Hopewell is close to Canandaigua, but it offers a sense of privacy
The town of Hopewell lies in the Finger Lakes Region, to the east of Canandaigua Lake. While western Hopewell includes some commercial developments and amenities, the majority of the town consists of farmland and forests. It appeals to buyers who want to be close to the city of Canandaigua but also have more space and privacy. “You’re not stacked up like you are in subdivisions,” says Tamarah DeWolf, a Realtor with Empire Realty Group who has lived in the Finger Lakes Region for about 40 years. “A lot of people come out for homesteading — to have chickens and stuff like that.”
Most Hopewell homes come with large lots
Although a few homes rest on just over half an acre of land, most come with at least an acre. DeWolf says that residential properties are often separated by woods or farms as well. Private driveways branch off the edges of the area’s paved roads, and housing options include Colonial Revivals, farmhouses and ranch-style homes.
Site-built residences generally sell between $180,000 and $540,000. Manufactured homes on private land typically range from $70,000 to $260,000, but those on rented lots tend to run from $40,000 to $90,000 — owners pay about $700 in monthly site fees.
Four public school districts, many kids attend Canandaigua schools
There are four different districts that serve Hopewell residents. Most children are zoned for either Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District, which earns a C from Niche, or the Canandaigua City School District, rated an overall A-minus. Canandaigua Primary-Elementary School gets a B, and Canandaigua Middle School receives a B-plus. The A-minus-rated Canandaigua Academy is the district’s high school. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, and the school also features a variety of extracurricular clubs, such as fencing and madrigal choir. Finger Lakes Community College has associate degree programs, as well as career training and certification courses.
Access to multiuse trails and the nearby Finger Lakes
Some residents have acres of private land to explore, but the town also has some spaces that are open to the public. Cyclists and hikers can follow the Ontario Pathways Rail Trail, a multiuse path that connects Canandaigua, Stanley and Clifton Springs. During the winter, snowmobilers can link up with New York’s network of snowmobile trails. The Roseland Bowl and Canandaigua Theatres, at the western edge of town, offer indoor recreation, and members of Clifton Springs Country Club can play its 18-hole golf course. Some of the most well-known area attractions are the nearby Finger Lakes, which are popular for boating. Canandaigua Lake is less than 10 miles west, and Seneca Lake is about 15 miles east.
Locally owned businesses and big-box stores along U.S. Route 20
Hopewell’s retail district is in the southwestern corner of town beside U.S. Route 20. Diners can stop by Hill Top Restaurant for a hearty, sit-down meal. Naked Dove Brewing Company serves craft beer and periodically hosts live music. There’s a small, locally owned grocery store, Hopewell Market, and Beacon Farm Market sells regionally sourced meat and produce. Big-box chains, such as Lowe’s and a Walmart Supercenter, are in the shopping centers along the border of Canandaigua and Hopewell. Canandaigua, a few miles west, has a walkable Main Street shopping district with boutiques and restaurants.
CMAC concerts and the Pageant of Steam bring crowds to the area
Despite its relatively peaceful setting, Hopewell has a few venues that host large-scale gatherings. On Gehan Road, radio-controlled aircraft owners regularly meet up to fly their planes and helicopters. The annual, multiday Pageant of Steam takes place at the New York Steam Engine Association’s showgrounds, also along Gehan Road. The event brings vintage steam engine fanatics from around the country, and it features a flea market, live music and a variety of demonstrations. Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, or CMAC, an amphitheater on the Finger Lakes Community College campus, draws crowds as well. “It’s a really cool music venue,” DeWolf says. “It’s got about 20 shows a year — big names, top artists.”
Hopewell is mostly car dependent
Regional Transit Service offers limited service in Hopewell, but the town is largely car dependent. U.S. Route 20 is the main thoroughfare, but drivers also have access to several county and state routes. Canandaigua is about 10 miles west, and it is home to the University of Rochester Medicine F.F. Thompson Hospital. Rochester and the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport are roughly 40 miles away.
