Moving to suburbs; Beacon NY

I don't know from a cost perspective, but I was up there for several trips and a wedding. A very up and coming down, but some of the areas (particularly toward the train) need to come "up" a little more. I think it will get there eventually.

But definitely one of the better towns for culture and some food.

There was actually a NYTimes profile about 2 years ago you might want to look at. Obviously outdated, but some good history and perspective.

The Beacon is fantastic.

New York magazine did a story a year or two about how unhappy city hipsters were who'd moved to Hudson River towns like Beacon.

I'm not saying everyone would feel the same way, but this was a pretty good piece written by New York woman in her 30s who moved up there with her husband and kids.

At first she was thrilled because they bought a big old house on the cheap and had a big piece of land for the dogs, etc. But over time she came to feel really isolated. The "community" she was looking for never emerged, even tho Hudson River towns are full of former city folks like her.

Eventually she came to really regret the move and was plotting a way to come back to the city.

I don't know your circumstances but you might consider googling for this story. If you enjoy the city you might find it a hard transition to make.

I wouldn't call Beacon the suburbs. It's an old Hudson River town that's seen better days. That's not to say there isn't a nice community there, but if you're expecting the suburbs you will be surprised. I wonder if you've visited the town yet. The Hudson River valley is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, but be prepared for quasi-rural living.

The DIA helped revive interest in Beacon, but that town has a long way to go.

Beacon is a great town but you have to remember that it is a small town and does not have many options as far as bars and restaurants. If you dont care about that and want to get away from people in general you will like the town. You should also check out some of the other towns in that area.

If you are commuting to the City, Beacon would be beyond the limits of acceptable commute time (by my standards). I recently moved to Nyack, which is a quaint, walkable Hudson River town with an eclectic, urban vibe. My door to door commute (to midtown) is 70 minutes, which is the maximum I could stand without going insane. But if you are not commuting, then obviously this is not an issue.

Beacon is considered ex-burbs, not the suburbs. I left the suburbs (Rockland and Westchester) for the city and have no desire to move back. Pricing in the exburbs shot up as those that wanted to live in the suburbs got priced out during this most recent boom. I haven't monitored prices in either the suburbs or exburbs recently- but you should be looking at this aspect as you make your decisions.

"I'm not saying everyone would feel the same way, but this was a pretty good piece written by New York woman in her 30s who moved up there with her husband and kids.

At first she was thrilled because they bought a big old house on the cheap and had a big piece of land for the dogs, etc. But over time she came to feel really isolated. The "community" she was looking for never emerged, even tho Hudson River towns are full of former city folks like her."

Graffiti, I think you are confused.

I read that article. The writer hated life. Thing is, they moved to an isolated farm area with little to do. I believe it was actually the catskills.

That has nothing to do with beacon. Beacon is on the main train line to the city, and it has a built up town. Much of the inventory is in the walkable downtown area.

The story given was as applicable to beacon as it would be to Manhattan.... which is to say, not at all.

Look at some f those prices in Beacon. SUPER CHEAP. maybe i will try it

I've never been to either, but Newburgh, across the Hudson by bridge, is where the lobster dish originated, and is said to have once been very affluent (so great housing stock?), but now much more down and out and cheap than Beacon. It sounds like my kind of town, and I've been meaning to check it out for several years now. Someday, someday.

Newburgh is a ghetto, alanhart. It's like Paterson, New Jersey -- it's been totally decimated by poverty. It's a sad place, I'm sorry but every other person there is unemployed and drugs and crime are the biggest industries.

Agree with other posters; Beacon is not the suburbs and should not be equated with suburban living. It still has its problems with poverty, so-so schools and other issues that plague many of the Mid Hudson River towns like Poughkeepsie and Newburgh.

I have an old buddy from Newburgh. I always thought it was a cool place with enormous potential

Garrison and Cold Spring are about as far north as the "suburbs" go, IMHO. Both are very nice with decent restaurants.

Beacon is pretty much a dump, despite rampant real estate speculation when Dia announced they were opening there. I go to art galleries there sometimes, but it has never developed into the "SoHo north" artist town that was expected.

anyway if you are an architecture buff you have to go check out Newburgh. It blows away brownstone Brooklyn as far as historic homes.

Uk rguy, what is it exactly that attracts you to Beacon? Have you ever been there? Are you into the artsy/somewhat gritty scene, or are you looking for a cute but somewhat inexpensive town with a Metro North line going through it? Are you into "the outdoorsy" scene?

I'm asking because it might help get the responses/info you are looking for. I am fairly familiar with the area (we own a weekend home in Ulster county, but I've spent quite a bit of time in Dutchess (where Beacon is located) and Orange (where Newburgh is) as well.

