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LOL! Lots of shopping? Where? Until the recent changes (and its still not there), Rockaway Ave is all nail salons and doctor's offices.
Just about every major chain store in the USA is represented in Valley Stream. Or have you never heard of a place called Green Acres Mall?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cosmosandmind
There is nothing to do there for younger people. So you buy a condo with a trestle behind you in an industrial area and then what? You have to go to Rockville Centre for entertainment of PJ Harper's on Rockaway avenue.
I never envisioned VS as a young hipster place although there ARE more bars than just PJ Harper's. However, agreed, Billyburg it ain't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cosmosandmind
Those condos are a joke..not surprised at all that they are not selling.
They are overpriced. Otherwise, however, they are very nice. If the prices were more realistic, they would sell. The developers need to get their heads out of their you-know-whats and face reality on the pricing.
Yep. I grew up there and remember GA as an open air mall :-)
Even growing up there, there was nothing do for teens and younger people. I hear my nieces say the same thing now.
Maybe on the price. Who knows? I personally would not buy a condo right there in that industrial area but whatever, maybe some people would.
BTW.. Hawthorne Avenue (east ) while that section was always industrial did not look like it does now. The woods behind the houses there decimated and gone, the addition of the metered parking behind the houses and other factors have just ruined it. Actually , west hawthorne too--used to be all houses (with exception of Mail Leader offices and the post office).
Yep. I grew up there and remember GA as an open air mall :-)
Even growing up there, there was nothing do for teens and younger people. I hear my nieces say the same thing now.
Maybe on the price. Who knows? I personally would not buy a condo right there in that industrial area but whatever, maybe some people would.
BTW.. Hawthorne Avenue (east ) while that section was always industrial did not look like it does now. The woods behind the houses there decimated and gone, the addition of the metered parking behind the houses and other factors have just ruined it. Actually , west hawthorne too--used to be all houses (with exception of Mail Leader offices and the post office).
I don't know how they expect to appeal to people over there when all any prospective buyer needs to do is drive east on Hawthorne through those industrial blocks to sour on the purchase. Not that it's a bad area, just ugly.
In the eyes of "teens and younger people," there is never anything to do, anywhere. Not every village needs a Restaurant Row and a line of bars to appeal to newcomers -- though it certainly helps. Fact is RVC is 5 minutes away, Long Beach 20 minutes, and the LIRR's easiest commute to Manhattan is within walking distance.
I don't know how they expect to appeal to people over there when all any prospective buyer needs to do is drive east on Hawthorne through those industrial blocks to sour on the purchase. Not that it's a bad area, just ugly.
In the eyes of "teens and younger people," there is never anything to do, anywhere. Not every village needs a Restaurant Row and a line of bars to appeal to newcomers -- though it certainly helps. Fact is RVC is 5 minutes away, Long Beach 20 minutes, and the LIRR's easiest commute to Manhattan is within walking distance.
I guess that's why the complex has a big courtyard on the INSIDE.
Yep. I grew up there and remember GA as an open air mall :-)
Even growing up there, there was nothing do for teens and younger people. I hear my nieces say the same thing now.
Maybe on the price. Who knows? I personally would not buy a condo right there in that industrial area but whatever, maybe some people would.
BTW.. Hawthorne Avenue (east ) while that section was always industrial did not look like it does now. The woods behind the houses there decimated and gone, the addition of the metered parking behind the houses and other factors have just ruined it. Actually , west hawthorne too--used to be all houses (with exception of Mail Leader offices and the post office).
Actually, there was a movie theater on Rockaway Ave. that I used to go to when I visited Valley Stream. Then we would get pizza or ice cream on Rockaway Ave. I was told by residents that besides the pool, in the 60s and 70s, during the winter, there was ice skating on the lake in the park and that what is now the administration building was a concession which sold hot chocolate to the skaters.
Actually, there was a movie theater on Rockaway Ave. that I used to go to when I visited Valley Stream. Then we would get pizza or ice cream on Rockaway Ave. I was told by residents that besides the pool, in the 60s and 70s, during the winter, there was ice skating on the lake in the park and that what is now the administration building was a concession which sold hot chocolate to the skaters.
Yep. Went to many movies there as a kid and a teen. One of the worst decisions they made, in my opinion. Now its just more doctors..a diag center or something
I'd like to add some perspective to this conversation as someone who is interested in moving into these units. I've looked at both Hawthorne Courts, the townhomes on S. Franklin (across from the park), houses in Valley Stream and living in the city/trendy-brooklyn. Ultimately, I decided on the condos. While I understand that they're overpriced, they do suit my current needs/wants more than the other options.
My situation is that I in my early-30s, work in the city and want a short accessible commute; plus I telecommute 1-2 days a week so I need office space at home when I'm not travelling for work. I usually run errands, wash clothes, and do household chores on my work from home days; obviously in addition to doing work. My job is demanding but not inflexible and my current door-to-door is an hour flat; and, as much as I can control it, I don't want it to get longer. I looked at the townhomes on S. Franklin and quite honestly they are in need of an uplift and most seem like they need renovations to the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, etc. At the cost of renovating/modernizing and not having covered parking it doesn't seem worth it to me. I don't need a private home as that would be far too much house and upkeep for me as I'm not married nor do I have children - both of which may be a few years off. I would much rather not move to the city or trendy brooklyn because of a myriad of reasons (excessive cost for little space, family close by, noise & crowd, being a car owner - I want to keep my car, etc).
So, I settled on Hawthorne. It has a garage, fully up to date units, and is within walking distance from the Valley Stream station. I can get to Roosevelt Field in 20 mins if I want to do serious retail damage, Green Acres/Target/Home Depot/CVS is 5 mins away for quick needs, Rockaway has sufficient shops for everyday items, and I work in the city if I need a specialty item. There's no need to update the unit, worry about parking/snow removal/etc, pay for overpriced gym membership in the city. All-in-all it offers a lot more worry-free living compared to my other options besides moving to the city would have a rent comparable to what I would pay in mortgage with a lot less space or amenities.
I suspect that people like me is the crowd they are looking to draw. Ten years ago, I may have jumped at the chance to live in the city but I prefer a little more quite and relaxed environment now; I like the village feel of it all. So for me, the price of the condo or the over-pricedness of it is actually taking a backseat to what I feel would make me most happy and allow me the best work-life integration/balance. I think marketing this as anything more than a place for those who can afford the city but don't want the city is really the problem with these condos. I can't see empty-nesters moving in or those just starting out. However, there is a market for these units. I'm a little frustrated by the lack of information about them however.
Just read in the Valley Stream paper this week that there will be a street festival on Rockaway Avenue from Sunrise Hwy to Merrick Road later this year, with participation from a number of Rockaway businesses and other VS organizations. Much of it was put together through efforts from business owners, including the young guy who owns Sip This and runs the new Envision Valley Stream civic group.
Whether you would live in VS or not, it is nice to see a town in western Nassau on the upswing with a real commitment to drawing businesses and revitalizing its downtown area. We do go to Itgens a few times a year and the area is definitely improving. Unfortunately, though, I still wouldn't venture into Green Acres - but my sister-in-law loves going there because she says the prices on items are less than in other malls.
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