually, I have been to Rome. My grandfather lived there for a long, long time. The last time I was there, however, was back in 1967 !

I remember as a kid going to Griffis Air Force Base on a field trip. I knew that they were shut down a while back as well.

I was born in Utica, but I heard/read that the city has pretty much fallen apart.

I never gave Rome a thought until you mentioned it. Mainly because my memories are so old they are faded.

I will definitely check it out.

As I said, the two things that appeal to us the most is accessibility to fishing as handicapped people, and of course, gambling. I love me some bingo !

Thanks again.

[bellafinzi]

You may want to look into the new Harbor Lights at Oneida Lake community.

A link:
Oot Homes: Community

[lefty514]

teebopop,

I grew up in Oneida and lived there for 20 or so years before moving to Florida. My folks have a camp on Oneida Lake in Verona Beach. Route 31 runs along the south shore of Oneida Lake directly to the intersection of 31 and 365, which is just about a half mile to the casino. You should look at the city of Oneida. About 15 minutes to the lake heading north and about 10 minutes to the casino. Oneida is a small city of about 10,000 with older homes, a small downtown, and alot of basic shopping (Walmart, Sears Hardware, fast food, grocery, some small shops). It's about 40 minutes to Syracuse, 25 minutes to Rome and 35 minutes to Utica.

The Sylvan Beach area would put you right on Oneida Lake and you could wander over to the canal to fish for walleye pike and perch. The canal is very convenient to fish and there is parking right along the canal so there is no problem with handicap access. Plus, there a many restaurants in Sylvan Beach (some are closed in the winter) right along side the canal so, if the fish aren't biting, stop in for a sandwich and a beer. Sylvan Beach is an interesting place to live but it can get a bit desolate in the winter and the snow and wind off the lake can get a bit tough. Many retired people live in that area though and more people are moving to the lakefront. There aren't alot of stores in that area open in the winter, though, and the nearest hospital for cardiac care is Oneida City Hospital. My father had triple bypass a few years ago in Utica and he received good care but I thought the hospital in Utica was a bit dated. Syracuse hospitals would be a better option like Upstate Medical Center and Crouse Irving Hopsital.

Good luck..wherever you live, it's a great area.

[Loujr]

I grew up in Rome, left for college in 1967. Still live in upstate NY but wouldn't live in Rome if you put a gun to my head. Crime is on the upswing, employment/economy is in the pits, the hospital is not good. An excellent little town is Oneida. Close to the Turning Stone, Excellent hospital, close to Oneida lake, friendly people.

[urbanplanner]

Its my understanding that the City of Rome is undergoing some major revitalization, particularly its Little Italy area and the transformation of the former Griffis Air Base to the Griffis Business Park. I have attached some links for you to consider...

Rome, New York - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Welcome to the City of Rome, NY - Official City Site

I tried attaching the Griffis Business and Technology Park in Rome, NY link, but they seem to be re-constructing it. Keep trying and it will show you how the park has revitalized. Good luck.

[Loujr]

I still have relatives in Rome and visit regularly. It's great if you like an abundance of drug stores, hair dressers and banks. When I was a kid it was a fine place to grow up. We had an air base, factories, a good school system and a population of abt. 50K with an excellent work ethic. They're all gone, replaced by urban blight. Prisons have replaced the factories and with the prisons have come the families of the prisoners. The cost of living is low I guess compaired to NYC where most of these people originate and they have brought their mentality and crime to the town. Taxes in the state in general are obscene. "Little Italy" is the east part of the town that used to be the Italian section where I grew up. Today there are bars, a tatoo parlor and again, urban blight. There are red, white and green street signs that have repalced the "regular" street signs along a few blocks of the main street (Dominick) but only a few scattered businesses. That's what the local chamber of commerce calls (jokingly) "Little Italy". The Griffis technology park holds promise but progress has been slow and sporatic at best. I am closer to Syracuse and believe the Oneida is a much better community. There is also a nice little town, Sherrill, just east of Oneida that is also excellent. Choose wisely.

[FlaBoundGal]

Rome is no longer the best community to live in for safety. A lot of run down homes in the city of Rome and a lot of crime compaired to surrounding areas. It is unfortunate that Rome is no longer the city it was since Griffis closed and the prison came in.

I would suggest looking at Verona, Sherrill, and Oneida areas if you need to be by Turning Stone.