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Status:
"Let this year be over..."
(set 25 days ago)
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,220 posts, read 17,105,490 times
Reputation: 15539
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubygreta
That realtor should be fired.
If you want to get a sense of a community, visit school playgrounds. Better yet, if there is an event like a bake sale at a local elementary school, attend that. I think observing the parents of kids in the local elementary school is a much better way of evaluating a community than basing it on the people who like to drink Big Gulps and eat Cheese Whiz nachos.
Any observation of the local gentry is a plus regardless of where you do it. Seeing this is summer and school is not in session visiting a school based event probably won't be an option. Don't assume parents always make the best examples....
I am an artist,too. I am going to be blunt. Unfortunately--it is not ridiculous. Some areas of Kingston looked like a slum. I feel bad saying it--but that is what went through my mind as I saw it--and not sure why that would be such an affront to some people?
As a writer, I really wanted to live in Woodstock---but thought the prices would be too high. Kingston seemed the next logical location or New Paltz.
But I must agree that Kingston seems economically depressed, unappealing and grimy. I had actually applied for affordable housing and thankfully was rejected because of the one creditor that remains, that I am working to get off my credit report.
I had not been there in a while, but had liked it. I found out about affordable housing there--the Rupco people, and it seemed like all green lights were go, they were actually having trouble renting out the units --I was told. So I was good to go, until my application and appeal was rejected.
I was so upset, until on a fluke- found affordable units in Woodstock to look at, and while on the bus went through Kingston--I saw broken down homes, unkempt yards, trash--
While, I remembered Kingston as being not --as boutique-y--as New Paltz or Woodstock,perhaps, but still having its own wonderful character---it just seemed like it had badly deteriorated
I am very glad my application turned down and I had heard of the Lace factory---but I am going to pass. If all goes through I found a sweet place in Woodstock,instead.
Any observation of the local gentry is a plus regardless of where you do it. Seeing this is summer and school is not in session visiting a school based event probably won't be an option. Don't assume parents always make the best examples....
Thanks for the feedback everyone! It's a lot consider, I'm sure we just need to spend some time there to get a feel of the town.
Look for towns outside of Kingston. Personally, I wouldn't move to Kingston to a raise a family . Looking for artsy areas, try Woodstock, New Paltz, or Saugerties, as others have mentioned. I owned a house in the village of New Paltz, school and property taxes are high. The Rhinebeck area on the other side of the Hudson River is also nice. Kingston is more than an hour and a half drive to NYC.
Woodstock is wonderful... Especially for artists, and of course musicians. Good luck!
Thank you! If all goes well--I am renting the sweetest little house--absolutely perfect for a writer
and affordable--half the cost of my current Manhattan rent-stabilized high-rise and with 3 minute walk to the Village Green.
And I was just hired for an arty-ish position in New Paltz. life is good
Co-signing on other areas for the OP, instead of Kingston---especially for kiddies
If you want to get a sense of a community, visit school playgrounds. Better yet, if there is an event like a bake sale at a local elementary school, attend that. I think observing the parents of kids in the local elementary school is a much better way of evaluating a community than basing it on the people who like to drink Big Gulps and eat Cheese Whiz nachos.
The folks at 7-11 after 6PM are more likely to be in your neighborhood than those there earlier in the day.
As for bake sales at local elementary schools -- ALL schools in our district now have security double entries with buzzers, cameras, and bullet proof glass to enter through before you even make it to the security desk. There you have to give your name and reason for visit. A stranger coming in to observe the parents and students interacting in school? Not happening too easily in many districts as this is post Newtown.
It has even been brought up that schools be closed on election day to prevent people from wandering the halls while class is in session.
The folks at 7-11 after 6PM are more likely to be in your neighborhood than those there earlier in the day.
As for bake sales at local elementary schools -- ALL schools in our district now have security double entries with buzzers, cameras, and bullet proof glass to enter through before you even make it to the security desk. There you have to give your name and reason for visit. A stranger coming in to observe the parents and students interacting in school? Not happening too easily in many districts as this is post Newtown.
It has even been brought up that schools be closed on election day to prevent people from wandering the halls while class is in session.
Oh brother.
I'm talking about an outdoor event on the school grounds.
And we have set a new standard for getting to know the neighbors. Park your car in front of a 7-11 and see who walks in.
Based on your theory, and based on what I know about 7-11, you would not move to any community that has one (including Scarsdale).
Status:
"Let this year be over..."
(set 25 days ago)
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,220 posts, read 17,105,490 times
Reputation: 15539
Quote:
Originally Posted by rubygreta
Oh brother.
I'm talking about an outdoor event on the school grounds.
And we have set a new standard for getting to know the neighbors. Park your car in front of a 7-11 and see who walks in.
Based on your theory, and based on what I know about 7-11, you would not move to any community that has one (including Scarsdale).
Why are you so offended by observing who frequents are area convenience store? We are not in the city where I live and going to the corner market is not an option. The point of the statement is to visit local businesses and see what the people in the area are like.
Outdoor event on school grounds, I never see that kind of event when school is out and most events during the school year are not open events for the public. If the OP want to see what the schools are like they better check in with the office and be escorted on a tour or the police will be escorting them.
I'm talking about an outdoor event on the school grounds.
And we have set a new standard for getting to know the neighbors. Park your car in front of a 7-11 and see who walks in.
Based on your theory, and based on what I know about 7-11, you would not move to any community that has one (including Scarsdale).
Most elementary schools in my area do not have open to the public outdoor events. How many months would you suggest a potential buyer wait on the outside chance a school has an outdoor event? Perhaps they are more frequent in your part of Westchester?
As for the 7-11 "theory": it wasn't mine, but I do agree that a person will see a cross section of the community and who travels through it. Same with the local chain pharmacy, local supermarket to an extent. I live in an area where plenty of people have landscape and pool services. There's a large university and LIRR station here, too.
During the day, our 7-11 has the morning commuter rush, which gives way to the service people seeking drinks and snacks, moms popping in for a gallon of milk, and later kids from both the public and local private school buying Slurpees and snacks. The university student traffic picks up as the day goes on, and more locals stop in for bread, milk, or what-have-you after work or between shuttling kids to activities. The owner knows the locals and regulars and keeps the parking lot tidy, as well as plants flowers. She cares about her business and its appearance in our community.
I became familiar with my area as a student who attended college here and who frequented the local 7-11.
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life is good
