Yorkville offers daily essentials and proximity to Utica attractions
Yorkville is a small village located in the Mohawk River valley of central New York. Restaurants and a grocery store provide convenient access to most daily essentials, while family-friendly seasonal events foster a sense of community. With the city of Utica just east and Utica University a short distance south, urban amenities and major employers are within reach. The village’s proximity to highways also makes it appealing to commuters.
Seasonal events and parades bring Yorkville families together
Many annual events focus on children and families. Yorkville kicks off summer with a family fun night at Frank J. Robak Village Park, and on Halloween, fire trucks lead a children’s costume parade from the park to the fire station, where there is a party. “The weekend before Christmas, Santa rides through the village in a fire truck, and firefighters and village trustees pass out small gifts to kids,” says Stephanie Nowak, clerk and treasurer for the village of Yorktown, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years. “The trucks are all decorated with lights, and a lead vehicle usually goes through with sirens on so kids know Santa’s coming.”
Each summer, Utica’s Boilermaker Road Race attracts thousands of runners from around the country. Champlin Avenue in Yorkville is part of the 15K route, which can impact travel but also allows locals to get an up-close view of the action.
Mix of single-family and multifamily housing near Utica University
Sidewalks line some residential streets, and private driveways are relatively common. The majority of homes were built from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, and styles include Cape Cods, bungalows and American Foursquares. Some of the larger homes have been converted into duplexes or apartments, and Novak says that university students sometimes rent homes in town. Single-family homes tend to sell between $80,000 and $260,000, while multifamily buildings tend to range from $170,000 to $220,000.
Due to the potential for flooding after heavy rains, lenders may require flood insurance for homes near the Mohawk River. Trains also pass on the tracks at the northern edge of the village, which can be disruptive for residents.
The village is split between New York Mills and Whitesboro districts
Two different school districts serve village students. Many homes to the south of Oriskany Boulevard fall within the New York Mills Union Free School District. The district operates one school — New York Mills Union Free School — that offers kindergarten through 12th grade and gets a C-plus rating from Niche.
The remainder of the community is zoned for the Whitesboro Central School District, which holds an overall B-plus rating. Westmoreland Road Elementary School gets a C-plus. The middle school campus has two buildings: Parkway Middle School, rated A-minus, serves sixth-grade students, while Whitesboro Middle School, rated B-plus, serves seventh and eighth graders. Whitesboro High School earns a B-plus as well, and it offers dual-enrollment courses through Syracuse University. Utica University, a private university with undergraduate and graduate degree programs, is about 2 miles away.
Holland Farms Bakery and groceries in the village, chain stores nearby
One of the village’s most well-known businesses is Holland Farms Bakery & Deli, which originally opened in the 1950s. “People come from all over to go to Holland Farms — they ship their half moons everywhere because people love them,” Nowak says. Meyda Lighting, a lamp manufacturer, has a showroom on Oriskany Boulevard that also attracts buyers from around the region. Other local businesses include Karam’s Middle East Bakery & Restaurant, Venice Pizzeria and Muju, which specializes in Nepalese cuisine. There’s an Aldi in Yorkville, and New Hartford is about 3 miles away, with big-box stores and the indoor Sangertown Square mall.
Yorkville has a playground, bowling and a dance academy
Frank J. Robak Village Park is Yorkville’s main recreation space, and it has a playground, a basketball court and a ball field that is often used for youth baseball games. Local children can take dance and acrobatics classes through Dancemania on Campbell Avenue. Vista Lanes & Lounge is the local bowling alley, and Twin Ponds Golf & Country Club, just south of the village, has an 18-hole golf course that is open to the public. Other nearby attractions include the Utica Zoo and the Utica Children’s Museum, both less than 5 miles away.
Centro buses, bike lanes and highway access support travel
Yorkville has several travel options. Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, or Centro, buses offer service to downtown Utica and the shopping centers in New Hartford. Sidewalks line some streets, and there are crosswalks at major intersections along Oriskany Boulevard. Cyclists who live near Champlin Avenue can use the bike lane to travel to and from Utica University.
Utica, about 2 miles southeast, is home to Wynn Hospital, a Level III trauma center, as well as an Amtrak station. State Route 69 and interstates 790 and 90 run nearby, connecting drivers with larger cities, such as Rome , about 15 miles away, and Syracuse , less than 60 miles west. The Syracuse Hancock International Airport, in Syracuse, offers direct flights to more than 20 destinations.
