Generations of residents in post-war suburbs in Nassau County
In the years after World War II, suburban development spread in blocks and subdivisions down Long Island, growing the once pastoral hamlet of Franklin Square into a bedroom community as decades and commuter infrastructure moved forward. This history, and other local contributions to the national banking scene, are kept by modern-day residents participating in civic associations, historical societies and interest groups that have served families across generations. “Franklin Square is a very tight-knit community. The Little League hosts barbecues and field days with bounce houses and a local business makes all their sports gear, it’s connections like that,” says Marisa Filardo, a licensed real estate salesperson with Douglas Elliman who has specialized in Nassau County for eight years. Just 3 miles east of Queens, Franklin Square maintains suburban separation from the busy blocks of New York City without losing touch with the events, commuter hubs and culture of the Five Boroughs.
Side-gabled homes can be found across Franklin Square.
Find your charming colonial revival with scalloped siding.
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Suburban single-family homes from $415,000 in Franklin Square
Single-family homes built during the post-war suburban housing boom make up the bulk of Franklin Square, lining grassy, orderly blocks and more meandering streets closer to the Southern State Parkway. Smaller homes, like Cape Cods, ranch-style homes and simple houses built in the prewar era, sell for $415,000 to $900,000. Larger homes, like colonials, bi-levels and rarer New Traditional homes that replaced older homes in the 1990s through 2020s, sell for $700,000 to $1.3 million. Extensive sidewalks draw dog walkers and mid-day errand runners from their homes. Franklin Square has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Row of homes lined by sidewalks and freshly cut grass.
Many homes across Franklin Square have well manicured lawns.
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Music education at Franklin Square elementary schools
For prekindergarten through sixth grade, kids attend one of three Franklin Square Union Free School District elementary schools that earn an A-minus from Niche, including Polk Street School which sits at the center of the hamlet and showcases the district’s reputation for music education excellence at regular choral and band concerts. Most students then move on to H. Frank Carey High School, which earns a B-plus and is in the Sewanhaka Central High School District, for seventh through 12th grades.
Washington Street School entrance.
The main entrance to H. Frank Carey High School is located on Poppy Ave.
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Driving, NICE buses and the Long Island Rail Road into NYC
Though residents are car dependent, public transit options within and just outside Franklin Square provide options for getting into the Five Boroughs. “Franklin Square is close to the city; the local bus goes to Queens. It’s a big convenience for people,” says Sibel Huryilmaz, a Real Estate Specialist with Douglas Elliman who has 15 years of experience in the area. The Nassau Inter-County Express bus also drops riders at the New Hyde Park Long Island Rail Road Station about 2 miles away, providing a 40-minute train ride to Penn Station. Although the Southern State Parkway makes up the southern border of Franklin Square, drivers might head to the Cross Island Parkway for a 24-mile drive to Manhattan.
Getting outside at Rath Park
Rath Park is the literal and social center of Franklin Square, but popular activities ebb and flow with the seasons. Warmer months draw crowds to cool off in the public pool or to play and watch Franklin Square Little League games under the stadium lights in the evening hours. The park’s tree-shaded playground and basketball and tennis courts are open throughout the year. Nearby, the Franklin Square Historical Museum is open for just a couple hours once a month and shares local history, including the story of the world's first credit card issued at the former Franklin Square National Bank. Locals may know the property better as the site of the annual fall festival, a hub for autumnal crafts and raffle baskets. Just north of Franklin Square, golfers can play 18 holes at Garden City Country Club, which has more than 100 acres of fairways and ponds stretching out in the middle of suburban Long Island.
Where playful spirits and amateur athletes unite for a day of action-packed fun.
Town of Hempstead Rath Park has one of the best public pools in Franklin Square.
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Shopping and dining throughout Franklin Square
Stores and restaurants are concentrated on two major roads that intersect within Franklin Square, Hempstead Turnpike and Franklin Avenue. Diverse cuisines are on offer in both national chain and locally owned forms, from Moe’s Southwest Grill and Dunkin’ to Filomena’s Restaurant, a family-owned hub for Italian cuisine and modern ambiance, and Plattduetsche Park, an indoor and outdoor food hall that centers German cuisine, frequent festivals and a true biergarten experience. Nearby houses of worship are equally as varied, with several churches like Saint Catherine of Sienna falling within Franklin Square and a number of synagogues throughout the neighboring hamlet of West Hempstead. Grocery shopping can be done at national chains like Stop & Shop and Lidl.
T & F Pork Store and Italian Deli in Franklin Square has been servicing the area since 1970.
Sweet Life Bake Shop, Franklin Square has everything you ever want to satisfy your sweet tooth.
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Ball season events with Franklin Square Little League
While Franklin Square’s active historical society, civic association and chamber of commerce are frequent collaborators and individual hosts of festivals and events, Franklin Square Little League steals the show. On opening day each spring, baseball and softball teams wave to fans on a parade route from the corner of Wool and Franklin avenues to Rath Park, where home games will be played in the season to come. Bounce houses, barbecues and ball teams celebrating the end-of-season results fill the same park in mid-June at the end-of-season picnic.
“There’s no better exercise for the heart than to reach down to lift people up.” This is the principle that guides Lorraine through her life.
A 33 year veteran of the magazine publishing industry, Lorraine started her career at ELLE Magazine at an exciting time, when magazines were in their prime. As Editorial Business Manager of a fast-paced monthly, she worked on constant deadlines and closings amongst a team of highly creative people. She was in the unenviable pivotal post between upper management (always cutting costs) and editors requiring larger budgets for their stories. It taught her a great deal about strategizing, prioritizing, and negotiating. Super late nights at the office meant car service home practically every night; Lorraine knew that she had to shift gears to make way for her next accomplishment – her two children.
After ELLE, Lorraine joined the ranks of Hearst Magazines, where she remained for 22 years in human resources in the position of HRIS Manager. She played an instrumental role in two major acquisitions during her tenure at Hearst – first with Hachette Filipacchi, then later with Rodale Press. Lorraine was the winner of the 2017 prestigious Hearst Spotlight Award for her contributions during the Rodale acquisition, in recognition of her strong work ethic and creative problem-solving skills.
Human Resources proved to be a great fit. She was able to combine her knack for problem-solving and love of helping others to apply it to an immeasurable amount of employee dilemmas over the years.
A Sag Harbor native and graduate of Pierson High School, Lorraine met her husband, a summer city boy way back when here in Sag Harbor.
Lorraine's local roots run deep – her family is Montaukett Indian. She has a large extended family in the Sag Harbor area, who are direct descendants of Stephen Talkhouse Pharaoh, after whom the club in Amagansett is named.
When not working, Lorraine loves to get together with friends, many of them from high school, who affectionately refer to her as their “tribal leader.” She says "If you are fortunate enough to have grown up here, your friends are your extended family."
Lorraine loves meeting new people! When not selling real estate, she can be found designing her own line of beachwear, or watching Basketball Hardwood Classics on ESPN.
A few fun facts about Lorraine: She taught herself how to: Drive a stick shift, a motorcycle, and a three wheel ATV. She loves to travel and would like to think that she would go just about anywhere.
A member of The Eastville Historical Society, and of the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, Lorraine contributes to: Toys for Tots, No Kid Hungry, The International Animal Rescue Fund.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
