In the village center of Liverpool, a waterfront community situated along the Onondaga Lake outside of Syracuse, lampposts wrapped with branded banners beckon locals and visitors alike to “Shop, Dine and Enjoy.” The established lakeside village’s handful of small businesses and eateries clustered along First Street imbue the area with a close-knit feel, while its suburban streets offer a residential respite from the activity of Downtown Syracuse, just 6 miles south. Syracuse native and Real Estate Associate Broker Susan Li of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties says that the small-town feel of the village is its main draw, reinforced by its quaint, walkable village center. “The Village of Liverpool is older, but always very well kept, especially near Onondaga Lake,” she says. “A lot of people want to live within walking distance of the shops, restaurants and everything going on. There are a lot of places to go and eat and see.” Once a mecca for salt manufacturing in the 1800s, Liverpool is now home to some 2,250 people who cherish the village’s strong sense of community, proximity to major employers like Amazon and Micron, and access to recreation on the lake and outside of the city.
Liverpool's small businesses and eateries imbue the area with a close-knit feel.
First Street in Liverpool offers a multitude of shopping and dining opportunites.
On the streets of Liverpool you will find many people prefer dining with friends outside.
Liverpool residents enjoy close proximity to major employers like Amazon.
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A walkable village center of local shops and dining staples
The convenient location of retailers, local businesses and restaurants within Liverpool’s highly walkable inner village appeals to locals. “I think the biggest thing is the walkability,” says Casey Rose Frank, a Liverpool resident of 10 years and owner of Golden Bee Bookshop. “We have the only independently run grocery store right across from the shop, the library and one of my favorite bakeries is just around the corner, and the dance studio where my toddler takes lessons is down the street. It’s pretty much as close to living in the Gilmore Girls that I’ll ever actually get to experience in real life.”
Li says newcomers are usually surprised by the community’s diverse restaurant offerings. “All along Route 57 they have any ethnicity of food that you can think of,” she says, noting spots ranging from Thai to Mexican. Heid’s of Liverpool is a local mainstay known for its hot dogs and welcoming atmosphere that has been serving the community since 1917. The warm wood-paneled interior of Freedom of Espresso invites customers to stay a while to enjoy their freshly brewed coffees, while locals enjoy live music and a lodge-like ambiance at The Retreat, which serves American classics including steak and seafood. For groceries, Nichols Supermarkets is a go-to, while larger options include Wegman’s and Target nearby.
Wine and dine at Santangelo's Restaurant in Liverpool.
Just about every resident of Liverpool has been to Heid's, an iconic hot-dog stand.
The barber gives a customer a trim at Salt City Barber Shop in Liverpool, NY.
Come to Freedom Of Espresso in Liverpool not only for a caffeinated drink, but to study.
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Waterfront activities on Lake Onondaga
Lakeside activities prevail in Liverpool, as Lake Onondaga provides a scenic backdrop for fishing, boating and paddling. Onondaga Lake Park hugs the waterfront, offering paved pathways for cycling and walking that teem with people all day. The park also features a skate park, pickleball courts that are popular among locals, as well as a marina and yacht club. “There’s a lot of activity along the lake, especially at Onondaga Lake Park,” Li says. “It stays busy with lots of things to do.” More inland, Johnson Park is the village’s central pocket park with trails, benches, and a small pavilion stage that hosts some of the community’s local events. Just north of the neighborhood, the Liverpool Little League practices at Duerr Park, which also features a public pool.
Though Onondaga Lake offers sweeping views and plenty of recreation, the body of water has a history of pollution and, despite clean-up efforts, still has mercury levels four times higher than what the EPA deems safe. Residents swim at their own risk, and anglers are encouraged to catch and release. Pollution levels have dropped significantly over the last decade, but sewer algal blooms still occasionally create an unpleasant scent. “Every so often the lake does smell wretched, I won't lie,” Frank says. “And sometimes you'll get a wind that comes up and we'll be like, ‘Oh, it's a rough lake day.’” She adds that locals aren’t affected by the state of the lake because the proximity to parks and green spaces outside of Liverpool provides residents with no shortage of recreation. “There are so many other alternatives,” Frank says. “If you want to go swim in a lake, you can go to Lake Ontario 30 minutes away, or if you want to go ski there are places in the Adirondacks.”
On any beautiful day in Liverpool, people enjoy walking along the shores of Onondaga Lake.
Take your pup to play at the Wegman's Good Dog Park at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool.
Ecology students come to Onondaga Lake in Liverpool to learn about water pollution.
Pickleball courts at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool are popular among locals.
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Community events both big and small in Liverpool
The nearby New York State Fairgrounds and Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview, an open-air venue on the other side of Onondaga Lake, host a robust bill of concerts and events for the greater community. Closer to home, Onondaga Lake Park puts on one of Central New York’s biggest holiday attractions. From mid-November to mid-January, a train of cars crawls through Onondaga Lake Park as enormous holiday light displays emblazon the 2-mile-long drive-through path, complete with a grand finale ending. Summer’s arrival marks the start of the Summer Concerts Series in Johnson Park, where locals can enjoy free evening concerts on Mondays and Wednesdays from July to August. “It draws a pretty big crowd,” Frank says. Her shop, Golden Bee Bookshop also hosts a slew of events, including a range of book clubs from fantasy to cooking. Frank says the library is also a hub for events. “Liverpool taxes may be higher compared to some surrounding areas, but we essentially have the best-funded library in the county,” she says. The Liverpool Library’s Halloween Parade is especially popular, inviting young residents in costume to trick or treat at local businesses followed by family activities, games and refreshments at the library.
