Moving to Plattsburgh - best places to live (Albany, Penfield: rent, condos)

[pdxer07]

Hi Everyone:

We are thinking of moving to Plattsburgh this summer and have questions about to where to live in order to get the best special ed. services. We have a child who is on the Autism Spectrum and has been receiving services in the elementary school here. We would love to get information on the desirable areas to live in and around Plattsburgh, both from the perspective of livability (and affordability) and schools (with an emphasis on special ed. services).

Thanks

Pdxer

[pdxer07]

Hi Everyone:

Just trying to resurrect the question :-)
Even if you have no inputs about the Special Ed. component, we would love to hear about the "better" places to live in and around Plattsburgh. We have heard good things about the Plattsburgh City schools. Any inputs on the good areas to live in the City of Plattsburgh would be welcome, as would inputs on the towns around Plattsburgh (hopefully within a 10-15 minute commute) with good schools.

Thanks

[plattsburgher]

I have a developmentally disabled child (Mosaic Down's Syndrome) and I would recommend the Plattsburgh City School district as number one, by far and away.......They have the staff, the money, the experience, the greatest special ed people and work as a team for your child. When my younger daughter was 3, she still wasn't diagnosed and also wasn't talking at all. We were going to genetic specialists in Vermont, NH, NY, etc.........Once she was positively diagnosed at age 5 (almost 6), she had already been in early intervention (speech, ot, pt) for 3 years through the county program. She was mainstreamed immediately (kindergarten on) into the city schools and last weekend actually went on a bus trip (4 buses) full of high school kids (she is 16 now) to Washington DC to perform at a concert and is an active member of the high school band, swim team, bowling, track (discus) and has done all talent shows and some plays from middle school on............She has friends with "special needs" and "regular" friends because everyone is included in all activities......I have had meetings with the special ed people at least 2 to 3 times per year (more when she was in elementary school), but kids here are actively mainstreamed and the ot's, pt's, speech, and psych people are the best. I actually was a teaching assistant in the city schools for about 10 years and they treat all special children this way............If you want second and third choices, I can give you my opinion, but the city school district has the most money to spend on your child and mine, disabled or not disabled. It has the best reputation and is why some people start in other districts, but usually end up in the city.....not because they want to live within the Plattsburgh city limits, but because they want their children to have the best possible education. I know I have said this before, but all of my relatives who live elsewhere in the country have repeatedly said that I could not have purchased a better education for my child at any school at any price. I wholeheartedly agree.................!

[pdxer07]

Thanks Plattsburgher:

We really appreciate your sharing your personal experiences about the Plattsburgh schools with us.
So within the City of Plattsburgh, what are the decent areas to live in? We want to be close to the University and the Hospital, but not in areas that students rent in (nothing against students, but we are not that young anymore and our priorities are different at this point in time :-) Also if anyone has any information on the "boundary" line between the elementary schools. That is, which areas feed students into Momot, and which areas feed students into Bailey/Oak St.

Thanks again for all the help, this will really make it a lot easier for us to decide where to live.

p.s. Any idea when regular flights into the new Airport at Plattsburgh will begin? The airfares into Burlington are quite high :-(

[vter]

pdxer, where are you coming from? JetBlue often has really good fares to/from Burlington. Also, don't rule out Montreal.

[nunoco]

[quote=pdxer07;760771]So within the City of Plattsburgh, what are the decent areas to live in? We want to be close to the University and the Hospital, but not in areas that students rent in (nothing against students, but we are not that young anymore and our priorities are different at this point in time :-) Also if anyone has any information on the "boundary" line between the elementary schools. That is, which areas feed students into Momot, and which areas feed students into Bailey/Oak St.

PDXER,
Don't have the exact boundaries handy, but in general, Momot is Center City, everything south of Broad Street, and the old PAFB.
If you're looking for a more upscale suburban setting within the city (but, from what I've heard, a bit less interaction with neighbors), look north of Center City, near Penfield Park and Bailey school.
The so-called "new base" has smaller homes and duplexes, and is also more suburban in style (not many activities in walking distance) and
well-liked by the residents I know.
I live on the so-called "old base" (kids walk to Momot and Stafford, which have both been fantastic schools), and highly recommend it. Lots of new condos coming on line, as well as a few for-sale signs in the gorgeous old neighborhood just north of the base and east of Rte. 9. These neighborhoods are walking distance (though a longer walk if you're on the base) to downtown and Lake Champlain, without as many college students as Center City.
Good luck--and pick Plattsburgher's brain. It's a packed storehouse of useful info!

[plattsburgher]

Thanks for any and all complements from my "old base" counterpart. Just got home from work and today happened to be a tough day at the "factory". What a nice surprise to read a positive comment this afternoon! Will certainly be glad to add my two cents re: Plattsburgh neighborhoods in a little bit. There are some that are just lovely for families, and Nunoco touched on my favorites. I like it on the "new base" here, but it is not as great for families as my former neighborhood.........Will "talk" more later. Right now, however............dinnertime!!

[plattsburgher]

I know the airport is up and ready and really looking good, but doubt if anything coming in here (within the next year?) is going to beat leaving out of Bton or Montreal or even Albany's prices..........Actually, the last few times I have flown it was much, much cheaper to drive to Albany and fly out. It just depends on seasons, routes, airlines, etc...............Jet Blue is great, but depends on where you are headed.

Neighborhoods I love are the areas Nunoco mentioned that are just around Bailey Avenue School and then over near the high school which is called the West End. Although I have to ask about what price range and type of house are you looking for? This would make a difference....... These are both middle class, family oriented, somewhat older homes with either small or medium sized homes for the most part althought there are definitely exceptions within the district. Another family, but a little pricier area would be what is called Brookfield Manor which is very near the hospital. It is definitely a great time to be looking because right now the housing slump is hitting and there seems to be more homes sitting around and you can probably grab something fairly cheaply..........definitely compared to downstate. I do love Momot School also..........The principal is someone I knew years ago who was a special ed teacher for many years, so she is particularly "tuned in" to our kids...........Great lady. The principal at Bailey is new this fall, but has a great rep. She is coming from another part of the state, but has been given high praise. The middle school principal has been there a few years now and is both well-liked and respected by faculty and students from what I understand.........Test scores are all high for inclusive students and our district always does extremely well............Lots of great sports and activities outside classroom time also, and most teachers are there at least an hour after the bell rings for children to go home. My daughter got an hour of free tutoring in every afternoon that she was able to stay for at least 5 years.................! Any more Q's? Ask away, but may be in and out over the weekend..........supposed to be great weather.........! Good luck!

[tviz25]

You guys call Plattsburgh a city. If thats its proper title I guess you can call it that but it is more like a middle-sized town.

[vter]

There is a new very low cost no frills airline out of Columbus, OH called Skybus. They just started flying to Portsmouth, NH (for the Boston market). If I were the Plattsburgh Airport person, I'd court them!
http://skybus.com/ (broken link)