Yonkers

Yonkers is a very diverse city with a fascinating history. The very first elevator factory was built here by inventor Elisha Otis, whose creation was the Otis Elevator, and during WWII the same factory produced war tanks instead of elevators. The Alexander Mill Carpet Factory also manufactured blankets for soldiers during the war, and is now home to artist residents who invite visitors into their homes to see a most eclectic array of artwork.

Yonkers is much more than the famed Yonkers Raceway, a harness-racing track that is also a casino (or “Racino”, as the locals love to call it). As Yonkers is home to Westchester’s very first mall, you won’t be without shopping options with the famous Cross County Shopping Center (named after the parkway with access to Yonkers). You’ll find any kind of store here under the sun, including a Red Lobster (recently established there) and the old staples like Sears, Old Nay and Macy’s that have been there forever. In addition, the Ridge Hill Shopping Center offers free wi-fi to visitors, as well as a newly established Kid’s Club, where kids can come and be, well...kids.

Schools here are A+! The high school has been ranked as the 24th best in the USA. Graduation rates are high at 99% and staff is honored and dedicated to their work.

It’s a very ethnically diverse area, and you’ll be reminded of the residents’ Irish and Italian pride with parades on St. Patrick’s Day and special community events like “Miss Italian-America”. Notable residents such as Steve Tyler of Aerosmith fame and Betty Shabazz, widow of civil rights leader Malcolm X, are both originally from this area. Living costs are fairly reasonable, as housing costs around $300,000 and up; however, renting is somewhat high, considering it’s a city, but you’ll be near lots of parkways like the Bronx and the Sprain, and of course you’ll also have the Yonkers Train Station.

While you’re here, don’t forget to visit the highly esteemed exhibits at the Hudson River Museum, where you can learn all about that wonderful river in your view, and afterwards, why not grab a bite at the Cheesecake Factory and see a flick at the Multiplex. Yonkers is a great city for those who don’t mind congestion and traffic. It’s got a bit of something for everyone, and is only 2 miles away from Manhattan!

Though not as trendy at the moment as White Plains, Yonkers is a city undergoing revitalitzation, with excellent shopping and easy proximity to Manhattan.

Yonkers is the fourth-largest city in New York, with a population of almost 200,000 people. It is also one of the more diverse areas of Westchester. About half the population is white; there is a large Hispanic population, and about a fifth is African-American with a small Asian population.

Yonkers is one of the few places in Westchester where it’s possible to live easily without a car. The city is served by two Metro North lines- the Hudson Line, which travels parallel to the river, and the Harlem line, which travels along the city’s eastern border. The Bee-Line bus runs several routes in Yonkers and has express bus service to Manhattan. Taxi and car services are readily available.
Because it’s a city, it’s possible to find housing within walking distance of shopping areas.

Yonkers is a bustling city with excellent shopping and culture. The recently opened Ridge Hill has brought a large collection of retailers to the city. The center was built in a previously undeveloped space and is located just off Interstate 87. The Cross County Center recently underwent a $250 million dollar facelift, and includes many well-known retailers. Stew Leonards, which began as a small dairy store, is also well-known throughout the region for its unique atmosphere and excellent store-made offerings.

The historic Yonkers Raceway, which opened in 1899, underwent a name change and renovation in 2006. The raceway was called the Empire City Trotting Club when it first opened; when the casino was added, the history was recalled with the name Empire City Casino. It boasts 5,300 slot machines and beckons residents and visitors alike.

There are 40 schools in Yonker’s public school system. The district is dealing with numerous challenges. In 2010, 187 staffers were laid off; 90 were teachers. This forced the district to scale back on curriculum and programs. There are numerous private school options in Yonkers.

Yonkers is hit or miss, depending on the neighborhood. There are many pluses to the city- proximity to Manhattan, great local shopping and culture, nice neighborhoods. However, the school district is troubled, and the crime rate is higher than other communities in Westchester.

When people speak of the suburban lifestyle there’s an implication of a slightly placid vibe and lack of variety. Yonkers is here to challenge all those assumptions. It’s a city that is growing and changing and in the process rewriting what a suburb can be.

It’s proximity to New York City has made it a popular choice for many looking to move away from the exorbitant Manhattan lifestyle. While for many years it was a largely white community, with the slow increase of other racial and ethnic groups, Yonkers has become increasingly diverse. The process has not been always smooth and there was some talk in the 1980s of racial tension. Today, it is a much more integrated community than many other parts of Westchester County.

Yonkers offers many kinds of housing options from waterfront condos to homes with plenty of acreage. There are the affordable starter homes and the ritzier status symbols. The key is to find a neighborhood that feels right for you and your lifestyle. It is true that not all parts of Yonkers are seen as safe, but that is a statement that applies to pretty much any city in the world! The other suburban stereotype that Yonkers does not fit is that it is not dominated by families with kids; there’s more of an intergenerational feel to the community

The growth of Yonkers has meant that there are a whole range of restaurants, bars and shopping options here. There’s nothing sleepy about this suburb! Ridge Hill and the newly renovated Cross County Mall are great for browsing and shopping. Xaviars on the Hudson, Belle Havana, Patang and La Lanterna are among the popular restaurants in the area.
It’s hard to write a review of Yonkers without mentioning the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, as it attracts people from all around the New York and Connecticut area. The verdict is that this casino is not Vegas or even Atlantic City, but fun for those looking for some slot machine time.

