Elmont: Diverse community, UBS Arena draw homebuyers
Billy Joel fans wait to enter UBS Arena for his New Year's Eve concert. Credit: Jeff Bachner
THE SCOOP Located on the border between Queens and Nassau, Elmont is in the throes of dramatic change, even as it keeps its suburban personality.
"I always call it 'The Gateway to Long Island,' " said Elisette Ocampo, a real estate broker for Coldwell Banker and member of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce. "Elmont is a very diverse community with many amenities, and it has easy access to the city."
The renovation of Belmont Racetrack, located in Elmont, into a state-of-the-art stadium for concerts, the New York Islanders hockey team, and other sporting events, and public recreation such as a skating rink, has made Elmont an attractive place to live. The new Belmont Racetrack is slated to be ready in two years.
A new Long Island Rail Road train station, minutes from the new area, has direct access to Queens and Manhattan. Westbound trains from Huntington, Hempstead and Ronkonkoma stations stop at the new station as well.
The Elmont Public Library is one of the largest on Long Island, according to Mimi Pierre Johnson, founder and president of the Elmont Cultural Center and a library trustee.
"We have a teen center, a sensory room for autistic children, a large children's section and many different recreation events for seniors," she said. "We have loads of programs for the underserved, as well. We also have a large theater as part of the library."
The community's 38,000 residents do a large portion of shopping on Hempstead Turnpike, but each micro-community in Elmont has its own little shopping areas as well.
Sapienza Bake Shop is in its third generation of ownership. Credit: Howard Schnapp
"Back in the day, Elmont had a very large Jewish community, and one of the things they did back then was to have different areas have their own shopping places; food shopping or dry cleaners," said Johnson. "So, it is walkable."
The diversity of the community means an eclectic array of restaurant options as well.
"East side for Italian, and more to the west for Hispanic food, like Caribbean," she said. "Whatever you need is right here."
Meacham Avenue is home to many of Elmont's businesses and eateries. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Once called Foster's Meadow, after Christopher and Thomas Foster, the name changed to Elmont in 1882, although it is not clear why.
However, the opening of the horse racetrack in 1905 transformed Elmont from a farming community to a more residential area, with housing built for workers of the track. One of the first neighborhoods developed was by Jacob Wollkoff, for Jewish immigrants seeking to leave the city.
Homes along Audrey Avenue, top, and Gotham Avenue in Elmont. Credit: Howard Schnapp
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are no condos or co-ops on the market.
SALE PRICES Between Feb. 1, 2023, and Jan. 31, 2024, there were 197 home sales with a median sale price of $630,000, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 197 home sales with a median sale price of $625,000.
OTHER STATS
Population 37,866
Median age 38.2
Median home value $650,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Elmont-UBS Arena $253
School districts, graduation rates Elmont (K-6), Sewanhaka Central High School District (94.8%), Some attend Valley Stream (95.7%)
Library Elmont
Transit 1, 6, 6x, Elmont Flexi
Sources: 2021 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
ON THE MARKET
$899,999
This $899,999 Elmont home underwent a gut renovation. Credit: Tim Hill Photo
This three-bedroom, three-bathroom Cape has been through a gut renovation, adding new electric, plumbing, HVAC and central air conditioning. The home has high-end kitchen cabinets and appliances, a large dining area and a landscaped yard with iron gates in front. Annual taxes are $12,747. Brian T. Zegans, Homelink Homes LLC, 516-322-3139.
$585,000
This $585,000 Elmont home was built in 1928. Credit: Kevin Spelman Studio
This centrally located two-bedroom, two-bathroom raised ranch home has a large, unfinished top floor. Built in 1928, the home has hardwood floors, gas heat and a separate laundry room, as well as a full, partially-finished basement. Annual taxes are $7,476. Dean Graber, Keller Williams Realty Landmark, 718-475-2700.
RECENTLY SOLD
$940,000
Kirkman Avenue
Style Other
Bedrooms 6
Bathrooms 3
Built 1985
Lot size 0.14 acre
Taxes $10,639
+/- List price -$48,000
Days on market 193
$525,000
Kirkman Avenue
Style Cape
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 2
Built 1931
Lot size 0.09 acre
Taxes $8,308
+/- List price +$27,000
Days on market 304
$470,000
Oakley Avenue
Style Cape
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3
Built 1945
Lot size 0.09 acre
Taxes $8,296
+/- List price +$70,000
Days on market 25
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 42
Price range $495,000 to $1.6 million
Tax range $8,800 to $15,932
