Quote:
Originally Posted by sarazlewis
I'd love to know more about New Rochelle. Which areas are the most desirable to live in? Which should I avoid? Are there bordering towns it's better to be closer to i,e Pelham, Larchmont, Scarsdale, Eastchester, Wykagyl, etc. Also, is living downtown tolerable? I hear that lots of construction is going on. I've also seen reviews where people seem to dislike New Roc city entertainment place. I'm from Manhattan so it would take a lot to truly irritate me soundwise, but is it problematic in other ways? We're going to buy in about a year. We're going to rent until then. We'd like to get a feel for the neighborhood before we take the purchase plunge. A safe neighborhood & good (elementary k-5) schools are our primary concerns. Diversity is not an issue. If you have names of apts, coops,or condos feel free to post them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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New Rochelle is a real mixed bag of neighborhoods. Driving around NR will help you quickly figure out which areas to avoid.
The south end of NR is on LI sound. Some areas are nice, some are seedy. It is very crowded. Everything from apt buildings to condos and single homes and two-three family homes. The water area is crowded with beach clubs and harbors for boats. Water quality in LI sound this close to NYC not so hot. I understand new condos and a new housing development are in the works but I can't tell you anything about them.
Downtown NR fell apart in the '70's. Financial and political misjudgements caused white flight and the perception that NR was dangerous. Bloomingdales left, stores closed, three or four theaters closed. A mall was built but never attracted much business, everybody went to White Plains instead.
Downtown NR now has a building going up with Trump's name on it, another building is going up several blocks away. The downtown area is still a bit seedy, but getting better. New restaurants are opening all the time.
The north end of NR is quite nice, very safe. Many different kinds of homes. Wykagyl is a neighborhood in NR, not a separate town.
Mid-NR is a goofy mix. Close to the train station you want to avoid. On one side of Iona are homes rented by older students. On the other side of Iona NR turns into the land of giant, beautiful homes.
The better public schools are in the north end of NR, including a middle school. The high school is something else. Everyone funnels into the one high school, and it's the largest in Westchester County with over 3000 students. Savvy students quickly figure out where the gangs maintain their turf and avoid those areas. Security is heavy but incidents still occur, and some are serious. Interestingly enough, you won't read about them in the local paper.
The counseling staff at the HS concentrate on the stars and the losers...quiet students fall between the cracks.
New Roc is a problematic entertainment complex in downtown NR with theaters, ice-skating rinks, restaurants, bowling alley and game room. It has become popular with street gangs from the Bronx. It recently had a riot when it got too crowded and rival gangs started bumping elbows. My senior at NR high school wasn't surprised...the buzz in the HS was trouble was going to happen that weekend.
New Rochelle is just okay, long time residents love it. Good luck.
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