North East is a historic social center for Lake Erie Wine Country
Wedged against Lake Erie’s pebbly southern shoreline and the New York state line, the borough and surrounding township of North East are named for their positions within Erie County, not within the Keystone State. But as summer fades into autumn in northwestern Pennsylvania, there’s no mistaking that this community is in the heart of Lake Erie Wine Country. “The Concord grape harvest is an amazing time of year; the whole town smells like sweet, grape bubblegum,” says Libby Remache, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Erie East who lives in North East. "We’re where the vineyards view the shore, we have our own local businesses and grocery store, our school district is incredible; it’s kind of like its own little world. But we’re also 25 minutes from Erie and less than two hours from cities like Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. If you’re looking for that small-town feel with everything accessible around you, that’s North East.”
Varied housing styles in the borough and township
National and Victorian-style homes built in the late 19th through early 20th centuries fill many of the borough’s sidewalk and tree-lined streets. Subdivisions of ranch-style, split-level and colonial homes were built in surrounding subdivisions from the midcentury through the 1970s. Farther out in North East Township, ranch-style homes, contemporary colonials and old-fashioned farmhouses stand on larger lots separated by coves of trees and the occasional vineyard. Higher-cost properties are often newer construction, ornate historic homes or set along Lake Erie. A simple, fixer-upper cottage can go for as little as $100,000, and manufactured homes can go for closer to $30,000. On the other end of the spectrum, a sprawling New Traditional home on a small acreage in the country might go for over $830,000. North East’s median single-family home price is $270,000, lower than the national median of around $420,000.
Attending the North East School District
North East is served by the North East School District. North East Elementary School earns a B-plus from Niche, as does North East Middle School. Kindergarteners through eighth graders learn core academic concepts from local farmers through Mercyhurst University’s STEM & Vine program. North East High School also scores a B-plus.
Small businesses on Main and Lake streets, vineyards in wine country
Along Main and Lake streets, cornice-topped commercial buildings give modern businesses an old-fashioned feeling. “The Bean Coffee House is a great gathering place, you’re guaranteed to see somebody you know there,” Remache says. The Skunk & Goat Tavern pairs its unusual name and rustic decor with New American and pub-style grub. Shoppers walk around town, stopping into specialty businesses like Phelps Bros. Guitars. Historic houses of worship like Park United Methodist Church decorate the skyline with stained glass, steeples and towers. Sander’s Markets, North East’s grocery store, is farther down Main Street. Locals and wine country tourists enjoy vineyard views, local vintages and live music at Arundel Cellars and Brewing Company, one of dozens of wine producers and restaurants in Lake Erie Wine Country.
Recreation on Lake Erie, on golf courses and in community parks
Lake Erie looks as vast as the ocean from the sandy, pebbly, seasonally lifeguarded Freeport Beach. A small playground, picnic benches and a volleyball court fill Halli Reid Park just off the shoreline. Boaters launch from North East Marina for a day of cruising or angling. Golfers play on 18-hole courses at Lake View Country Club and Green Meadows Golf Club. Gravel Pit Park offers playground equipment and picnic pavilions a couple of miles from downtown. Gibson Park centers the borough, a grassy, tree-shaded spot to relax on a park bench or browse pop-up flea and farmers markets.
Wine, cherries and first responders at North East festivals
Grape season coincides with the Wine Country Harvest Festival each September. Visitors browse craft booths and listen to live bands in Gibson Park between agricultural activities like wine tasting and grape stomping. The same soil that roots vineyards is also ripe for cherry farming. Each July, in the middle of cherry season, residents celebrate their local crop and first responders during the North East Firemen’s Cherry Festival. It’s a critical fundraiser for the volunteer firefighters serving North East and an opportunity to spend four days shrieking on carnival rides, marching in parades and eating cherry-centric foods.
Traveling around Erie and across state lines on Route 20 and I-90
Agriculture and Welch’s manufacturing are big industries in North East, but many residents commute farther for work. Erie is about 15 miles down U.S. Route 20, as are Saint Vincent Hospital and UPMC Hamot. Erie International Airport is closer to 30 miles away. Interstate 90 passes through North East Township between New York and Ohio. Locals often rely on cars to get around, but can hop on an Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority bus in the borough. Lake-effect snow buries North East in the winter, which can slow or shut down travel until streets are plowed.
Flood risk on Sixteen Mile Creek
Waterways like Sixteen Mile Creek can cause flash flooding after unusually heavy rain in both the borough and township. Buyers should check maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
