best city address in Ithaca, NY? (Dryden, Lansing: rentals, home, neighborhoods)

[noisynora]

thinking about relocating to Ithaca from Connecticut. Seems like the city might have all we would like in a new place to call home.
We have a young son with a 3 1/2 year old who lives with us. We are nearing retirement age, but not really interested in going there yet, so quite a few working years still in us.
Would like an older home neighborhood, established, within walking distance to amenties, but no problem getting in the car to get where we need to go...
thanks for any input!

[vicarian]

Well, that describes most of the neighborhoods within Ithaca city. Keeping away from the student areas (South Hill, Cornell Heights and Collegetown), you have Belle Sherman and Fall Creek. A little further out you have West Hill and Northeast Ithaca. Lastly, if you want a small town feel, you might consider the villages of Dryden and Trumansburg. There's a lot of options, and it really all boils down to what qualities you desire the most in a neighborhood.

Good luck with your search!

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by vicarian

Well, that describes most of the neighborhoods within Ithaca city. Keeping away from the student areas (South Hill, Cornell Heights and Collegetown), you have Belle Sherman and Fall Creek. A little further out you have West Hill and Northeast Ithaca. Lastly, if you want a small town feel, you might consider the villages of Dryden and Trumansburg. There's a lot of options, and it really all boils down to what qualities you desire the most in a neighborhood.

Good luck with your search!

What about areas in the village of Lansing or the village of Cayuga Heights?

[tchemgrrl]

What about areas in the village of Lansing or the village of Cayuga Heights?

The main downside to Lansing and Cayuga Heights based on their list would be the lack of walkability. A lot of areas don't have sidewalks and it can be a bit of a hike to get somewhere specific, as opposed to taking the dog or 3 year old for a wander. Both are very desirable areas, however, with lovely places.

I think the best thing to do would be to come up for a weekend visit and just go exploring. Something about your phrasing makes me wonder if you're thinking of Ithaca as being a bit more urban than it actually is. It's a lovely town that I am very happy to live in, but it is not a large city, and the surroundings are quite rural (my family and I are all from Connecticut and the quietness outside of town is one of the most common comments that visitors make). That said, the majority of areas within the City or even Town of Ithaca would suit your needs, particularly in the flatter parts of town at the bottom of the hills. Here's a post I wrote a while back detailing the character of various parts of town which focuses a bit more on rentals for graduate students but may still be a help to you. Good luck!