Once part of a short-lived 1970s federal government-backed housing development, Gananda has a new lease on life as an alternative to Rochester. Full of suburban-style subdivisions and New Traditional-style homes, this community is shedding its “failure” label and continues to evolve. “When it failed, everyone was like, ‘Yeah, why would you go to Gananda? They failed that project.’ It just became scarlet-lettered by everyone locally,” says Andrew Hannan, who’s the leader of The Hannan Team with Keller Williams Greater Rochester and has about 10 years of industry experience in the Rochester area. “It’s never been a bad place to live. And I think that people just realized, ‘Why was no one going to Gananda?’ And now people are going out there and living there, and there’s more land to build — that’s the key. It’s one of the few places that’s still close to the city where there’s land to build tracts.”
The median home value in Gananda is generally above 200,000 dollars, reflecting steady growth in Wayne County housing prices.
Gananda is a small, family-oriented town in Wayne County with a population of approximately 6,177.
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Midcentury to modern, Gananda homes span multiple decades
The original Gananda undertaking, part of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development project, lasted for just a brief period after it sprouted in the early 1970s. There are still some ranch- and colonial-style homes in the area that date to that period. The bulk of Gananda’s housing stock features New Traditional-style options built from the 1990s and on, including some new construction. Properties line winding, exclusively residential streets, and lots are often at least a quarter of an acre. Traditional single-family homes in Gananda typically sell for $200,000 to $470,000. The area also has townhouses for $150,000 to $190,000. “It’s seen a huge resurgence, and there’s a lot of demand for Gananda,” Hannan says.
Most homes in Gananda are single family houses, making up roughly three quarters of the total housing stock.
Nearly half of the homes in Gananda feature three bedroom layouts, which are common among the community’s original housing designs.
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Local schools provide opportunities for music and athletics
The Gananda Central School District gets a B-minus grade from Niche. The system’s C-plus-rated Richard Mann Elementary offers intramural sports and band and chorus programs for its fourth and fifth graders. Gananda Middle carries a C rating and has a jazz band. Ruben A. Cirillo High School earns a B-plus and boasts a recent state championship in cheerleading.
Richard Mann Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Walworth, NY, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade in a rural setting.
Gananda Middle School is part of the Gananda Central School District and features a student-teacher ratio of 7 to 1, with 27 full-time equivalent teachers and one full-time school counselor.
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Rochester is a relatively close destination for key amenities
Gananda residents can use Salt Road to reach New York state Route 104 for drives to city amenities such as Rochester General Hospital. Located 20 miles away, the hospital is a 528-bed facility with an emergency center. The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is just over 20 miles away and has nonstop flights to over 20 destinations. “It’s convenient, it’s not too far from the city still,” Hannan says. “You can get down to the city in 25 minutes.”
Pizza, wings and beer are close to home in Gananda
Though Gananda is chiefly residential, locals looking for a quick bite to eat are minutes from Mac’s Pizza Shack. Mac’s has popular wings, in addition to pizza. The restaurant is attached to DisBatch Brewery, which has a dozen beers on tap. Log Cabin Restaurant, about 3 miles south, has everything from breakfast to fried fish platters. Residents can venture into places like the town of Penfield for more. The intersection of Penfield Road and Fairport Nine Mile Point Road is home to numerous businesses, including a Wegmans supermarket, Target, and Monte Alban, a Mexican restaurant whose margaritas are a draw.
Gananda residents enjoy close access to Monte Alban Mexican Grill in Penfield, NY.
The Target store in Penfield, NY serves the Gananda community with a full range of products including groceries, clothing, electronics, and household essentials.
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Golf and water sports are readily available
Gananda encompasses the Blue Heron Golf Club, which has an 18-hole course that’s open to the public. The club has an on-site ice cream parlor and The Tavern, a restaurant serving entrees including sesame chicken, blackened salmon, and surf and turf. Gananda is also less than 10 miles north of the Erie Canal, and Macedon Canal Park is a spot to fish and walk by the water. Locals can keep heading south to reach Canandaigua Lake, about 20 miles away. One of the Finger Lakes, Canandaigua has spots like Kershaw Park by its shore, where people can swim and launch kayaks. Long Acre Farms, within the Gananda area, opens its doors year-round for visits to its children’s play areas and farm market, and offers seasonal activities. “I love taking my family to Long Acre Farms,” Hannan says. “It’s an awesome place. Especially [in the fall], to go for Halloween, to do pumpkin picking. They do apple picking.”
Locals can fish on Lake Ontario and its tributaries, like Bear Creek.
Blue Heron Golf Club offers pristine fairways, fast greens, and a layout designed for golfers of all skill levels.
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Local farm hosts a variety of events
Long Acre Farms hosts a Fall Festival on Saturdays and Sundays from late September to the beginning of November. Activities include corn mazes and wagon rides. Moonlight Maze is available at Long Acre Farms on Friday nights from late September through late October, an opportunity to explore in the evening while chomping on wood-fired pizzas. There’s also an Artisan Market at Long Acre with dozens of vendors. Other area traditions include an annual Gananda Garage Sale in June, organized by the Gananda Rotary Club.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Vick
Video By
Tyler Hall
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