Fairview has small-town living north of Poughkeepsie
The compact hamlet of Fairview is where the Hudson Valley suburb of Hyde Park gives way to the urban atmosphere of Poughkeepsie. “Fairview is a very small, pin-dot place in Poughkeepsie. It goes about one minute through, then you’re through the whole town,” says Frank Cannizzaro, an associate broker with Century 21 Alliance Realty Group. Frank and his wife, Patricia — also an associate broker with Century 21 — have sold more than 20 homes in the area. “It’s like one big area. It’s called Poughkeepsie, but there are tiny, little towns all under one heading,” Frank says. Although much of Fairview is residential, it’s also home to a number of shopping outlets. “Along Route 9, there’s shopping everywhere and in every town, right down to Fishkill,” Patricia says. Marist University and the Culinary Institute of America are right next door, and local health care and retail employers offer plenty of jobs to Fairview’s 5,500 residents.
A diverse housing scene includes Colonial Revival and condo options
Fairview’s residential streets vary from main roads with sidewalks to quieter back streets with larger front yards and abundant trees. Cape Cods, Colonial Revivals, bungalows and ranch-style homes go for $200,000 to $530,000, and condos go for $200,000 to $510,000. Most homes were built throughout the 20th century, although the oldest home dates to 1870, with some 2010s properties in the mix. “The houses in Fairview are, for the most part, starter homes,” Patricia says. “The reason why taxes are so high is because they have the Fairview Fire Department right there.” The area also has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Fairview's schools and colleges produce debaters, athletes and chefs
Students can start at Violet Avenue School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche, followed by Haviland Middle School and F.D. Roosevelt High School, both rated B. Roosevelt High, named for Hyde Park’s most famous resident, pays tribute to its namesake through a “Delanotes” a cappella club, an FDR Live radio program, and an Academic World Quest program that educates students on past and present global affairs. Fairview is also home to Dutchess Community College, which serves around 6,000 students. Along the riverfront, Marist University is known for its strong athletics and its polling institute. The nearby Culinary Institute of America has produced dozens of renowned chefs, among them Anne Burrell and Anthony Bourdain.
Route 9 connects Fairview to big-box retail and local eateries
U.S. Route 9 serves as Fairview’s main retail corridor. The Mid-Hudson Plaza shopping center includes The Home Depot and a handful of chain eateries, while ShopRite occupies the adjacent plaza. The Palace Diner, in business since 1981, offers a retro atmosphere with its chrome exterior and jukeboxes at every table. Near the eastern end of Fairview, Kokopelli’s Pizza fuses Italian and Mexican cuisines. Su’gar serves ice cream made in-store, plus Jamaican and diner-style dishes.
Local parks embrace former rail lines and the Hudson River
Just south of Fairview, College Hill Park includes a pavilion modelled after the Parthenon, a baseball field, paved walkways and a nine-hole public golf course. The neighboring Morgan Lake Park connects with the Dutchess Rail Trail and invites anglers to fish along its south shore and pier. The Quiet Cove Riverfront Park joins Fairview with the Hudson River, which offers its own fishing opportunities. Peach Hill Park’s inland trails lead to an overlook from which prominent Catskills peaks dominate the horizon.
Trains and highways provide access to New York City
Downtown Poughkeepsie is a 2-mile drive from the heart of Fairview, and Poughkeepsie’s train station offers a 2-hour trip to New York City. Commuters may opt to take the Taconic State Parkway for an 85-mile drive into the Big Apple. Fairview has its own medical center, the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
