Life-long residents live in Kaser
There is no place like home, and the residents of Kaser in Ramapo, New York, couldn’t agree more. Most people buying houses in the village are those who grew up in the area, says Abraham Spitzer, a real estate agent for Keller Williams Hudson Valley. Kaser is 40 miles from downtown Brooklyn and surrounded by the Monsey hamlet. Despite its small size, the area is densely populated, with more than 5,600 people. The location is surrounded by synagogues, private faith-based schools and religious event spaces. Most essentials are within the area or a short drive away.
More rental units than single-family homes
Winding streets are lined with narrow sidewalks bordered by rows of apartment buildings, multifamily units, condos and townhouses. Most homes in Kaser are rentals in minimal and new traditional styles, but homes on the market range from $740,000 to over $1.5 million. The CAP Index Crime score for the area is a 4 out of 10, the same as the national average, but the region's violent crime scores above average. To mitigate this, in 2020, the Ramapo police department added some programs, including the weekly Coffee with a Cop to encourge community connections.
Bilingual program at Spring Valley High
The East Ramapo Central School District serves the area and receives a C-minus from Niche. Elmwood Elementary School and Chestnut Ridge Middle School get a C-minus. Spring Valley High School receives a C-plus and has a bilingual program that teaches core subjects in the student's first language and incorporates English as a new language.
Spitzer says, "People are mostly sending kids to private schools." One of the main private schools here is the Yeshivath Viznitz D'Khal Torath Chaim, Inc., a private Hasidic school that teaches kindergarten through 12th grade. The school is unrated.
Events at synagogues and event halls
Shabbat, holidays and other gatherings occur in nearby synagogues such as Tiferet Gedalya Shul, Bobov Monsey Shul and Cong Khal Toras Chaim Viznitz. Local halls, like Vilchovitz Hall and Viznitz Hall, are rented out for events including weddings, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs.
Shopping and dining along state Route 59
Most shopping and dining is within the Town Square Mall and other businesses lining state Route 59, 1 mile away. Primavera Café & Restaurant serves classic Italian fare, while Kosher Castle's menu is has American, Chinese and Mexican influences. For dessert, Le Chocolat on Main Street makes handmade treats. Kosher grocery stores like Hatzlacha Supermarket, Evergreen Kosher Market and Rockland Kosher Supermarket provide the community with fresh produce and home necessities, all a mile away.
Taking in the scenes at Harry Reiss Nature Park and Trail
Harry Reiss Nature Park and Trail is a pocket park with a small playground and a shady trail for walkers and bikers. Manny Wedler Park is located north of Kaser and is within walking distance,1 mile away. The park features lush open meadows and a pavilion where wildlife enthusiasts may glimpse the deer and other fauna passing through. Hart-top courts allow for pick-up games and a nearby playground. The paved trail walks or bikes along the park’s paved trail. Nearby farms, such as Demarest Farm, 9 miles away, and West Maple Farm, 1 mile away, offer unique experiences for folks of all ages, including berry and vegetable picking, tractor rides and petting and feeding farm animals.
Sidewalks make Kaser walkable
It's easy to get around this small village. Sidewalks allow walkability to the neighborhood's stores, restaurants, synagogues and parks. Commuters use state Routes 306 and 59 to connect with Interstate 87 to reach Downtown Brooklyn. The Spring Valley train station, 2 miles away, can take residents into Hoboken, New Jersey, on the PASC line in just over an hour. Residents can take another train to New York City or Brooklyn from there. The Garden State Parkway leads to Newark Liberty International Airport, 40 miles south. Good Samaritan Hospital is 4 miles away.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
Photography Contributed By
Elma Kukaj
