Elmsford

Elmsford is a village in the town of Greenburgh, New York. It’s a small neighborhood, centered around West Main Street and tucked into a 1.1 square mile area. “The residential streets in Elmsford are tree lined. Homes are well kept with green lawns and trimmed shrubbery. There aren’t many sidewalks, but the streets are quiet and bike riders and dog-walkers share the roads,” says Lauren Zaccaria a Realtor with Houlihan Lawrence Inc. Neighbors in this community are close and tend to look out for one another. During the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, when residents had no power, village workers delivered firewood to homes and police officers regularly checked in on the elderly.

“It’s really a great location, with easy access to major highways and lots of shopping. It’s minutes from White Plains, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and several dental schools,” says Zaccaria, who has listings in the area. Manhattan and John F. Kennedy Airport are 25 miles away. Saw Mill River Parkway provides the most direct route to New York City. There is no train station in the village, but commuters can drive to nearby Tarrytown and catch the Hudson line into the city. For local excursions, the Westchester Bee Line offers service in and around Elmsford.

This community is considered more affordable than most of Westchester County. Single-family homes are mostly ranch-styles, Cape Cods, modest colonials and a handful of Tudors on small lots. Most homes have driveways but not garages. Home prices can range from about $280,000 for a 3-bedroom cottage to around $650,000 for larger, colonial-style home. Expect to pay $1.6 million or more for a 5-bedroom Craftsman with sweeping views and an expansive, manicured lawn in the Knollwood Manor area.

Public schools fall under Elmsford Union Free School District. Alice E. Grady Elementary School has a B-minus rating from Niche and a student-teacher ratio of 12-1. Alexander Hamilton Junior/Senior High School has 464 students in grades 7-12. It has a 12-1 student-teacher ratio and a B rating from Niche. The high school has developed a professional development partnership with Manhattanville College to enhance student learning and better prepare teacher candidates for college.

“The town of Greenburgh has an extraordinary parks and recreation department that connects the entire community to the outdoors. There are lots of big and little parks that provide swimming pools, sports fields and other activities,” says Zaccaria. Deluca Park has large open spaces, a basketball court, a playground and picnic tables. Massaro Park, in the heart of Elmsford, has a baseball field, basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool and picnic area. Just 3 miles away is Tarrytown Lakes Park. The 72-acre natural preserve offers trails and birdwatching opportunities. In the winter, people go cross-country skiing and ice skating at the park. Elmsford holds several annual events that are well attended by the community. The Memorial Day Parade marches through the heart of town and is followed by a service and refreshments for all. The annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony is a festive affair that includes carolers, musicians and horse-and-wagon rides.

The heart of downtown Elmsford is found on West Main Street. Here, small mom-and-pop stores offer local shoppers an array of choices. There is a Sam’s Club and a ShopRite in Elmsford. Walmart, Target and other big box stores and grocery chains can be found in White Plains.

When hunger strikes, there are several restaurant options in Elmsford. Carmine’s Deli and Café not only offers Italian and American food options, it provides live music on weekend nights. Pete’s Saloon & Restaurant has been around for four decades, offering burgers, fried chicken and other comfort food in a hometown pub atmosphere. It’s a cozy place to end a busy day.

Written By

Robin Beres

Photography Contributed By

Chris Mantz

Video By

Michael Voyack