I can see Beacon being appealing to some people (maybe those who also enjoy certain parts of Brooklyn like Williamsburg and Dumbo). Definitely doesn't feel like the "burbs", more like a town that has seen its better days, but maybe is coming back (or maybe not). It's certainly a bit run down but not nearly as bad as Newburgh. The restaurant scene is ok but not spectacular (there is one place, I think it's called River Terrace or something like that) that I really enjoy--good food, great beer selection (Dogfish 60 min IPA on tap!--great on a hot summer day!) and amazing river views. Commuting to NYC daily is possible, but might become a huge pain in the butt.

Newburgh (directly across the river) is dirt cheap, but is pretty much a ghetto, albeit a gorgeous one (Newburgh has the largest historic district in the state). It's really very sad--I hope it bounces back one day, but I'm not holding my breath. Unless you are an "urban pioneer" who would also consider buying in Bed Stuy or East New York, this place is probably not for you.

If these places appeal to you though you may want to check out Peekskill as well (not as nice as Beacon but not as dumpy as Newburgh).

Cold Spring is actually a great suggestion (that's what I thought too as an option when I first saw this thread). Cute town, closer commute, no roughness around the edges (like Beacon or esp. Newburgh) I personally am extremely disappointed with the restaurant scene there (never had a decent meal in this town, I've actually told my husband that whoever opens a restaurant that can make good food can make a killing there!) It's really surprising given the proximity to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) and the flock of graduates opening great restaurants all over Hudson Valley (just never in Cold Spring).

Another alternative (although not on the train line) is Cornwall on the Hudson. It's only a few miles from Newburgh but a totally different world. Quite affluent (great schools-not sure if this is important), but real estate prices reflect that. There's a nice nature preserve located there, also Storm King.

Also, Malborough (just north of Newburgh). Definitely more rural, great views, surrounded by farms (lots of apple orchards, etc), wineries. Again, depends on what you are looking for, but out of all the places mentioned, that would be my pick.

I think this is the piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/realestate/22livi.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=Beacon%2C+NY&st=nyt

I've been to Beacon several times to visit friends. It's really a cute little town with, as someone else mentioned, an interesting eclectic vibe.

But a city is is not. Urban living it is not. Commutable to New York City -- at least on a semi-regular basis -- it certainly is not. *90 minutes* by Metro-North just to get to Grand Central. You'd be looking at a minimum of a two hour commute each way.

Beacon certainly has its qualities. But move to Beacon only because you want to LIVE in Beacon. Do not move to Beacon because you were priced out of the Upper West Side.

msne1234, you don't like that Frenchie joint in Cold Spring, the name of which escapes me?
I've read good things about it, and the town, but haven't been to either.

Beacon is definitely a long commute (I just looked it up on Wikipedia since I have never heard of that place). I would look at northern NJ instead. I own a house in Bergen County and it takes me under 30 minutes to get from my front door to the PA Bus Terminal.

Yes, but then you have to live in New Jersey.

And, seriously, the towns in question are near the river. Huge difference.

Norhthern NJ is near a river. Look out of the window from your 5th floor walk up and look west. You might be able to see the river.

the lower hudson valley towns like Beacon, Newburgh, and poughkeepsie cant be compared to anything else in the ny area. The_President i am sure Jersey is beutiful but, though those ny towns have seen better days the natural beuty of the area blows away anything else within commuting distance. You should go check out some of those towns and you will see what I am saying.

"Norhthern NJ is near a river."

Actually, its a tidal estuary when it hits Jersey... its not a river.

You should leave your swamp some day and see what actual pretty water views look like...

Alpie means the Delaware River, an inner-tubing [or whatever it's called] favorite.

FWIW, a few months back a couple friends of mine who are fairly well-known artists announced that they were consolidating operations in Beacon, and pulling out of Brooklyn. I suspect some of this is because of they are doing larger works these days and they can get cheaper space upstate than they can in the city. But Dia is definitely a magnet. I can't say if this indicates a trend in the arts community...

"The_President i am sure Jersey is beutiful but, though those ny towns have seen better days the natural beuty of the area blows away anything else within commuting distance. You should go check out some of those towns and you will see what I am saying."

I'm sure those upstate towns are nice, but if you buy up there, you are going to see the highway and the inside of your car/ Metro North a lot more than you will see your house and your family.

So, come to jersey instead, where its not as nice, still a painful commute, and its not NYC.

Jersey is the worst of all worlds!

NJ is a very big state and your commute can var greatly dimwit. In eastern Bergen County, your commute will be under 30 minutes. To commute from Fort Lee is a thousand times easier than to commute from Dutchess County.

Uhhh, Fort Lee is like a thousand times closer than Beacon, so I would expect the commute to be much shorter.

Somehow, I can't imagine anyone considering Beacon would consider NJ an alternative.

And I still think there should be a $20 tax on any NJ cars that come into Manahattan. In return, I'd give you Staten Island, for keeps.

Beacon is not a suburb. Suburb of Poughkeepsie maybe, but not NYC.