"Charming, quiet, green, with a darling Main Street, stunning river views, a burgeoning dining scene (Been to the Red Hat lately? What about Day Boat Cafe, Chutney Masala, or Mima?), this unassuming rivertown is pretty near perfect. Tucked in next to the mighty Hudson, Irvington, named after Washington Irving, who had the smarts to not only write 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' but to live in town (Sunnyside, his cottage, is now a tourist destination), scored the highest in our tally. ... " This gushing display of flattery was how Elsa Brenner summed up Irvington, New York in the October 2010 edition of "Westchester Magazine" in an article naming it the best place to live in Westchester County.
Ideally situated on the Hudson River's East bank and only 40 minutes by train from Midtown Manhattan, Irvington, New York has real estate's most desired attribute: location, location, location. From Wickquasgeck Native Americans to English settlers, as well as a home set afire during the Revolutionary War by angry British soldiers, this Westchester county village also has rich history and local color to boot. Writer Washington Irving served as the inspiration for the area's name and, along with Louis Comfort Tiffany of luminary lamp fame, is one of the locals' favorite names to drop. Some refer to this swanky spot as "Irvington-on-Hudson" due to its waterfront digs and oh so sophisticated air, but residents keep it simple by sticking to Irvington.
Historic homes from the 1900s practically rank as new construction compared to estates originating in the 1800s
"Charming, quiet, green, with a darling Main Street, stunning river views, a burgeoning dining scene (Been to the Red Hat lately? What about Day Boat Cafe, Chutney Masala, or Mima?), this unassuming rivertown is pretty near perfect. Tucked in next to the mighty Hudson, Irvington, named after Washington Irving, who had the smarts to not only write 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' but to live in town (Sunnyside, his cottage, is now a tourist destination), scored the highest in our tally. ... " This gushing display of flattery was how Elsa Brenner summed up Irvington, New York in the October 2010 edition of "Westchester Magazine" in an article naming it the best place to live in Westchester County.
Ideally situated on the Hudson River's East bank and only 40 minutes by train from Midtown Manhattan, Irvington, New York has real estate's most desired attribute: location, location, location. From Wickquasgeck Native Americans to English settlers, as well as a home set afire during the Revolutionary War by angry British soldiers, this Westchester county village also has rich history and local color to boot. Writer Washington Irving served as the inspiration for the area's name and, along with Louis Comfort Tiffany of luminary lamp fame, is one of the locals' favorite names to drop. Some refer to this swanky spot as "Irvington-on-Hudson" due to its waterfront digs and oh so sophisticated air, but residents keep it simple by sticking to Irvington.
Moving to Irvington
Historic homes from the 1900s practically rank as new construction compared to estates originating in the 1800s. With a heritage like that and a desirable zip code, home prices can certainly climb into the realm of real-estate fantasy land. Co-op apartments, apartment rentals, home rentals and condos offer more affordable real-estate options. Those only familiar with the crunchy, granola-style co-ops where local produce is available alongside flax seed need to know that co-op apartments work differently than typical rental apartments. Rather than renting a unit, each tenant purchases his or her desired unit. Potential renting residents need not worry. Options in Irvington range far beyond studio apartments for rent. Moving to Irvington means rental options from two-bedroom rental condos to absolutely grand homes well over 3,000 sprawling square feet with the monthly rental price to match.
When picking a house to rent in Irvington it is important to know what to expect. This is the Northern United States where most people still don't consider central air as a must-have. Condos without central air are common, although there are rental properties that do come complete with air conditioning. For those for whom air conditioning is not an optional amenity, make sure to inquire up front. Another common feature of homes in this area are basements, but even when a house rental boasts of basements, they may not be finished basements. Always check to see if it is finished or not before envisioning the layout of your man cave or lady lair. Lastly, many rental properties welcome pets but do limit them to a certain size range. Pet owners should come prepared with pet size and breeds when discussing Fluffy's future home with potential landlords.
Give yourself about four weeks to find a place and get approved by the landlord. Most landlords will require the first and last month's rent, along with a pet deposit when applicable, payment for a credit report and your most-recent pay stubs.
Irvington Neighborhoods
Just under three square miles of land serving approximately 6,400 residents, Irvington is basically one large neighborhood. When searching for a prime rental property here, you should decide if you want to live in the West or East part of the village and what style of housing suits your needs and budget.
West Irvington: Between Broadway and the Hudson River, waterfront views and historic Main Street keep West Irvington in high demand. Condos with balconies for gazing at the water and showy rental houses are found near the Irvington Metro North train station and Red Hat on the River.
East Irvington: The village's 172 acre park, VE Macy Park, provides plenty of green space in the area spanning from Broadway to Saw Mill River Parkway. Lots of cul-de-sacs offering an array of rental homes define the Eastern Side of the village.
Living in Irvington
Clearly, Irvington has many smitten with its drool-worthy real estate, coveted location and small-town charm. The charm keeps oozing as it not only retains neighborhood markets in place of super-sized supermarkets, but these corner grocers still offer house accounts where residents can pay a bill at the end of the month. Considering that alfresco dining at any of Main Street's raved-about eateries is practically a way of life in a town with one of the nation's lowest crime rates, small-town living has never looked better.
Arts
Small-town life stays rich with culture and arts opportunities not only in nearby New York City but in the village as well. The Irvington Town Hall Theater stages music, dance and theater performances year-round. The Irvington Public Library's Martucci Gallery displays rotating exhibits while the library itself makes use of the abundant and iconic Tiffany lamps.
History
Not only does Irvington have historic homes for rent, but it also has several historic homes worth visiting. Sunnyside, Washington Irving's estate, is one of the most popular area attractions. Another oldie but goodie, the McVickar House loves to brag about its standing as the village's second-oldest home and also serves as the historical society's headquarters.
Outdoor Options
Stock up on fruits and veggies while listening to live music at the June to October Wednesday Farmer's Markets held from 3:30 - 7:00 p.m., or you can get in a great hike on the area's Peter Clay Trailways System. Yoga, curling and Pilates also rank as favorite ways for many Irvington villagers to keep fit.
Getting Around
The Metro-North train has the Irvington Station centrally located on Main Street, while the Ardsley-on-Hudson Station also technically falls into the village's Southern limits. The people of Irvington utilize these trains to have easy access to Manhattan, but many residents still find owning a car or bicycle useful.
