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My family saw an amazing house in the Lawrence Farms area of Chappaqua today. The house itself was perfect, but we are not at all convinced that Chappaqua is the right place for us to live given how long the commute would be to the city (see below). I also worry that living it Chappaqua would be isolating. My husband currently works in midtown and I am staying at home for now, but will probably go back to work in NYC eventually. We have a 4 year old and a new baby. What is it like living in Chappaqua in general and Lawrence Farms in particular? We are really down to earth people.
As for where we should move, we have visited Larchmont a bunch of times but we just don't see the appeal. The town feels old and the houses are right on top of each other. Scarsdale is nice but the lots are small and we worry that it will be too pretentous for us. Edgemont is nice but the taxes are outrageous for what you get. Pleasantville was gross when we drove through it and we haven't seen anything in Briarcliff Manor that was appealing. As for what we want, we don't need to be in an A+ district but we wouldn't really want to go much below a B+ (if that makes sense). I would love to be in a place that is walkable and has a real downtown. I guess there isn't really anywhere in Westchester that I really WANT to move to, but with 2 kids we just can't afford NYC private schools.
Chappaqua has a big parking lot and express trains to the city. 48 minutes from the station to GCT if you take the 8:21 or 8:39. Can't beat that with a stick. Chappaqua is a very good but competitive school district of you get my drift. May be a bit of keeping up with the Joneses going on.
Unfortunately DH would have a 50+ min train ride plus the 15 min to the train/park plus the 15 min walk to work. That is an hour 20 door to door. Currently his commute is 25 min door to door. He is a very involved dad do I would hate for him to lose 2 hours a day with our kids.
I guess there isn't really anywhere in Westchester that I really WANT to move to, but with 2 kids we just can't afford NYC private schools.
It sounds like you could put this decision off for at least a year until your oldest is ready for school, maybe two years if your preschool has a kindergarten option. Why move if you don't like any of the towns here?
We'd move this year (instead of early 2014) because a) we live in 650 sqft right and b) I don't want to miss out on the right property. My son's preschool does not have a kindergarten option and I really don't want to throw away $5-6000/month on a 2-3 bedroom in Manhattan. When we leave our current apartment I want to go to our "forever" house.
OP - when people move to the suburbs from the city, they know they are giving up a short commute for more property. And when they move further out, they know they will be getting more property but also longer commute times. Those dynamics simply do not change. There are well-appointed homes in Larchmont, Scarsdale and other southern Westchester areas, but they cost an arm and a leg.
IMO, it's easier for a family with 2 FT working parents to be living in a smaller property with a closer commute. But you won't get the country feel, housing stock and space of Chappaqua for sure. Look at Rye Neck or Irvington. But that's just my personal preference. Surely there are families in Chappaqua with 2 working parents who do just fine.
P-ville overlaps Chappaqua, Briarcliff and Armonk school districts and aesthetically it's hard to tell where one ends and the others begin. What streets were you on exactly and what was gross about it?
P-ville overlaps Chappaqua, Briarcliff and Armonk school districts and aesthetically it's hard to tell where one ends and the others begin. What streets were you on exactly and what was gross about it?
Is it old? She doesn't like old towns she says up top.
Have you looked into Mamaroneck or Rye Neck? Orienta specifically has bigger lots and is a super nice neighborhood. Parts of Rye Neck are gorgeous too. There is less keeping up with the Joneses here than in Chappaqua.
What is your budget???
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P-ville overlaps Chappaqua, Briarcliff and Armonk school districts and aesthetically it's hard to tell where one ends and the others begin. What streets were you on exactly and what was gross about it?
