Outdoorsy Southeast has access to transportation
The mountainous Southeast, in Putnam County, New York, borders Connecticut. The area is 58 miles from New York City and known for its recreation, easy commute and wide range of housing prices. “It offers a good commute to the city. It has a relaxed suburban rural feel to it,” says Lee Kader, a Realtor with Keller Williams. Kader has worked in the industry for 15 years. “It’s not as expensive as Westchester County, you get a little more value for your money compared to there and Fairfield County. You get a little more land as well. It’s relatively suburban and quiet with many reservoirs and parks around the area.” The Brewster area is within Southeast and has both residential and commercial locations. Reservoirs and waterways snake throughout the region, giving it a rural feel, while Interstates 684 and 84 allow access to New York and Connecticut.
Golfing, horseback riding and recreation in Brewster
“There are lots of horse farms and lots of kids ride,” says Kader. “My wife rides every weekend.” Some stables in the area are Eden Hill Equestrian and Picture Perfect Equestrian. Centennial Golf Club, Morefar Back O’Beyond Golf Club and Vails Grove Golf Club are all private 18-hole golf courses along the edge of Southeast. Morefar Back O’Beyond is a highly exclusive Starr Insurance employee-only course.
Tonetta Lake Park is in the Brewster area and has a beach area. Residents may kayak, canoe and fish. Southeast Town Park borders Tonetta. The park has a play structure, hardtop tennis and basketball courts and a baseball field. Nearby is the paved 1-mile Brewster On-Road Section of the 750-mile Empire State Bike Trail. The Brewster section connects off-road sections of the trail. The Brewster Ice Arena is a year-round indoor ice rink offering lessons and open skate times.
Tilly Foster Farm, along state Route 312, is a farm owned by Putnam County that includes a museum and a restaurant, Tilly’s Table. The farm hosts a concert series from July to August and has animal meet-and-greets year-round.
Variety of housing types and styles
In the southeast countryside, homes line winding roadways and reservoirs on large, manicured lots. In the Brewster area, homes are organized along gridded streets. Colonial Revival, split-level, Cape Cod and raised ranch-style homes are common in the area. Single and multifamily homes range from $320,000 to $975,000, while larger estates range from $1 million to $1.5 million. Townhouses and condos are in the more populated areas of the southeast and range from $300,000 to $525,000.
Interstates and parkways lead to Westchester and New York City
“I think you’re gonna have a mix of both, but there’s many people who work in the city,” says Kader. “Part of the Metro-North goes right into Grand Central Station. There’s also a lot of remote workers now. People do work in Westchester, which is just outside Putnam. A lot of people work in the Connecticut area as well.” Interstate 684 leads 58 miles south to New York City from Southeast. Interstate 674 leads 32 miles south to White Plains and other areas in Westchester County. Danbury, Connecticut, is 12 miles east using Interstate 84. Southeast and Brewster train stations are on the Harlem line and arrive at Grand Central Terminal in 90 minutes.
Putnam Hospital is 2 miles from Southeast, and the New York Stewart International Airport is 39 miles away. The Brewster area includes the St. Lawrence O’Toole Sacred Heart, First Baptist Church-Brewster and Grace Life Community Church.
Students attend schools in Brewster
The Brewster Central School District, which gets a B-plus, is the most prominent in the area. Children may attend John F. Kennedy Elementary, which receives an A-minus for kindergarten through second grade and C.V. Starr Intermediate, which gets a B-minus for third through fifth grade. Students continue to H.H. Wells Middle, which gets a B, and Brewster High, which receives a B-plus. The high school chamber and symphony orchestra recently took home first place in the Jackson, New Jersey, Music in the Parks competition.
Shopping and dining in Brewster area and Danbury, Connecticut
Red Rooster Drive-In is a classic red and white painted burger joint with a mini golf course and hosts birthday parties in Brewster. Nearby, the Lakeview Shopping Center has popular chain restaurants and an ACME Markets for groceries. Las Mananitas is a Mexican restaurant off state Route 22. The Highlands Shopping Center has a Home Depot and a DeCicco & Sons for groceries off Interstate 84. Danbury, Connecticut, 12 miles east, has more shopping and dining, such as a Stew Leonard’s for groceries, and the Danbury Fair, a shopping mall with chain restaurants and retailers.
Environmental concerns in Southeast
“There are some properties that are more prone to flooding, there are hilly areas in Putnam County, and there's a lot of rock under the soil,” says Kader. “You can have a down lot, where the road slopes downward.” Flooding is possible during extreme weather, and homes at a lower elevation are more susceptible to flooding. Most homes in this area also use well water and septic tanks.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
