Lysander allows for country living just outside Syracuse
Lysander weaves secluded Upstate New York living with the character of an old-fashioned village and the convenience of a planned unit development. This wide-ranging Onondaga County community offers distinctly rural sections, where homes are spread out among farmland and open meadows. It also includes part of the more suburban village of Baldwinsville and encompasses the planned community of Radisson. Lysander is just over 20 miles from downtown Syracuse , but remains a respite from the city. “It’s a very attractive community,” says local broker Adrian Nugent, who’s with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CNY Realty and has over 30 years of experience. “It gets really cold there in the winter, but [in the fall] it’s stunning.”
Lysander’s broad array of homes is constantly expanding
The Lysander area, including Baldwinsville, features some farmhouses and colonial-style options built in the 1800s. The community also has a wide selection of colonials and ranch-style homes built across the mid-20th century. New construction is steadily popping up, too, including in the Timber Banks subdivision, by the golf course of the same name. “You can’t even get a lot in there, it’s so busy,” Nugent says. The Radisson development dates to the 1970s, but it also has new construction. All homes there line wide, winding residential streets, and the area also houses a job center in the 950-acre Radisson Corporate Park. “It’s got condos, rentals, it’s a mix of everything. Single-family housing,” Nugent says of Radisson. “That’s its own community.” Homes around Lysander under 3,000 square feet, including those in Baldwinsville and Radisson, typically sell for anywhere $90,000 to $870,000 based on the age and condition. The community’s largest homes can garner $880,000 to $1.3 million. Radisson’s townhomes and condos sell for $180,000 to $370,000, and the development’s monthly HOA fees run from about $70 to $320.
Music is a constant drumbeat in the local school district
The area’s Baldwinsville Central School District maintains a B-plus rating from Niche. Students in Lysander may start at the B-plus-rated Mae E. Reynolds Elementary, where they can take instrument lessons in grades 3 through 5. Donald S. Ray Middle also gets a B-plus, includes grades 6 and 7, and offers after-school activities like a jazz band. The B-rated Theodore R. Durgee Junior High covers grades 8 and 9, and students there can take part in fall and spring concerts. Charles W. Baker High carries a B-plus grade, and its marching band has performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
State route provides a connection to key sections of Syracuse
Drivers in Lysander can use New York state Route 690 for commutes south toward downtown Syracuse and for trips toward the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, 23 miles away. The airport offers nonstop flights to over 20 cities. St. Joseph’s Health Hospital, 22 miles away in downtown Syracuse, is one of the closest full-service medical centers. The region's Centro bus system runs through Baldwinsville, providing access to public transit.
Baldwinsville is a hub for close-by dining and shopping
The village of Baldwinsville has a quaint downtown area along Oswego and Genesee streets, with brick Italianate-style buildings and glass storefronts that house a variety of businesses. B’Ville Diner is one of the landmarks downtown, open since 1934 and filled with 1950s-era decor, complete with jukeboxes. “They just have a good reputation,” Nugent says. “Big meals, very reasonable prices. Any time you go by there it’s packed.” The Angry Garlic restaurant has a variety of signature burgers, including The Bees, with cheddar, crispy onions, greens, jalapeños, honey garlic barbecue sauce and honey mustard garlic. Atlantic Seafood, open since 1973, is known for its haddock. Other businesses downtown include Time For Change Antiques, which updates its inventory weekly. The River Mall shopping center on the south side of Baldwinsville, across the Seneca River, features a Tops Friendly Markets location and a Home Outlet.
Parks, trails and golf courses offer outdoor fun
The Lysander area saves room for an array of public green spaces. Lysander Town Park, on the north side of Baldwinsville, has athletic fields, tennis and basketball courts, a playground, and a splash pad. Those looking for something more expansive have options like the 671-acre Beaver Lake Nature Center, featuring approximately 9 miles of trails and a 200-acre lake that’s open to canoeing and kayaking. “That’s stunning,” Nugent says. “That’s super popular.” The 3,607-acre Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area is another place to hike, and is also open to hunting and fishing, in Greene Pond. Golfers have choices like Timber Banks, whose 18-hole course is open to the public. The Radisson Greens Golf Course, just 4 miles from Timber Banks, has an 18-hole circuit that’s also open to the public.
Area events include music and holiday cheer
Baldwinsville’s Paper Mill Island, on the Seneca River, hosts multiple events, including a Food Truck and Music Thursdays series with free concerts from June to August. Lysander Town Park serves as the site of the area’s annual Spooky Hollow Festival in October, featuring a haunted house and trail and trick or treating. The Baldwinsville Parade of Lights comes around at the end of November, when over 160 vehicles decorated with holiday lights trace through the village.
![Wayne Epps Jr.]()
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
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Photography Contributed By
Greg Dunbar
