Former factory town that maintains its working-class values
West Haverstraw, a village in the town of Haverstraw, sits very near the Hudson River and has seen its share of history. Grist and rolling mills and a calico printing factory were built along Minisceongo Creek in West Haverstraw during the 18th and 19th centuries. When the New York and New Jersey Railroad came through, brickmaking became the dominant industry, and brickyards eventually lined the Hudson River. Today, West Haverstraw stays true to its roots. “It’s a blue-collar, community-minded and family-oriented kind of town,” says Lauren Muller, broker of Howard Hanna Rand Realty, who raised her family in West Haverstraw but now lives just north of town in Stony Point. “North Rockland County is very welcoming, and diversity is celebrated.” West Haverstraw’s Hispanic population is the largest in the village and is reflected in the local businesses and the bilingual communications from the village government. “The natural beauty of the parks and river can’t be beaten,” Muller adds. “We are 45 miles north of Manhattan, but the warmth of this community keeps people here for generations.”
West Haverstraw blends history and community, staying true to its working-class roots by the Hudson River.
Minisceongo Creek in West Haverstraw once powered grist mills, rolling mills, and a calico printing factory.
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Suburban homes on par with the national median
The median home price in West Haverstraw is $430,000, slightly more than the national median. “West Haverstraw is a very strong market,” Muller says. “Buyers are attracted to the prices and location, but they also come for its warmth and friendliness. I raised my children here. It takes a village, and West Haverstraw is a great place for families.” The most common home styles are single-family Colonial revivals, some of which were built in 1900, with sunrooms, hardwood floors and old-world charm. Midcentury or later Cape Cods and ranch-styles are also prevalent, featuring well-manicured yards and two-car garages. Most townhouses in West Haverstraw are clustered around Route 9W, which goes through the village’s center and is on a local bus route. The majority of townhouses feature off-street parking, and some offer attached, single-car garages.
West Haverstraw features Colonial revival homes, some dating back to 1900, with timeless charm.
West Haverstraw has many midcentury ranch-style homes with well-manicured yards and classic appeal.
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Peck’s Pond and other riverfront recreation
Peck’s Pond next to the village hall and community center, is ringed by an illuminated walking path and features a children’s playground, a fishing pier, a recently refurbished outdoor roller rink and a baseball/softball field. “Peck’s Pond is well-loved and well-used,” Muller says. The pond butts up to Bowline Point Park, a peninsula on the Hudson River with an Olympic-size pool, water slides, playgrounds, tennis courts and a fishing pier with spectacular river views. Marinas like Safe Harbor Haverstraw, the biggest in Rockland County, are to the north in deep-water coves along the riverbank. Cedar Pond Brook beside it is a popular place for boating, kayaking and fishing. Boat launches, playgrounds and fishing piers are next door at Haverstraw Bay Park.
Land lovers won’t have to venture far to reach the Phillip J. Rotella Memorial Golf Course in Thiells. It was named after a prominent multigenerational family and features a par-72 18-hole course. The Patriot Hills Golf Club is nearby in Stony Point, where the fairways offer impressive views of the Hudson River Valley.
Peck’s Pond in West Haverstraw offers a scenic walking path, a playground, and a fishing pier for all to enjoy.
North Basin at Safe Harbor Haverstraw Marina provides deep-water access for boating, fishing, and waterfront views.
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Family-owned businesses and the Garner Art Center
Zugibe Hardware on West Railroad Avenue is one of the oldest family-owned hardware stores in Rockland County. “You can describe what you need, and they’ll find it for you,” Muller says. “They are old-school customer service.” The hardware store is across the street from the Garner Arts Center, which offers public art classes, exhibitions, a ballet school, a coffee roaster and a dozen other businesses in a 200-year-old industrial complex that was a former grist and textile mill. Round Table Brewery (otherwise known as La Redonda Tavern and Brewhouse) is one of them, a place to enjoy music, food and handcrafted beers. The complex also features a sculpture trail that follows Minisceongo Creek next to the complex.
Sparky’s Diner on U.S. 202/Ramapo Road is another West Haverstraw staple, known for treating customers like family, and Leovin next door serves traditional Salvadorian food. To the west, ShopRite of Garnerville is on the edge of town, and to the east up Route 9W, residents can buy groceries at Los Primos Supermarket or grab an all-natural burger and fries at the Filling Station, a former gas station that was once used in “Riding in Cars with Boys” starring Drew Barrymore.
West Haverstraw also throws several community events throughout the year, like Dancing Under the Stars at the Garner Arts Center. Live bands, good weather, and local food and drink create a festive atmosphere for members of the community to enjoy.
Zugibe Hardware on West Railroad Avenue is one of West Haverstraw’s oldest family-owned stores.
Garner Arts Center in West Haverstraw offers exhibits and a creative space in a historic mill.
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Down-tick in crime and West Haverstraw’s seasonal climate
According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services crime index, violent and property crimes in Haverstraw dropped by 21 percent in 2023 after a five-year high in 2022. This data was reported by the Haverstraw Town Police Department, which also serves the Village of West Haverstraw. West Haverstraw has a humid continental climate and four seasons.
Award-winning North Rockland Central Schools
The North Rockland Central School District serves the village of West Haverstraw and other nearby communities. It receives a B from Niche. Approximately 8,000 students attend the nine public schools in the district. In 2024, the state education department awarded $2.4 million to the district to expand universal prekindergarten programs, converting existing enrollments from half- to full-day. District athletes have also won multiple state and national championships in baseball, football and cheerleading.
North Rockland High School in Thiells serves about 2,700 students in grades 9-12 with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio.
West Haverstraw Elementary School serves around 740 K-3 students, fostering early education in a large suburb.
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Commuting by car, ferry, train or bus
Route 9W is the main highway that runs north and south through the village and along the Hudson River, connecting West Haverstraw to New York City, 45 miles south, and Albany, 120 miles north. U.S. 202 branches off Route 9W heading west crossing the Palisades Interstate Parkway and eventually connecting with Interstates 87 and 287. In Haverstraw Village, commuters can cross the Hudson on the Ossining-Haverstraw Ferry and board a Metro-North train into Manhattan. Bus service through Transportation of Rockland stops along the main thoroughfares of West Haverstraw and connects most of the county.
Improving West Haverstraw one street at a time
The village has worked steadily to address the community’s aging infrastructure by improving roadways, curbing, sidewalks and underground utilities. Work was completed on Bridge Street and other areas, and the village will also receive $800,000 in federal funding to replace Samsondale Avenue curbs and sidewalks. Pedestrians use Samsondale Avenue to get to the business district along Railroad Avenue and Route 9W, and the project will improve accessibility, safety and ADA compliance. Replacement of the deteriorating roof of the village’s firehouse is also nearing its final stages.
Most of these improvement projects are communicated by Mayor Robert R. D’Amelio in the Village Voice newsletter, which offers English and Spanish versions. “I’ve known Mayor Rob D’Amelio for 20 years,” Muller says. “People knew him as an awesome basketball coach before he became mayor, and now everyone loves him as a leader. He’s proactive, involved and a good communicator.”
Bridge Street and other areas in West Haverstraw have undergone recent improvements for the community.
West Haverstraw will receive $800,000 in federal funding to upgrade Samsondale Avenue curbs and sidewalks.
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Written By
Christopher Kopczynski
Photography Contributed By
Pushparaj Aitwal
Video By
Tony Simonetti
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Erin Connolly,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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