The Stony Brook Grist Mill, dating to 1751, is a perfectly preserved mill listed with the National Register of Historic Places. The mill used to serve as a communal area where villagers would bring their wheat and corn for processing. Considering the Grist Mill still functions perfectly well, you could technically still bring grain there for milling. Perhaps you should stick to the guided tour.
Stony Brook University is a hamlet that got its start as a sleepy farming community on the edge of Long Island
The Stony Brook Grist Mill, dating to 1751, is a perfectly preserved mill listed with the National Register of Historic Places. The mill used to serve as a communal area where villagers would bring their wheat and corn for processing. Considering the Grist Mill still functions perfectly well, you could technically still bring grain there for milling. Perhaps you should stick to the guided tour.
Stony Brook University is a hamlet that got its start as a sleepy farming community on the edge of Long Island. It has quickly grown into a vibrant hamlet, with a quaint downtown area, access to the Atlantic Ocean for boating and fishing, and in-demand homes featuring unique architecture. The city is also home to the State University of New York at Stony Brook, an excellent college that attracts plenty of top-notch students, adding a collegiate atmosphere to the community. If you want to call Stony Brook University home, this guide will give you some practical advice to make your move a little less stressful.
Plenty of Choices
In the northern part of the Stony Brook University area, one can find lovely colonials and charming cottages on quiet streets, helping create the "perfect neighborhood" kind of atmosphere that residents love living in. Closer to the CUNY Stony Brook campus, there are newer suburban buildings, hi rise apartments, and condos for rent, all offering plenty of living options. South of Route 25A, there are newer builds and hi-rise apartment complexes that also tend to be cheaper.
Searching For a Bargain
It is not so difficult to find furnished apartments in Stony Brook University. Quite often landlords offer furnished rooms to attract students and workers. While you can go through a broker, it is also worthwhile to use the web to search for apartments in the area. If you're a student or someone who doesn't mind living with others, there are usually some students offering open rooms in their apartments.
Tips of the Trade
Stony Brook University is partly a college town, meaning it's best to avoid searching during the beginning of the school year when plenty of students are also looking for properties. As for utilities, hot water and heat is often included in your rent, but expect to pay for electricity, gas, and Internet connections. Sometimes you can also find a pad with all utilities paid, which seems to be a relatively common feature in apartments offered to students.
Moving Day
While moving to a single-family home in Stony Brook should present no problems, other high-rise apartment buildings might require additional moving help, especially if you are on the top floor of a building. You can either head down to the Stony Brook Harbor and enlist the help of a beefy sailor or stick the tried and tested method of hiring some movers.
Applications and Documents
Before you snag that apartment, you will likely have to provide some documents to a landlord or broker, including proof of income and a copy of your ID. Your landlord or broker will also perform a credit check and likely request references from previous landlords. It's also not uncommon to have to provide both a safety deposit along with first and last months' rent.
Scoring a Job
For those concerned about finding a job in the area, the Stony Brook University campus and Brookhaven National Laboratory are both large employers. Many jobs are also available in the fields of tourism, transportation, medicine, and in the service sector. So go down to Jake Starr Cafe, drink some coffee, and start filling out those applications.
Stony Brook University is on the smaller side in terms of population. Although residents like the small, tight-knit community they have, they also take pride that the beauty of their hamlet draws thousands of visitors every year. Each neighborhood has its own features, but all of them provide excellent access to a variety of interests and local amenities. Stony Brook University also features low crime rates, helping residents know they are safe and secure on the streets and in their houses.
Town Center: This area features medium to large-sized single-family homes and a few apartments. One of the main draws in this area is the historic Stony Brook downtown.
Pond Path / Nesconset Highway: This neighborhood is south of Route 25A and features a mix of housing, including single-family residences and a number of newer apartment buildings. If you're searching for cheaper housing, this is a good place to start looking.
Stony Brook University: This area has CUNY Stony Brook as its focal point. Many of the residences in this area are only available to students, but also feature a mix of apartment buildings and condos available to all comers.
Stony Brook has a walk score of 28, meaning many locations are best accessible by car. However, that shouldn't stop you from biking and walking through this lovely town. The Long Island Rail Road also has a stop at Stony Brook, although, commuting to New York City can take a long time. There is also a bus network that has a few stops in town.
Stony Brook University has plenty to see and do. Styled after New England villages, the downtown area features white clapboard buildings and over 40 picturesque shops and restaurants. Ward Melville, a prominent historical figure, was instrumental in shaping this town center. There you will also find the historic post office of Stony Brook, featuring an eagle that flaps its mechanical wings every hour from 8AM to 8PM. If you have a boat, Stony Brook University is an even more enjoyable place to live, with the Stony Brook harbor providing access to fishing and sailing.
The City of New York at Stony Brook is also routinely ranked one of the top research universities in the country. There you can even catch a university athletics game, such as lacrosse, baseball or football. Wolfie the seawolf, Stony Brook University's mascot, would appreciate the support.
There are also plenty of places to eat and drink. You can see locals at Latitude 21 eating good old-fashioned American food or stop by Country House Diner for breakfast and a coffee. Stony Brook also has plenty of museums and historical sites, such as the Long Island Museum of Art, History, and Carriages, which has thousands of paintings and over 200 different carriages. No matter who you are, you're bound to find something to love about Stony Brook University.
