Garden City South is a small hamlet with big community involvement
Garden City South is a small hamlet close to the larger Garden City village. This Long Island community is characterized by its compact layout, popular school district and the active Community League of Garden City South, Inc. Margaret Kelly, president of the league, takes pride in the work the group does to make Garden City South and nearby areas a good fit for residents of all ages. “We’re called the ‘Fighting Civic,’” Kelly says. “We fight to keep crime statistics low and to make sure the area keeps its small-town feel. It’s different from Garden City because there’s no village tax, and there’s one strip of restaurants and stores on Nassau Boulevard.” Kelly also says the school district is the top reason people move into the area, but the friendly atmosphere is a close second. Narrow sidewalks make it easy to walk around for a breath of fresh air or to visit the nearby parks. Garden City South may be small, but it makes a big impact with its accessibility and community.
New Hyde Park Memorial High School has a huge athletic field.
Enjoy all different kinds of pizzas at Pizzeria G in nearby Garden City.
1/2
Highly rated schools and the nearby Adelphi University
Another difference between Garden City South and Garden City is the school district. The Franklin Square Union Free School District serves this area and has three elementary schools, but most kids attend Washington Street School because it’s close to home. The school earns an A-minus from Niche. The next step is H. Frank Carey High School, which gets a B-plus, in the Sewanhaka Central High School District, also serving the community. The school’s campus is north of Washington Street School, and students often excel individually in athletics and extracurricular activities, including the Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at The Heckscher Museum competition. The community also features the private Waldorf School of Garden City, which offers prekindergarten through 12th grade, and Aldephi University.
Sewanhaka High School is a six-year public high school located in Floral Park, NY.
Polk Street School is a highly-rated, public school located in Franklin, NY.
1/2
Smaller homes, lower prices than in Garden City
Craftsmans, split-levels and Cape Cods with small yards fill the sidewalk-lined streets. Most homes were built in the 1950s, but a small portion was built in the early 2000s and as recently as 2023. Properties with around 1,500 square feet often land in the $575,000 to $895,000 range, while those with closer to 2,500 square feet can sell for $895,000 to over $1.5 million. “The pricing’s a little bit lower than it is in Garden City,” says Suzanne Weis, a licensed real estate salesperson at Compass Real Estate. “The property might be a little bit smaller, and the houses are a little smaller.” According to Weis, a lack of inventory in the small community means potential homebuyers should be prepared to face competition if they’re looking to buy a home here. While homes have less space than those in Garden City, having train stations within walking distance and annual community events continue to attract new residents.
Garden City South is very Suburban and has many different home styles.
High Ranch two-family homes are options for moving to Garden City South.
1/2
The Community League brings locals together
Community League of Garden City South, Inc. has been bringing people together with annual events since the organization was founded in 1929. The group is the oldest civic association in Long Island and actively works with the local government to keep the area clean and safe for pedestrians. “I have a meeting every month where we go over crime stats,” Kelly says. “Other than an occasional medical alert call, Garden City South only ever has one or two 911 calls.” The CAP Index gives Garden City South a 1 out 10 crime score, which is below the national average of 4.
The league also sees residents from across the area visit the Garden City South Park for the Ragamuffin Parade every October. Children join Carey High School students during the homecoming parade before breaking away and marching around the park dressed as their favorite characters. Members of the Community League and other residents hand out candy, and participants can enter to win a prize for the best costume. Another popular annual event is the Christmas tree lighting, held on the first Saturday of December. “It’s a free event where we light up a tree we planted in Garden City South Park,” says Kelly. “We have characters walking around, Santa visits and a DJ.”
Hicks Nurseries gets a visit from Santa every year.
Garden City South Park is a quaint park complex in West Hempstead.
1/2
Riding the LIRR to Manhattan
The community is organized in a gridded pattern and covers roughly half a square mile. Narrow sidewalks line each section of homes, creating direct paths to the shops and restaurants along Nassau Boulevard. The community has three places of worship, including St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, a local institution since 1946 that borders the Garden City South Park. Residents who live across the street from the Garden City Community Park have a short jaunt to the busy recreational space. Kelly says because of the area’s size, walking to Nassau Boulevard or Garden City Station to hop on the Long Island Rail Road to Manhattan is no problem. Train passengers are transported to Jamaica Station, where they change trains to continue on to Penn Station in Manhattan. The trip takes around 50 minutes. Anyone who’d rather avoid changing trains heads to the West Hempstead Station, 2 miles from the community, for a direct trip to Penn Station, which also lasts about 50 minutes.
