Scenic Champlain offers coastal living near employers
Champlain combines the scenic beauty of the Champlain Valley with a suburban atmosphere, 22 miles from Plattsburgh, New York. This coastal town near Lake Champlain and the Canadian border is divided into villages and hamlets connected by the Great Chazy River. Many move to this area for job opportunities, either in Plattsburgh or for the U.S. government. "Champlain is on the U.S.-Canada border, and it’s a major port of entry into the United States. So we have ... lots of customs and border protection,” says Beverly Grace, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Whitbeck, who has worked in the industry since 2006.
Mobile and revival-style homes
Homes in Champlain are along sidewalk-lined roads branching off Elm Street and U.S. Route 9. Houses outside the village are on farmland or surrounded by greenery. There are also coastal properties along Lake Champlain. Homes outside the village of Champlain use wells and septic systems. “You can find anything from new homes to historical homes,” says Grace. “There are beautiful old stone homes along the lake and elsewhere. There's a variety of everything there, from mobile homes to lakefront mansions.” National, Colonial Revival and Cape Cod styles are common. There are a few Victorian-style homes, and many homes have Queen-Anne-style adornments such as decorated vergeboards and wrap-around porches. While the median build year is 1967, some homes date back to the 1800s. “Get a home inspection because they're older, and there’s always something you'll miss with your own eye,” says Grace. Homes range from $115,000 to $400,000. Mobile homes range from $170,000 to $190,000.
Commuting to Plattsburgh on I-87
Grace says major employers in Plattsburgh include metals manufacturer Norsk Titanium, crystal lighting manufacturer Schonbek and State University of New York Plattsburgh. Many people who live in Champlain work in Plattsburgh, which is 22 miles away using Interstate 87. Montreal is 43 miles away. Alburgh, Vermont, is 12 miles away across the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge. The University of Vermont Health Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital is 23 miles away, and the Plattsburgh International Airport is 28 miles away. Houses of worship, such as Living Water Baptist Church, The Church of St. Mary and Christ & St. John’s Episcopal Church, are in the village of Champlain.
Parks and recreation along the Great Chazy River and Lake Champlain
The Great Chazy River flows through town and is popular for boating and fishing. Several of Champlain's parks border the river, including the Clarke C. Herdic Recreational Playground, an open field with a play structure, a hard-top basketball court and picnic benches. The multi-use Northern Tier Recreation Trail passes near the river and ends in the village of Rouses Point. North Country Golf Club is near Rouses Point and offers an 18-hole course for members. Boat launches and marinas are near the mouth of the Chazy River for entry into Lake Champlain. “If you go out on the lake in a boat, you can look east and look at the Green Mountains of Vermont, and look west and see the Adirondacks of New York,” says Grace.
Northeastern Clinton Central Schools earns a B
The Northeastern Clinton Central School District gets a B from Niche and serves most of Champlain. Children may attend Mooers Elementary, which receives a B-plus, or Rouses Point Elementary, which gets a B. Northeastern Clinton Middle gets a B-minus, and Northeastern Clinton High gets a B-plus. The district has a universal prekindergarten program, but a lottery system determines who gets in. Students in the southern end of Champlain may attend the Chazy Central Rural School District, which gets a B.
Shopping and dining along Main Street and Route 1
Red Canoe Coffee & Books is set in a historic Italianate building on Main Street. Across the river, Mahoney’s Hideaway is an eclectic diner serving American comfort food. The Champlain Farmers Market in Paquette Park offers fresh produce and artisanal goods on Saturdays from July through September. Price Chopper and Dollar General are along U.S. Route 11 for groceries.
Holiday events hosted by local institutions
In May, the annual St. Mary’s Bazaar, a church festival at St. Mary’s Church, is a favorite for its tractor pull and parade. Attendees may enjoy the food trucks and live music while kids go on carnival rides. In December, the village organizes a Holiday Fest, including tree lighting, live music and a visit from Santa in Paquette Park.
Flooding and ice dams
Flooding does occur along the Great Chazy River, and ice dams tend to form in winter. Clinton County has proposed flood mitigation plans such as raising bridges, removing old dams, and restoring the general floodplain. Residential areas in the village of Champlain are on a hill and less likely to flood than in the flatter, more rural areas.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
