Ossining: Safety & resale perspective (Briarcliff Manor, Hudson: property taxes, houses, retire)

[Ganymede]

We're considering a few houses on Yates Avenue (a block east of North Highland Avenue/Route 9).

While we're reasonably sure the area is safe and that it would be a good long-term financial investment, my concern is that if I can't afford to retire to the house in 20 years given the property taxes I'd want to be able to cash out with as much as possible. (I REALLY plan ahead.)

I've seen several Highland Avenue references on the Westchester Citi-Data forum to "good" and "bad" parts of Ossining, to wit:

"There are two municipalities in Ossining: the village of Ossining, and the Town of Ossining. The taxes in the town are lower than the village. The population mix has changed over the years...the dividing line in Ossining is Highland Ave (Rt 9). Below that is known as the bad part of town, above that, the good side of town."

Also references that being "east" of Route 9 is better (even one block, and how much worse can "west" be opposite Yates?), or south rather than north. It's all very confusing to me since I'm unfamiliar with the area.

Could anyone shed some light on whether Yates Avenue is in the Town or Village of Ossining ("Paging Walter Greenspan!"), and how it rates as a neighborhood other than "not the best and not the worst in Ossining?" The unvarnished truth is appreciated!

[Ganymede]

BUMP! I have to make a decision within a week.

[JLFCPA]

Rte 9 is a main North-South thoroughfare that runs all the way through Westchester County parallel to the Hudson River. In Ossining, west of route 9 towards the Hudson is a little seedier than east (which turns into Briarcliff Manor). South of the Arcadia Shopping mall, you can't go wrong east or west because it becomes Scarborough, a sub-section of Briarcliff Manor. North of Rte. 133, it gets a little seedy both east or west (which is where I think you are looking). There is a Check Cashing Store just south of Yates on Rte. 9. It's my client. A check casher in your neighborhood usually isn't a good sign. Hope that all helps.

[Francescoli]

When they say "west of route 9 in bad" they certainly mean from the town center (north) to the arcadia shopping center (south). That area is not particularly nice to walk through, though I wouldn't tag it as awfully bad... Yates avenue is far north of that, almost in the woods. You don't have to be concerned.