Ossining: Safety & resale perspective (White Plains, Yorktown: how much, houses, neighborhood) - Westchester County - New York (NY) - City-Data Forum

Ganymede · 01-06-2008, 06:00 PM

We're considering a few houses on Yates Avenue (a block east of North Highland Avenue/Route 9).

While we're reasonably sure the area is safe and that it would be a good long-term financial investment, my concern is that if I can't afford to retire to the house in 20 years given the property taxes I'd want to be able to cash out with as much as possible. (I REALLY plan ahead.)

I've seen several Highland Avenue references on the Westchester Citi-Data forum to "good" and "bad" parts of Ossining, to wit:

"There are two municipalities in Ossining: the village of Ossining, and the Town of Ossining. The taxes in the town are lower than the village. The population mix has changed over the years...the dividing line in Ossining is Highland Ave (Rt 9). Below that is known as the bad part of town, above that, the good side of town."

Also references that being "east" of Route 9 is better (even one block, and how much worse can "west" be opposite Yates?), or south rather than north. It's all very confusing to me since I'm unfamiliar with the area.

Could anyone shed some light on whether Yates Avenue is in the Town or Village of Ossining ("Paging Walter Greenspan!"), and how it rates as a neighborhood other than "not the best and not the worst in Ossining?" The unvarnished truth is appreciated!

Ganymede · 01-08-2008, 10:22 AM

BUMP! I have to make a decision within a week.

JLFCPA · 01-14-2008, 02:57 PM

Rte 9 is a main North-South thoroughfare that runs all the way through Westchester County parallel to the Hudson River. In Ossining, west of route 9 towards the Hudson is a little seedier than east (which turns into Briarcliff Manor). South of the Arcadia Shopping mall, you can't go wrong east or west because it becomes Scarborough, a sub-section of Briarcliff Manor. North of Rte. 133, it gets a little seedy both east or west (which is where I think you are looking). There is a Check Cashing Store just south of Yates on Rte. 9. It's my client. A check casher in your neighborhood usually isn't a good sign. Hope that all helps.

Francescoli · 01-14-2008, 10:40 PM

When they say "west of route 9 in bad" they certainly mean from the town center (north) to the arcadia shopping center (south). That area is not particularly nice to walk through, though I wouldn't tag it as awfully bad... Yates avenue is far north of that, almost in the woods. You don't have to be concerned.

emma1 · 09-12-2008, 10:21 AM

We are looking at a place off 9A ( off Chappaqua and Morningside Dr). Is this a good area? Street and homes are gorgeous.

Pivot Point · 09-13-2008, 09:46 PM

Emma,
The Chappaqua Rd and Morninside Drive area of Ossining is lovely and very safe. It's a wonderful place to live.

emma1 · 09-15-2008, 07:53 AM

Thank you. Not being totally familar with the area, everyone keeps mentioning being east of Rt9 and this area is apparently only one block over from Briarcliff Manor. We were in the area on Sat and actually stopped a police car to ask about the area and he said it was fine. Haven't figured out where food stores are yet or good clothing stores - I assume it's the malls in White Plains.

dma1250 · 09-15-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emma1

Haven't figured out where food stores are yet or good clothing stores - I assume it's the malls in White Plains.

For a great food store, you can go about 5-10 miinutes north to Zetynia's in Croton--good range of gourmet and basic goods, meat, fish, organic produce, lots of premade stuff, etc. There are also good food stores not too far away in Mt kisco and Yorktown Heights.

I'm not too in the know on women's clothing, but Mt Kisco has some of the high-end chains--Ann Taylor, Victoria's secret, Banana Republic, Gap--as well as more interesting boutiques.

Pivot Point · 09-15-2008, 04:26 PM

You can get good groceries a few blocks away at Food Emporium on Pleasantville Road (betw. Orchard & Underhill Rds) in the Chilmark Shopping Center in Briarcliff Manor. The closest good clothing stores are at the malls in White Plains.

emma1 · 09-16-2008, 08:05 AM

Thank you for th info! All we are familar with is down 9A since family lives in Elmsford. We have gone to Sam's club. But I am glad to hear that the neighbor hood we are looking at -just off Morningside Dr is safe and a good place to live. It seems like it would be close to everything since 100 is right there as well. It's a lot of money - more than we were hoping to spend - so hearing not so good things about some areas of Ossining got me nervous - because this area seems great.