Garden City South has many different home-style options.
Garden City South residents can use the Long Island Railroad to get to New York City in minutes.
1/2
Two parks close to home
Garden City Community Park has programs for Garden City residents of every age. A permit is required to access the softball and baseball fields, which were renovated with new AstroTurf, but anyone can use the public pool, roller rink or playground equipment. Visitors have to leave their dogs at home, as pets are not allowed entry. Garden City South Park is a smaller space with paved tennis courts, a playground and picnic tables shaded by tall trees. For a laidback game of golf, the community has two private, 18-hole courses — Cherry Valley Club and Garden City Country Club.
Garden City South residents can get a workout on the basketball court at Garden City South Park.
Tennis courts offer practice for the amateur and the athlete alike.
1/2
Shopping and dining along Nassau Boulevard
Nassau Boulevard holds the community's only restaurants and shops. The sidewalks lining each street create a short path to Gonzo’s Mexican Grill, a popular lunch and dinner spot. Doc O’Grady’s Irish Pub is a few doors down, past the South City Gardens florist shop and Garden City Dance Studio. The pub sells $4 PBRs and offers a menu that features Irish grub, including fish and chips. My Three Sons Bagel Cafe uses hand-rolled bagels to create breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Rustica Brick Oven Cafe at the end of the street stays true to its name by serving pizzas made with fresh dough baked in a brick oven. When it comes to picking up groceries, there’s Cherry Valley Marketplace off Cherry Valley Avenue with a Stop & Shop across the street.
Garden City Pizza is the quintessential Long Island pizza parlor.
Nassau Blvd is a very busy street in Garden City South.
1/2
Written By
Hannah Rainey
Photography Contributed By
Perez Folds
Video By
Victoria York
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Mike Carroll,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Set on a lovely quiet dead end street in the Garden City Manor area of West Hempstead, this well loved back dormered wide line cape offers the solid construction and care of the past and endless possibilities to make it your own. Close to public transportation, parkways, shopping, parks and all that Long Island has to offer. Franklin Square SD#17.
Welcome to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath Colonial located on a manicured 60x100 lot. From the moment you enter the charming foyer with rich hardwood floors and detailed millwork, you’ll feel the warmth and timeless appeal this home offers.The spacious living room features a classic fireplace and flows seamlessly into a bright sunroom/den—perfect for relaxing or working
Welcome to this charming home tucked away on a dead-end block. The main floor features a sunlit living room and formal dining room with crown moldings. A well-appointed kitchen with side entrance access from the driveway. A spacious primary bedroom with double closet, a second bedroom, and a full bathroom round out the main floor. Upstairs, you'll find two tandem bedrooms and crawl space
Updated & Renovated 1st floor apartment available in the Garden City South section. Franklin Square school district 17. 3BRs & 1 full bath. Updated kitchen with new porcelain tile floor. Gas heat, hot water & cooking. Refinished hardwood floors throughout. New windows just installed. Washer & Dryer on premises. Shared use of double lanes driveway & large yard.
Sunny And Bright 2 Bedroom Spacious Apartment Located on 2nd Floor.Recently Updated Kitchen With Stainless Steel Appliances And Updated Full Hall Bath. Refinished Hardwood Floors Throughout. Large Bedrooms With Ample Closets And 3 Additional Closets! Convenient To Shopping, Restaurants And Transportation. Use Of The Yard Is Permitted For Quiet Enjoyment, No Ball Playing,, Additional information:
Updated 3 Bedroom apartment on second floor. Hardwood floors in Living Room. Eat in Kitchen. Electric stove/ Electric oven. Enclosed Backyard to be shared with first floor tenant. Rent includes parking spot on driveway. All information must be verified by tenant., Additional information: Lease Term:12 Months,24 Months
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
