The vacation vibe of Port Washington's harbor lifestyle
Sydney Brower of Port Washington and her dog, Milo, in Sunset Park on Main Street. Credit: Linda Rosier
THE SCOOP Port Washington is like a destination unto itself, says Town of North Hempstead Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte, a fourth-generation resident of the hamlet. “There’s no need to go away in the summer,” Dalimonte says, citing waterfront parks and marinas where visitors can fish, rent boats, picnic, stroll and catch sunsets on Manhasset Bay.
Adding to the hamlet’s destination status is the PedalShare bikeshare program, which Port Washington was the first in Nassau County to implement, offering bicycles to rent at the Long Island Rail Road station, town dock and Manorhaven Beach Park.
Jose Ramirez and Ivania Palacios at Ayhan’s Mediterranean Marketplace on Main Street. Credit: Linda Rosier
Beloved mainstays of the community include The Dolphin Bookshop, established in 1946; North Shore Animal League America, now the world’s largest no-kill animal shelter, started in 1944, and Louie’s Grill & Liquors, a restaurant dating to 1905.
Recently, Plant a Row For the Hungry community garden has taken root behind the senior center to help fill local food pantries’ shelves. And developers have submitted a proposal to transform a 7-acre site on West Shore Road into a 176-unit, seven-story luxury apartment building, public marina and promenade, which some residents are opposing, saying it will create more traffic and overpopulation.
A family enjoys Bar Beach, also called North Hempstead Beach Park. Credit: Linda Rosier
John Philip Sousa, known for composing “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” spent much of his time in Port Washington, often galloping into town on horseback from his home nearby to pick up his mail or go trapshooting with his pal Theodore Roosevelt. His namesake bandshell offers free concerts every Friday night in summer.
Most homebuyers today come from New York City, especially Brooklyn, says Gale Keenan of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty. “They like the more established older towns and they like activities, everything being close to the center,” she says.
The hamlet has a walkable downtown, with restaurants and shops along Main Street and nearby streets.
La P'tite Framboise, a French bistro on Main Street. Credit: Linda Rosier
Port Washington has many pre-war Victorians and Colonials as well as many other home styles, with prices starting at $750,000 for a small village Colonial to $3 million for a large Colonial on a half-acre in Flower Hill.
The views over the harbor are magnificent, says Dalimonte. “People come from all over just to watch the sunsets at the town dock,” she says.
Port Washington harbor. Credit: Linda Rosier
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are 18 condos and two co-ops on the market, ranging in price from $302,000 to $1.329 million
SALE PRICES Between June 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, there were 310 home sales with a median sale price of $957,500, according to OneKey MLS. The low price for that period was $68,000 and the high was $2.605 million. During that period a year earlier there were 288 home sales with a median sale price of $900,000. The price range was $390,000 to $3.68 million.
OTHER STATS
Town North Hempstead
Area 4.18 square miles
ZIP code 11050
Population 16,753
Median age 42.7
Median household income $149,650
Median home value $964,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Port Washington $243
School district, graduation rate Port Washington, 94%
Parks Stannards Brook County Park, Blumenfeld Family Park
Library Port Washington
Hospitals St. Francis Hospital, North Shore University Hospital
Transit NICE Route 23
SOURCES: 2020 Census; 2019 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
NOW ON THE MARKET
Priced at $2.199 million, this new construction on Hazel Road has private beach and mooring rights. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty
$2.199 million
This new 3,000-plus-square-foot angular Colonial home features four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen with quartz countertops, primary suite with spa shower, hardwood floors, and modern transitional ceilings. The 0.17-acre property has an attached two-car garage and access to Manhasset Bay Estates private beach and mooring rights. Estimated taxes are $25,000. Shohreh and Soleyman Hakimian, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, 516-627-4440.
Priced at $1.49 million, this Tudor on Luquer Road features wide-plank floors. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty
$1.499 million
Built by noted Port Washington builder Walter Uhl, this 1930 Tudor has 2,497 square feet of space, three bedrooms, two full and two half baths, a living room with diamond-paned windows, wide-plank floor, stucco ceiling and wall, den with terra cotta floor, updated kitchen, and hardwood floors throughout. The 0.21-acre partially fenced-in property has a brick patio and access to Manhasset Bay Estates beach and mooring with fee. Taxes are $26,641. Gale Keenan and Laura Dunphy, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, 516-627-4440.
Priced at $748,888, this Cape on Neulist Avenue is near shops and transportation. Credit: Lois Robles
$748,888
At about 2,000 square feet, this brick Cape built in 1953 has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, hardwood floors, central air and natural gas/hot water heating. The 0.11-acre property, which has a covered back patio and detached two-car garage, is in the center of Port Washington and is near shops, public transportation and highways. Taxes are $9,748. Kelly Gatanas, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 516-627-2800.
RECENTLY SOLD
$2.334 million
Capi Lane
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 4½
Built 2018
Lot size 0.22 acre
Taxes $26,477
+/- List price -$41,000
Days on market 24
$968,000
Mackey Ave.
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1½
Built 1920
Lot size 0.1 acre
Taxes $17,670
+/- List price +$69,000
Days on market 71
$680,000
Sandy Hollow Ln.
Style Cape
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2
Built 1931
Lot size 0.17 acre
Taxes $12,234
+/- List price -$69,000
Days on market 81
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 79
Price range $68,000 to $2.599 million
Tax range $9,473 to $44,828
