Harrison

Glistening lakes with an abundance of coves touch the shores of East White Plains/West Harrison, while convenient thoroughfare and scenic rolling hills surround the area. An opportune locale for both nature lovers and commuters, this spacious suburb attracts a variety of homeowners. Growing families appreciate the area’s top-rated school district, while fishermen and golfers take advantage of the abundance of calm inlets and scenic country clubs. And just 35 miles from the heart of downtown New York City, East White Plains/West Harrison residents can quickly get into the action and just as easily escape the noise. Residential homes in East White Plains/West Harrison typically sit on a quarter-acre to a half-acre of yard space. Mature trees and manicured shrubbery decorate the lawns of 1,500- to 3,000-square-foot Split levels and Cape Cods, many with driveways and attached garages, that range in price between $650,000 to $900,000. Larger, 2,500- to 5,000-square-foot Colonial Revival estates and Four squares with multi-car garages, up to two acres of land and back patios, some near one of the coves of Rye Lake, sell in the $1 million to $2.5 million price range. The neighborhood also offers townhouse options, anywhere from around $150,000 for 800 square feet to $900,000 for 2,000 square feet. Harrison Central School District and Valhalla Union Free School District, which both receive an overall A Niche grade, serve students living in East White Plains/West Harrison. Younger learners can benefit from an 11-1 student-teacher ratio at Samuel J. Preston Elementary, which receives an A Niche grade. As they progress, students can receive an even better 9-1 student-teacher ratio at Valhalla Middle, which also receives an A grade. Older students can attend Valhalla High or Harrison High, both graded an A-minus by Niche. At both schools, 95% or more of students are proficient in reading and math, according to the state test scores reported to Niche. “If you have children, you’re probably spending your weekend at a sports game played at one of the schools in the area. Harrison High School rivals Rye High School, so those football games turn into Friday Night Lights,” says Kori Sassower, a local and Realtor at Compass Greater NY, LLC. With multiple lakes kissing the northern and western shores of East White Plains/West Harrison, there’s plenty of opportunity for locals to get fresh air. At Liberty Park, residents walk the trails through foliage around Silver Lake, where they can also kayak or fish. On the other side of Silver Lake, locals practice sports on the athletic fields or play in the gated playground area at Passidomo Veterans Park. “Near the park on Silver Lake, they just added a pool complex with waterslides and a splash pad, for West Harrison residents only,” Sassower adds. Delfino Park is right off Interstate 287, where there’s a seasonal ice rink. “A lot of people go to Cranberry Lake Preserve, north of the neighborhood, where there are wooded hiking trails around the lake and a wildlife nature center,” says Sassower. This protected area does not allow bicycles on the trails or fishing in the lake. The adjacent Kensico Reservoir also prohibits motorboats and recreational crafts like kayaks, but shore fishing is allowed. More popular spots to cast lines, though, are the many coves around Rye Lake. Avid golfers might join Century Country Club, located on the eastern edge of West Harrison. For local dining, residents head to Lake Street to choose from a variety of cuisines: Aquario offers Portuguese and Brazilian seafood, Silver Lake Pizza serves pizza and subs, and MuraYama has an extensive sushi menu. For grocery and retail shopping, locals go to the Westchester Mall just south of the neighborhood, where there’s a Whole Food Market, a Bloomingdales and a variety of grab-and-go eateries. The Westchester County Airport, a small airport full of aircraft artwork that offers domestic flights, is east of Rye Lake, and White Plains Hospital is just south of town. The White Plains and North White Plains RTA train stops are located to the west, and Interstates 287 and 684 conveniently wrap around the community.

Legend has it that in 1695, chief Pathungo gave John Harrison as much land as he could ride on horseback in a day, which was known then as Harrison’s Purchase. Today, Purchase remains a desirable hamlet in the village of Harrison and is known to be one of the highest-priced communities on the east coast. “Homes typically sell for a higher price here because both the square footage and the lot size are larger than homes in the neighboring areas,” says Kori Sassower, a local and Realtor at Compass Greater NY, LLC with seven years of experience in the Westchester area. A bird’s eye view of the residential area of Purchase will show large leafy trees shading the private and spaced-out properties with up to seven acres of grass-covered lawns surrounding each home. You can find 2,000- to 4,000-square-foot Cape Cods, colonial and postmodern homes with attached garages and driveways, some with cathedral ceilings and home gyms inside in the $900,000 to $2.5 million price range. Larger Craftsman-like homes, Tudor Revivals and Farmhouse-contemporary houses with privacy fencing and outdoor pools are in the 7,000- to 11,000-square-foot size range and can sell anywhere from $3 million to $7 million. The Harrison Central School District and the Byram Hills Central School District serve students living in Purchase, all of which report far above state average test scores, according to Niche. Elementary learners can enjoy an 11:1 student-to-teacher ratio at either Purchase School or Wampus School, which both receive an A Niche grade. As they progress, students can move on to H.C. Crittenden Middle School, which also receives an A Niche grade. Older students can attend either Harrison High School or Byram Hills High School, which boast impressive 10:1 and 9:1 student-to-teacher ratios, each receiving an A Niche grade. “On a weekend in Purchase, you’re usually going to one of the schools to watch your kids play soccer, lacrosse or basketball. A lot of people in the community go to the high school football games—it's like Friday Night Lights here,” Sassower explains. Also in the Purchase neighborhood is The Windward School, a private middle school that’s part of The Windward School system. “Purchase has the most country clubs in the entire Westchester area,” Sassower says. On the west side of the neighborhood is Old Oaks Country Club, a private club with 200 acres of fairway, tennis courts, a pool area and an estate-like clubhouse that includes a restaurant for members. On the east side, Blind Brook Club is another popular private golf course. Families take advantage of the centrally located Purchase Community Clubhouse, an indoor and outdoor space often used for parties and after-school care with pools, athletic courts, a playground and a library. Purchase locals can also stroll through the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Garden, admiring the different 20th-century sculptures throughout the park. When hungry in Purchase, head to Anderson Hill Road, where you’ll be met with fine dining options. “People here love getting dinner at Tredici North, which serves Italian-American food as well as wine and cocktails,” says Sassower. A block down the street, you can grab a beer and burger at Cobble Stone, or pop over to Trattoria 632 next door to indulge in a brick-oven pizza. Purchase residents pick up fresh groceries and household essentials at Wegmans, located in the southern tip of the neighborhood. Purchase is home to both the private Manhattanville College and Purchase College, which is the State University of New York at Purchase. The Westchester County Airport, a small airport full of aircraft artwork that offers domestic flights, takes up the northern portion of the area. Interstate 684 runs along the west of Purchase and easily connects to Interstate 287 and Interstate 95. There are also several bus stops along Westchester Avenue on the west side of the interstate. For a more scenic route, the Hutchison River Parkway goes through Purchase and turns into U.S. Route 15, which weaves north through New England. Now a community-minded town with spacious, modernized homes and vast, green outdoor areas 30 miles north of New York City, Purchase locals might agree that John Harrison made a good purchase when he rode all those years ago.