An enclave inside a university
The scenic Forest Home neighborhood, located on the banks of Fall Creek, is in northeastern Ithaca and is surrounded by the meadows and fields of Cornell University’s botanical gardens and golf course. “Forest Home is its own little enclave, it feels separated from everywhere else,” says Johan Dulfer, an associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Heritage, who has sold homes in Ithaca for five years. “A big part of the neighborhood is considered a historic district, so there is a lot of pride here; Forest Home even has its own historian.” The small neighborhood was initially settled to take advantage of Fall Creek’s waterpower. At one time, several mills stood along the water, and the little hamlet had a post office, a school and several shops. Eventually, as more efficient forms of energy emerged, the mills moved away and today, residential homes and one small chapel are all that remain. The few streets here are a handful of one- and two-lane roads that wind through the community. Two historic, single-lane bridges cross Fall Creek in Forest Home. They were built between 1900 and 1910 and are among the oldest of their type in the country.
What houses are like in Forest Home
The houses in Forest Home are located on those wooded lanes and sit on small plots of land. “There is not one typical home style here. The homes are unique,” says Dulfer. “And, in general, residents here have a lot of pride in their homes. And they tend to stay longer in Forest Home than elsewhere in Ithaca.” As a result, inventory is low. This is primarily a neighborhood of longtime residents and college faculty, although the northwest corner of the neighborhood is home to university-owned apartments for graduate and professional students. The most common home styles are farmhouse, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and bungalow. Home buyers should expect to pay between $500,000 and $950,000 for a four-bedroom, single-family home.
Students are served by Ithaca City School District
Children in Forest Home may begin their education at Cayuga Heights Elementary School, which has a C-plus rating from Niche and 12-1 student-teacher ratio, while Boynton Middle School scores an A-minus rating and has a student-teacher ratio of 9-1. Ithaca High School boasts an A rating and a 13-1 student-teacher ratio. The high school also has an average SAT score of 1350, well above the national average of 1028.
Golf, gardens and a lake with a legend
Forest Home Park is on the north bank of Fall Creek. The small green space by the water’s edge has walking paths and several picnic tables. When one lives within walking distance of a world-renowned research university, chances are there is always something to do nearby. The Cornell Botanic Gardens are in Forest Home and open to the public. The grounds include 150 acres of specialty gardens dedicated to conserving rare native flora. Play a round of golf at Cornell’s challenging golf course that was designed by Robert Jones Trent. On a nice day, take a stroll around nearby Beebe Lake. Cornell tradition says any couple who walks hand-in-hand around the water will end up together for life.
Trendy shops and stops in town
Two shopping areas—DeWitt Mall, a repurposed school now home to shops, art galleries, restaurants and offices and the Ithaca Commons, a four-block pedestrian shopping area—are about 2.5 miles from Forest Home. Stores in DeWitt include trendy women’s shops like Fiber, which specializes in handmade women’s jackets and Buffalo Bookstore. The Commons offers more than 100 shops, art galleries and small businesses, including Home Green Home, where one can purchase sustainable and eco-friendly items for the home. Grocery shoppers will find a GreenStar Co-op in DeWitt Mall. There is also an Aldi and a Wegmans in downtown Ithaca. Diners may want to check out Simeon’s American Bistro in Ithaca Commons. The restaurant is as well known for its steak and seafood dishes as it is for its detailed plasterwork and angel motif decor. When in the mood for coffee or maybe a fudge sundae made with Cornell ice cream, the Cornell Dairy Bar is just a short walk from Forest Home and is open to the general public.
Plenty to do around the town
Residents of Forest Home benefit immensely from their proximity to a world-class university and all it offers the public. From vintage ragtime to Japanese drums and Mexican mariachi bands, the Cornell Concert Series, held at Baily Hall on campus, brings in music from across the globe. The series runs from September through April; tickets are available to the general public. On most Friday nights, Cornell’s Fuertes Observatory is open from 8 p.m. until midnight for public viewing of the night sky. The Watershed, a downtown Ithaca social space serves cocktails, wine and tea and welcomes those who enjoy bookish conversations. Those who enjoy dancing and shooting pool may want to check out Moonies, located on the Commons. In September, many Forest Home residents join the rest of Ithaca at the Apple Harvest Festival held at the Ithaca Commons. This three-day event celebrates the humble apple and all of its delicious possibilities.
Getting to and from Forest Home
This is a car-dependent neighborhood. Forest Home Drive is the main road through the hamlet. The neighborhood is 2.5 miles from downtown Ithaca and just under 3 miles to Ithaca Tompkins International Airport. The Cayuga Medical Center is 9 miles away. Residents can walk to the Cornell Dairy Bar to catch TCAT buses for transportation around the greater Ithaca area.
