If you want to buy a home in Amityville
A familiar sight too many -- the gazebo on Broadway i Amityville. Credit: Newsday/Photo by James Carbone
THE SCOOP: Good things are happening in Amityville, says village clerk and resident Diane Sheridan, referring to projects that have been taking place in this quaint waterside community.
A new gazebo put the finishing touches on the fairly new Nautical Park on the Amity River, and Peterkin Park is in the process of being refurbished. A new shopping strip on Merrick Road and South Ketcham Avenue replaced an eyesore, while village hall, the court and police station have relocated to Ireland Place in a new, energy-efficient building.
"It's a nice stable community and always moving forward with improvements," says Gerry O'Neill, a 54-year resident and owner of Coldwell Banker Harbor Light, noting the village board strives to preserve the community's heritage.
Single-family homes in the village start in the low $300,000s, while the high-end hovers between $750,000 and $1 million. O'Neill says sales activity increased in the third and fourth quarters of last year, though prices did not. The heaviest activity stems from sales under $500,000, says Geralyn Bozza, owner of Above Board Real Estate and a resident.
Once people move into the village, they tend to stay, say local agents. "The thing about Amityville," says Bozza, "it's all about friends and family."
CONDOS: Several developments, including Newpointe Estates with 132 units from $375,000 to $470,000; Snug Harbor, $300,000 to $450,000. Wellington Park Villas will have 33 units for seniors and 28 units unrestricted by age.
CO-OPS: $120,000 to $250,000
SALES PRICE: Including the unincorporated area, there were 82 sales last year, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The median price was $286,500, with a low of $16,000 and a high of $830,000. From November 2007 to November 2008, there were 90 sales with a median price of $339,500. The low was $7,600 and the high was $1,160,000.
ATTRACTIONS: Parks, boating, fishing, a nature trail, a museum, the village beach and annual events.
OTHER STATS
Town: Babylon
Area: 2.1 square miles*
ZIP code: 11701*
Population: 9,280
Median age: 43.89
Median household income: $78,759
Median home value: $300,000**
Median age of homes: 44
Percent owning home: 66.3 percent*
LIRR time to NYC: 52 to 69 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $274
School district: Amityville
SOURCES: Claritas 2009 estimates; www.mlsli.com; LIRR; Gerry O'Neill, Coldwell Banker Harbor Light, Amityville
* Includes unincorporated area of Amityville
**Based on sales throughout the ZIP code in the past six months according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island
