Boro6 Wine Bar, Picture Courtesy of the New York Times
A vertical New York City suburb, both literally and figuratively, Hastings-on-Hudson is known for its stunning views of the Palisades and Manhattan, its progressive culture, and one of New York State’s greatest trails, the Old Croton Aqueduct, which stretches from Yonkers to Croton. Historically a factory town and a location for New York City elite’s summer residences about a century ago, Hastings-on-Hudson is now a lovely Westchester County community. Hastings is also known for its public school system. Its elementary, middle and high schools all have been selected as National Blue Ribbon Award recipients.
In 2013, The New York Times labeled it Hipstubia. However, adults moving to Westchester from the city after having children is not a new trend. While there might be more tattoos per square foot in the Rivertowns comparable to other Westchester towns, eclecticism remains. Attorneys and bankers live amongst sculptors and advertising executives. While it’s surely suburban, there’s nothing cookie cutter about it and it’s not the cliche WASPY upscale suburb that turns off the Brooklyn demographic. Yet it’s still very much an upscale suburb.
There are numerous local attractions and recreational areas within the village. A community swimming pool is widely used by residents in the summer. Numerous playing fields and hiking, biking and walking trails are located throughout two linear parks and the popular Hillside Woods area. The village’s downtown area boasts numerous retail shops and eateries, and a seasonal farmers market is a popular attraction for residents during the growing season. The Rivertowns are one of the few communities in Westchester that maintain their own events blog, The River Towns Guide.
Antoinettes Patisserie, Pictures Courtesy of the New York Times
Brooklynites have been the fastest growing group of buyers according to local agents although the landscape does not mirror Brooklyn. The community is heavily influenced by the river and surrounding green space. Located in the southern part of Westchester County, Hastings offers an easy commute into the city.
There are gluten-free bakeries, yoga studios, farm-to-table restaurants, organic markets and trendy boutiques that help former city dwellers feel as though moving to the suburbs does not require total culture shock. Mom and pop owned stores still dominate the main streets. I’m confident predicting that the Hastings Architectural Review Board will never allow a Starbucks in the downtown area. A popular cafe, Antoinette’s Patisserie ,does not offer wifi and they still do just fine. There are also co-working spaces available and open mike nights for both children and adults at Purple.
Inventory has dropped so the current market is competitive. This year, if a home was priced correctly, it went into a multiple bidding situation. Below are some Hastings-on-Hudson homes currently on the market*:
Courtesy of HGMLS
Courtesy of HGMLS
Courtesy of HGMLS
*All Westchester Real Estate & Hastings-on-Hudson Real Estate data for this blog post is as of 8/30/17 as per the HGMLS via IDX feed.