Waterford

The neighborhood of Phillips rests at the cusp of Waterford and New London in southeast Connecticut, bound by the commercial Broad Street and the nation’s main north-south cross-country thoroughfare – Interstate 95. Local associate broker Geoff Smith of Re/Max on the Bay says the neighborhood’s proximity to convenient shopping options, as well as its accessibility to Interstate 95, serve as its main pull. “Phillips is walking distance to shops on Broad Street and Coleman Street, it’s right behind the New London Shopping Center and it’s very close to the Waterford border and Crystal Mall,” he says. “And the interstate is a big draw for people. It serves up to Providence and Massachusetts and New York.” Despite being surrounded by some of the area’s busiest commercial areas, the neighborhood maintains a quaint suburban feel through its tree-lined streets and established 20th-century homes. A plethora of retail, grocery and specialty shopping options are within a 2-mile radius of Phillips. New London Shopping Center has NSA Supermarkets and Burlington, as well as tire and auto shops. The New London Mall to the north houses big-box retailers like HomeGoods and Marshalls, plus additional supermarket ShopRite. Down Hartford Turnpike, the newly renovated Crystal Mall is a regional retail mecca. The two-level mall has 80 stores and an array of diverse eateries such as Sarku Japan and Wok Express Chinese. Shops include specialty stores like The Toy Vault and familiar retailers like Forever 21 and Men’s Wearhouse. Broad Street serves as the neighborhood’s main commercial thoroughfare, with locally owned restaurants like Illiano’s Real Italian Pizzeria and Tox Brewing Company. Smith says many delis in the area, like Hamilton Street Market, are known for their grinders and subs – a term coined in New London during World War II for the roll’s resemblance to the submarines in the naval shipyard across the river in Groton. “Hamilton Street Market is known for overloaded grinders,” Smith says. “My dad jokes that he’ll take off half the turkey on his sub and save it for another sandwich – that’s how much they stuff their food there.” Not only do Phillips residents benefit from its proximity to Interstate 95, but the neighborhood is also close to other major thoroughfares like the Connecticut Turnpike and Hartford Turnpike. Proximity to these main transportation arteries allows residents to access neighboring cities like Norwich within a 15-mile drive and get to Hartford or New Haven within 45 miles, which typically takes less than an hour. Via I-95, both New York and Boston are approximately 120 miles away. The Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Providence is about a 51-mile drive. Despite easy access to I-95, traffic noise may be a concern for homebuyers. For public transportation, Phillips residents can rely on the Southeast Area Transit District buses that stop through the neighborhood or head to the New London Train Station to catch an Amtrak train. Modest lots are framed by a canopy of trees as established as Phillips’ traditional-style homes that sit tucked behind the neighborhood’s otherwise busy commercial areas. Bungalows and cottages built in the early 20th century are most common, many featuring colonial influences. Cape Cods and a few smaller ranch styles round out the single-family homes here, and apartment buildings and other multi-family homes are found along 3rd through 5th streets. Single-family home prices typically range from around $170,000 to $415,000. New London School District, Connecticut's first all-magnet district, offers 3 specialized pathways: STEM, foreign education, and visual and performing arts. Students may attend C.B. Jennings International Elementary Magnet School, which focuses on international education, before attending Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. Niche rates both schools C-minus. The multi-magnet New London High School serves students from all three pathways. Phillips students are also close to postsecondary institutions, including Connecticut College and the Coast Guard Academy, which sit just northeast of the neighborhood. Though Phillips consists mostly of residential and commercial areas, residents still have access to nearby pocket neighborhood parks within the city. Snowden Street Park offers an open green space for recreation, and residents are within walking distance of the playground at Mahan Park and the Veterans Memorial Field in neighboring Parker. Further down Broad Street, the Whaling City Athletic Club is a 10,000-square-foot space dedicated to fitness, boxing, martial arts, and wrestling. Anglers head north of the neighborhood to the 30-acre Brandegee Lake to fish near the dam or take in scenic waterside views. For a true escape, the expansive Connecticut College Arboretum is less than 2 miles from Phillips. The 750-acre tract overflows with natural areas, including a picturesque pond, blooming gardens and walking trails. Open to the public every day of the year from sunrise to sunset, the arboretum invites visitors to stroll along their trails or attend a public or private tour.