deliriumgrrl

A fairly short and quiet street amongst similar streets, the good thing about this street is easy access on both ends. On one end you have Victory Blvd, which gives immediate access to Dunkin Donuts, dry cleaners, a large CVS, not to mention several strip malls, bakeries, banks, fast food joints, bars... It's pretty much the perfect area for doing errands, plus lots of buses if you need to get around, particularly to the ferry. On the other end is the service road by the SI Expressway, which also gives obvious access to the main highway if you drive, but also express buses running to Brooklyn and Manhattan, plus it's fairly easy to get to the mall or wherever else you might need to go. This area is great because in the inner recesses you get the quiet suburban life, but walk a couple blocks in any direction and you can gain access to any necessity... even a Starbuck's on Victory.

Wyona is a fairly short and small street. One side is lined with average-sized suburban houses while most (if not technically all) of the other side is taken up by the triangular piece of park land. Which means it gets a nice view in that respect, but it's also a stone's throw away from the Expressway in addition to busy Victory Blvd, so maybe that's not such a nice view. Still, it has incredibly easy access to a lot of things including a NY Public Library across the street, a gym, lots of delis and fast food, a gas station.. and on the other side there's the CUNY College of Staten Island within walking distance, and a larger park area just beyond that. While relatively noisy, I imagine this would be a great place to stay if you don't have a car (LOTS of bus stops near by) or have kids (with easy access to park land for play and the library for school).

Crystal is a two-way street with many lights at intersections, making it a main thoroughfare and more busy than other streets. Still, it doesn't get the same kind of traffic you see on nearby Watchogue or Willowbrook for some reason. It's a typically pretty suburban street, but with easy access to busy stores near where it intersects with Forest Ave (banks, CVS, gym, Staples, Petsmart, in addition to a large strip mall). Also a good way to get to the public library branch on Victory Blvd, and there's a Lutheran church and the Holy Family Catholic church very close by, which are a good source of community fairs & festivals.

Also one of the main thoroughfares for the neighborhood, particularly between Watchogue and College Ave, but still has plenty of the same local suburban charm. For example, there's one house in particular near the College Ave end that has a tremendously large pine tree on the property - I've seen them rent a cherry picker in order to decorate it with enough lights to make it rival the Rockefeller tree around Christmastime! It's also a good venue during the summer months for finding good yard sales.

I find this avenue to be pretty standard in terms of the suburban neighborhood and comparable to the other avenues and street it parallels, but for some reason there is more traffic on this avenue, particularly coming off of Jewett Avenue. Something to consider if you're thinking about moving to a very quiet place. Then again, the suburban traffic is hardly Mack trucks going by, so impact is still pretty minimal. But otherwise a pretty avenue.

One of the more relatively recent additions to the neighborhood, this secluded little area is one of the few that exist just to have attached, multi-family housing available. Isolated from the rest of the neighborhood, it always seemed a little dismal when I walk by or stop by a yard sale someone is having there, but maybe it's just the monochromatic blue-gray color each house has. It's also packed full of cars. No lively spirit at all. I can't attest to the safety of the street, but I do know I've heard some raucous parties coming from there. There could be worse developed communities out there, though. And it's right next door to a large church and across the street from a fire station, so at least they're connected to the community in that way.

This is a great little street. It’s totally in keeping with the subdued suburban style of the area, but the great thing about it is its close proximity to the Westerleigh Park.

Though quite small, the park is perfect for community needs. Lots of people walk their dogs here and socialize, and there are even wire baskets at each corner’s entrance that hold plastic grocery bags donated by the community just so you can pick up after your dog. There’s also a lovely white gazebo in the center that is often a focal point for community events. Just a couple of weeks ago there was a Folk Fair with live music performed at the gazebo and people selling their crafts and food items at little stalls – it was great.

A couple of neighbors have told me they tend to avoid the park after dark, and yes there might be teenagers hanging out in the gazebo after dark, but I’ve never been worried because 1) it’s so well lit, and 2) it’s so small and open so you can always see the people around and be aware of environment, and 3) there are ALWAYS other people around, not to mention houses just a stone’s throw away. Personally I don’t think there’s a thing to worry about, but there are always going to be people who worry about everything.

My favorite part of this particular street is that just before you hit the park as you travel down the street, there’s a house on the right side that has two decorative geese statues on their front lawn that their owners dress up according to holiday and season. I love walking my dog around there and seeing what the charming new custom costumes are!

I can't imagine a more unimaginative name for a street :) It's a two-way, downhill street that spans a mere two blocks. On one side you have part of P.S. 30 and two or three of the largest, most impressive old houses in the neighborhood. At least has been converted to a (at least) two family home, but if you saw the houses you would understand why. HUGE, with wrap-around porches and at least three levels. I'd love to call them Victorian because they remind me of the style, but I'm not sure if the historic time period is entirely accurate. I do know that every time I've walked by them in the last 20+ years, I'd fantasize about owning one. So beautiful and majestic! Also of note on the other side is a Veteran's Association.

It’s one of the main thoroughfares for the area, particularly if approaching from one of the main streets, Jewett Avenue. On the corner of Jewett and Waters is the Richmond County Savings Bank, a mailbox, a s66 bus stop and two hair dressers for some reason (one more for men, the other more for women, right next door to each other). The rest of Waters is completely suburban with very large & impressive corner houses, and even the more average-sized houses are very well kept. It is one way and most of it is downhill, so be sure to take care noting traffic on cross-streets – sometimes people barely stop at their stop signs. But a lovely and quiet street overall.

Wardwell Avenue is pretty much picturesque suburban living. It spans only about 5 blocks long but is sufficiently removed from the main avenues (College, Jewett) to be peaceful.

There is a deli, the Westerleigh Deli on the corner of Wardwell and Maine which has been a neighborhood staple for over 20 years, though it seems to have lost some its life, vibrancy, and even cleanliness in recent years. Still, you can’t beat it for quickly picking up milk or a newspaper.

The only noisy section would have to be the corner of Wardwell and Leonard, where one can find P.S. 30. If you live nearby you’ll often hear the shrill sound of children playing at recess and can sometimes be a nightmare to maneuver and park near during busy times in the morning and at 3pm when local streets are clogged with parents and buses discharging and picking up kids.

Still, there are some large, gorgeous houses, particularly at the corners. One of the largest is currently undergoing renovation and there is speculation that the huge house & property may be turning into a multi-family home but there is no confirmation of that yet.

In general, it’s a great place to live because you have a school, deli, park, and bank within very easy walking distance in addition to lovely houses and well-kept gardens. There is a pretty even distribution of families with young children and older families. The section of Wardwell near the deli even has block parties sometimes and it’s heart-warming to see the sense of community.