Blauvelt is an exurban home base for regional and big-city commuters
Named for a family of Dutch farmers, the hamlet of Blauvelt combines abundant nature with easy access to Nyack-area conveniences. This former farming town, railroad stopover and World War II military campsite was transformed into a New York City commuter suburb by the completion of the Tappan Zee Bridge in 1955, and that city access is still a major draw. “I find a lot of corporate professionals working for local corporations that are up in the area – pharmaceutical companies, Pepsi, things like that,” says Peter Raider, an associate real estate broker with Real Broker NY. “I think some people live up there and commute, but not necessarily to the city, probably more to Westchester County.” Blauvelt’s 5,500 residents can work at local distribution centers and auto shops, commute into Nyack or take the Palisades Interstate Parkway into the Big Apple. “It’s 20 miles from Manhattan, so they can get to Broadway and parkways,” Raider says. “There’s proximity to New Jersey, so you have some professionals who work in Jersey as well.”
Spacious lots and abundant trees define Blauvelt's streets
Blauvelt’s residential streets branch off from State Route 303 and feature large front lawns, plenty of trees and – on most streets – sidewalks. Its ranch-style and bungalow residences were mostly built in the second half of the 20th century, and both large and small properties can sell for over $1 million. Blauvelt’s median sale price of $800,000 is higher than Nyack’s $785,000 and West Nyack’s $755,000. The hamlet receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Orangetown schools score high marks from Niche
Students can start at Cottage Lane Elementary School, which receives an A-minus from Niche, before attending the A-rated South Orange Middle School. The A-plus-rated Tappan Zee High School encourages student innovation through diverse extracurriculars like Robotics Team, Programming Club and Engineering Club. Blauvelt is also home to Dominican University New York, a private Catholic college that serves over 1,000 students and offers NCAA Division II athletics.
Parks preserve Blauvelt's military, railroad and natural heritage
This storied corner of Rockland County was once home to the country’s largest rifle range, used by the New York National Guard before World War I and the U.S. Army during World War II. This vast expanse of Hudson Highlands is now preserved as Blauvelt State Park, which has been almost untouched by developers since then. The camp’s miles of tunnels and walls are now canvases for graffiti art, and the park’s trails lead to overlooks of the Hudson River. Buttermilk Falls Park and Tackamack Park each offer shorter trails frequented by dog-walkers. The 3.8-mile-long Joseph B. Clark Rail Trail connects downtown Blauvelt with Tappan on the New Jersey border. Broadacres Country Club’s nine-hole golf course is open to the public, and its three sets of tees allow for golfers of every level to opt for their preferred difficulty levels.
Nearby big-box retail complements Blauvelt's small business scene
Blauvelt’s location along the Palisades Interstate Parkway and State Route 303 connect it to retail options near and far. Along the state route, the Orangetown Classic Diner has the diverse menu and shiny, chrome appearance of a vintage diner despite only opening in 2017. Bailey’s Smokehouse has been a fixture of the community for three decades, and it’s known for its 30-tap bar and barbecue dishes like pulled-pork macaroni and cheese and fried chicken. The Nova Kitchen Restaurant and Bar is a fine-dining mainstay, using locally sourced ingredients for its Berkshire pork chops and desserts. Three miles northeast of Blauvelt, West Nyack’s Palisades Center houses the local AMC movie theater and big-box retailers like Macy’s and Target. A ShopRite sits across the street. The Nanuet Town Centre mall is also five miles from Blauvelt, and it hosts a Stop & Shop and a Regal theater.
Nearby highways facilitate commutes to Nyack and NYC
State Route 103 connects Blauvelt to downtown Nyack and its Montefiore Nyack Hospital within a five-mile drive, while Manhattan is a 25-mile drive down the Palisades International Parkway. Rockland Coaches buses also run from Broadway & Cedar Hill Avenue to the GW Bridge Terminal in Upper Manhattan.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
