Outer West/Southwest Monroe

The Outer West/Southwest Monroe neighborhood rapidly transitions from urban/industrial to open farmland and small villages in less than 10 miles. “The best part of this area,” says Sharon Quataert of Sharon Quataert Realty, “is that you get such a rural feel and yet you are still so close to everything.” Imagine landing at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport after a business trip. Hop in the car and head west on Interstate 490. You’ll pass ironworks and other industrial businesses; you’ll pass the massive Wegman’s headquarters. And then, moments later, you drive by subdivisions with sidewalks and mature shade trees. After few more minutes of driving, you’re passing farm fields and woods. Stay on I-490, and you’ll end up in Churchville. Main Street runs through the middle of this village, bordered on both sides by brick storefronts. It’s quintessential small-town America, complete with good schools and friendly people.

But should you leave the interstate before Churchville and turn right on State Highway 431, you’ll end up in the village of Spencerport, population 3,700. Originally farmland, when the Erie Canal was built in 1825, the area became a port station on the canal. The lovely bridge on Spencerport’s Union Street was built in 1914 and is one of the historically significant Erie Canal Lift Bridges. “The canal is the highlight of Spencerport. The village has done a beautiful job building up its downtown with cute little restaurants, shops and bars,” says Realtor Quataert. Spencerport has also added an iconic wood gazebo to the waterfront where it sponsors summer concerts.

There is a wide variety of home styles throughout the Outer West/Southwest Monroe area. Some older homes in Spencerport that date back to the early 20th century, include Victorians, Cape Cods and colonials. “A surge of construction in the 1990s saw bigger homes built on larger lots,” says Quataert. Newer ranches and a host of other styles can be found. Home prices vary as widely as do home styles. But whatever the budget, buyers will get a lot of value for their money. A large colonial on an acre sells for about $190,000. A large contemporary brick home on more than three acres sells for $475.000.

The schools in the Spencerport area are very good. Canal View Elementary School serves 450 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It has a student-teacher ratio of 10 to one and a B rating from Niche. A.M. Cosgrove Middle School has a student body of about 840 and a B rating from Niche. Spencerport High School has more than 1,100 students and a student-teacher ratio of 11 to one. The school made national news in early 2023 when 100-year-old Pearl Neumann finally received her diploma from the school. She had dropped out eight decades earlier to help on the family farm.

When school is out and work is done, there is plenty to do in the area. Pineway Ponds Park has a popular splash pad and playground as well as baseball, softball, soccer, football, and lacrosse fields, a squash court and basketball courts. The 973-acre Northampton Park has playgrounds, soccer fields and a model airplane field. It also features hiking, horseback riding and cross-country trails and a ski lodge for skiers and snowboarders. Arrowhead Golf Course and Marina is an 18-hold public course in Spencerport. In addition to golfing, it rents single and tandem kayaks. For 40 years, the village has celebrated Spencerport Canal Days. Held annually at the end of July, it’s a celebration of art, crafts, food, and, of course, the canal.

When shopping needs to be done, there are plenty of options in Spencerport. Visit the Unique Shop. This one-of-a-kind store sells gifts you won’t find anywhere else. The Spencerport Family Apothecary is an elegant little shop that dispenses medications, prescriptions and top-rate customer service. There is a Wegman’s nearby and Walmart, Target, and other big box stores are just minutes away in Rochester.

If you’re hungry, Spencerport offers several options. Among them, Grandpa Sam’s Italian Kitchen serves classic Italian recipes and desserts that almost look too delicious to be true. The chef at Bad Apple Bistro restaurant says they offer classic dishes with innovative twists.

Written By

Robin Beres

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Vick

Video By

Jessica Johnson