A small suburb evolving into a cosmopolitan community
For a somewhat small community, Hillcrest has seen a lot of change. It rang in the 20th century as a summer spot, but then people began living there full-time after a midcentury suburban boom. A more robust infrastructure, like the Tappan Zee Bridge, opened the way for global influences arriving from New York City by the end of the 20th century, ranging from Caribbean to Asian cultures. While the bridge, which has since been replaced with the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, boosted the neighborhood’s growth, transportation convenience has continued to inform the neighborhood’s identity. Manhattan is 35 miles away, and commuters can choose to drive on the Palisades Interstate Parkway or catch a train at the Spring Valley station, which has the Metro-North Railroad. “Rockland County as a whole is a commuter-friendly place to live,” says Lauren Muller, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Rand Realty. “And it’s way more affordable than Westchester.”
Spanning the width of the Hudson River, the Gov. Mario M Cuomo Bridge has been a source of growth for the Hillcrest community.
Transportation and infrastructure have helped develop Hillcrest into a more modern and diverse city.
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Midcentury styles, large lawns and garages in Hillcrest
As a neighborhood built around car travel, Hillcrest may not have a lot of sidewalks in residential areas, but the streets are wider – and homebuyers have a good chance of finding garages. Still, there is an identity based around connection. “Everyone gets along amazingly well,” says Lazer Meisels, resident and real estate agent with Keller Williams Valley Realty. “It’s a place where neighbors will stop by with meals when someone is struggling.” As the old saying goes, good fences make good neighbors, and residents have space to breathe here. “Most of the single-family homes that I’ve sold are on at least half-acre lots,” says Meisels. Midcentury styles are lingering testaments to the boom years in Hillcrest. Cape Cod, ranch-style and split-level homes are the neighborhood’s dominant forms. Prices range from $500,000 to $900,000.
Prices in Hillcrest typically range from $500,000 to $900,000, making it an accessible option for buyers seeking suburban living within commuting distance of the city.
Split-level homes make up the majority of the housing stock in Hillcrest.
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Specialized engineering studies at Ramapo High
Students can begin their education journey at Hempstead Elementary School, which covers kindergarten through sixth grade and has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The school receives a C-minus from Niche. At Pomona Middle School, which also earns a C-minus, there’s an array of athletic activities, including tennis, baseball, swimming and volleyball. Students are permitted to participate at the high school level after passing a test. Ramapo High is a B-minus school known for its University Program in Engineering, where students get on track to study engineering in college.
Hillcrest students continue their education at Pomona Middle School which holds a C-minus rating on Niche.
Ramapo High School earns a B-minus and stands out for its University Program in Engineering.
Students from Hillcrest begin their education at Hempstead Elementary School.
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A variety of outdoor recreational opportunities in Hillcrest
Hillcrest is so suburban that the notion of outdoor recreation may be equated with enjoying a relatively large lawn – but there are public parks within short driving distance. Spring Valley Parks & Rec is more than just a community center. Tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields and soccer fields encourage activity, as does the playground and the pool. For a smaller experience focused more on passive leisure, Walton Gould Children’s Park is just a few blocks east, containing colorful play equipment, benches and tall shade trees. Eugene Levy Memorial Park has walking paths around a pond, a playground, sports courts and a sledding hill.
The pedestrian walkway at Sping Valley Park is a nice place for a stroll.
Walton Gould Children’s Park features colorful play structures, shady trees, and benches for relaxing afternoons.
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Locally owned Latin American eateries define the dining scene
Around the intersection of Main Street and Eckerson Road, residents will find a pocket of retail called the Hillcrest Shopping Center. Key Foods Supermarket provides a grocery stop, surrounded by a host of eateries that lean toward Latin American cuisine. By driving just a few streets south from here, residents will find Spring Valley Supermarket next to a Family Dollar. In the same parking lot is a permanently stationed food truck called Loco Fries, which, as the name suggests, is all about topping fries with fried plantains, grilled steak or chicken and sauces. Overall, it’s a tightknit retail scene centered around strip malls, but it exudes local flavor, keeping chains to a minimum. Bigger experiences are available at Central Crossings Shopping Mall, which has Costco, Target and Lowe’s.
The Hillcrest Shopping Center on Main Street features a variety of Latin American eateries such as Elias Pizza & Restaurant.
A favorite for Hillcrest locals is Loco Fries, a food truck known for its indulgent fries topped with fried plantains, grilled steak or chicken, and bold house-made sauces.
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Commuters benefit from two parkways and Interstate 287
The most immediate major roadway for Hillcrest is the Palisades Interstate Parkway, which curves along the east side, soon merging with Interstate 287 to the south. Commuters can choose to take the Palisades to New York City, or make the trek through the Garden State Parkway via 287, but it’s roughly an 80-minute journey either way to Lower Manhattan. Within the neighborhood, residents can catch buses on Main Street, near the Hillcrest Shopping Center.
Public transportation runs along Main Street in Hillcrest, connecting residents to nearby amenities.
Hillcrest residents can catch a train at the nearby Spring Valley station.
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Written By
Lia Jones
Photography Contributed By
Jerome Strauss
Video By
Andrew Perrius
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Alexandra Zinko,
an experienced agent in this area.
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