Check out the huge castle at Lights on the Lake in Liverpool.
The New York State Fairgrounds is a short drive from Liverpool.
The Golden Bee Bookshop in Liverpool frequently has famous authors visiting to talk about books.
Residents of Liverpool enjoy summer concerts at Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview.
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Quaint homes range in charming architectural styles
While apartments and the handful of condos scattered around the village support a more transient community, the more suburban areas reflect a more settled-down pace of life. Set along the residential streets that branch out from the village’s center, Liverpool’s collection of single-family homes features various architectural influences. Traditional colonial-style homes, charming cottages and Craftsman-style bungalows add to the neighborhood’s quaint appeal, tucked beneath established oak trees on modest lots. Ranch-style homes and split-level examples are common, and homes often feature vinyl or clapboard siding in varying shades. Properties average around a quarter acre, allowing room for one- to two-car garages. Prices typically range from $100,000 to $420,000, and newer construction can list up to $550,000. “Because houses are cheaper than surrounding neighborhoods, Liverpool is a popular place for first-time homebuyers,” Li says.
In the Village of Liverpool itself, brick Colonial Revival homes can be found throughout.
Many homes in Liverpool and the surrounding areas have vinyl siding.
Lawns in Liverpool are lush and green, being meticulously maintained by residents.
Further into the rural areas of Liverpool, split-level homes become popular.
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Strong academics and extracurriculars in Liverpool schools
Students in Liverpool may start their education at Long Branch Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through second grade. Third through fifth graders can attend Liverpool Elementary School before advancing to Liverpool Middle. All three schools earn a B-plus from Niche with high marks in teachers and diversity. A-minus-rated Liverpool High School is ranked as the seventh-best public high school in the Syracuse area. The high school offers more than 30 varsity sports, including a crew team that practices on Onondaga Lake. SUNY Oswego’s Syracuse Campus is also 6 miles away.
Long Branch Elementary is located North of the village of Liverpool.
Children in grades 3 through 5 will attend Liverpool Elementary School.
Liverpool Middle School serves the residents of Liverpool.
Soccer, Football, Track, and more can be played at Liverpool High School.
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Commuting to Downtown Syracuse and around Onondaga County
Interstate 90, also known as the New York State Thruway, borders Liverpool to the north. Other nearby thoroughfares include Interstates 690, 81 and 481. Public transportation options include bus routes on Oswego, Vine and First Streets, as well as the Syracuse Amtrak Station. Those traveling further can take a flight from Syracuse Hancock International Airport, 5 miles east. Downtown Syracuse is only 6 miles away, as are hospitals such as SUNY Upstate Medical University and the Syracuse VA Medical Center.
A unique garbage pick-up process
“We do have a weird little quirk in the village,” Frank explains. “You have to buy stickers to put on your garbage.” Sold exclusively at Nichols Supermarket, the color-coded stickers indicate how much the trash weighs — regular trash bags up to 15 pounds get a green sticker, while orange stickers designate 30 pounds. Bulky items require as many orange stickers as needed to equal the item's weight, and they get picked up on regular trash days year-round. “If you want to get rid of a whole couch, just put four orange stickers on it, and they just take it,” Frank says. The city is working toward phasing out the stickers, but until then, Frank will continue to educate new homeowners in Liverpool. “I think people should know about it because nobody told us when we moved here, and if you don’t have stickers, they don’t pick up your trash,” she says. “So whenever I have new neighbors, I’m always like, ‘Hey, welcome to the neighborhood. Here are your garbage stickers.’”
NYS Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, ABR, CRS, GRI, PSI, SRS and co-owner of Weichert, Realtors-The Bollinger Group, Fayetteville, NY Deana Bollinger Ingram has dedicated a major portion of her life to the Real Estate Industry. Before her marriage to Drew and the birth of their twin daughters, she worked in the Real Estate Appraisal field as a NYS Certified Real Estate Appraiser. She focused on outlying properties, realizing that the market and demand was very strong and the competition was almost nonexistent. Over the years she developed this niche market into a very lucrative business, which enabled her to purchase her first home at 24 years old. Even as a stay at home mother she was active in community affairs and fundraising for local charities. Discovering that the local chapter of an organization for new mothers was not addressing the concerns and needs of its members, she co-founded Eastside Mom's, which has grown to over 15,000 members in the past twenty years. She is still quite active in the organization. Deana has excellent organizational and networking skills which she has used to balance her roles as wife, parent, entrepreneur and community participant. In 2009 she decided to join the family owned Real Estate Business. She hit the ground running and has outsold many of the veterans in the industry. Her focus from the start was to provide superior service to her clients. In September 2012, she partnered with her Real Estate Broker to purchase the franchise, Weichert, Realtor's - The Bollinger Group.
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