It is easy to get lost in Yonkers (or, Yon-Kahs, as some jest) as it is the largest city in Westchester County and the fourth largest city in the state of New York with a total 18.3 square miles. It is definitely more convenient to have a car to get around there, but there are twenty different bus routes that are heavily used.

Yonkers is a mixed bag as far as attractiveness. It has its suburban pockets with smaller old homes, slightly less appealing neighborhoods and a newly renovated waterfront district with more affordable luxury condo rentals for young professionals who are often NYC commuters. Speaking of the commute, an express train from the Yonkers train station puts you into Grand Central in a mere 28 minutes.

Yonkers has an abundance of shopping possibilities. On the busy Central Avenue strip, there is a Best Buy, Bob's Discount Furniture store, a large Barnes and Noble, a Kohl's Department Store and a Bed, Bath and Beyond, to name but a few. The Cross County Shopping Center, an outdoor mall which received a modernizing face lift in recent years, also has a plethora of retail stores including H & M, NY & Co, Forever 21, Sears, and a large discount electronic Micro Center amongst at least a dozen restaurants including Applebees. In the last six months, many Yonkers and Westchester County residents were very excited by the newly built Ridge Hall, a modern shopping center set atop a hill which almost has a ski resort town type of feel to it with its wide streets and whimsical trolley system. The shopping center brought a slew of new shopping, dining and entertainment possibilities including an LL Bean outlet, a Guitar Center, smaller boutique shops and some never before heard of restaurants including Texas de Brazil, the Yard House with its endless slew of world beers and some modern staples such as a very industrial looking Whole Foods Market. There is also a new multiplex which brings the movie theatre count up to three in Yonkers. Right near the new Ridge Hill, and for the culinary and entertainment pleasure of children and adults alike, is the ever popular Stew Leonards, the Disney land of grocery stores.

Yonkers is also home to Yonkers Raceway, the Empire State Casino, quite a few attractive parks, a number of interesting museums including the Hudson River Museum, numerous popular watering holes with and without live music, and the revitalized waterfront district with splendid views of the Hudson River and Manhattan.

Yonkers is definitely more racially diverse than many of its Westchester County neighbors. Yonkers is approxiimately 41% White, 34% Hispanic and 15% African American with the rest of the population well divided amongst other cultures.

The school system is relatively good and it is reported that between 70% and 90% of high school graduates do go on to college, that figure largely depending on which of the three high schools they attend.

Yonkers does have its unsafe areas and crime can be somewhat high there and above half the national index.

The median average income is roughly $54,469. The median home value is about $327,129. Rentals can be considerably cheaper with the median rental rate at $1,163,

The population of Yonkers is roughly 200,000 people with the median age being 35 years.

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Also known as downtown Yonkers, Getty Square has a wide variety of diverse dining options, fun entertainment venues, stores, and a bustling nightlife. There are movie theaters, performing arts theaters, museums, and (yes, I know I already said this but) LOTS of restaurants. This is as close to "city life" as you'll probably get in Westchester County. Also offering relatively low housing costs, Getty Square is becoming a hot spot for young professionals who are attracted by the low cost of living and convenient commute to midtown Manhattan. Historically, Getty Square hasn't always had such a good reputation. The population in and around Getty Square is mainly white; there are large Italian and Irish communities here. People used to call it "Ghetto Square," and it was mainly known for its bad crime rate and highly publicized racial tensions. However, residents and town officials have worked hard to reform its bad image and improve its safety rating. This area of Yonkers is also interesting because it has a unique blend of classical and contemporary architectural styles. It also has a storied history, and the neighborhood is filled with landmarks. Overall, Getty Square is a nice place to live for young people who want to have fun and older people who want convenient access to everything, rather than a quiet country life.

The bottom line is that Yonkers is great if you want to have a car, commute to New York City, and be close to upstate New York.

The public transportation is good; the train takes about 30-40 minutes to Grand Central Station. There used to be a ferry into Manhattan which was a very pleasant ride but it closed a few years ago. Apparently it never brought in enough customers to be profitable.

Yonkers has its bad parts, mostly in the west, and the crime rates can be high depending on where you're living. There are more than a few neighborhoods I don't like to walk around in at night.

Nice restaurants and shops are springing up along the Hudson River as well as some luxury condos. One of its biggest selling points, for me anyway, is to see the New York City skyline from your backyard. The best area to live in is the northeast. In general the people are relatively friendly but, like the rest of Yonkers, the different areas sharply contrast one another.

There are a couple of parks, check out Untermeyer Park, and a nice little museum near the waterfront. They're great for families with small kids but being that there are so many amazing museums just across the river I found it a little disappointing.

Yonkers is one of the largest cities in New York (by population and area). I have been told that it's the fourth largest, but I'm not sure about its exact rank. Up until the '90s, the population was almost entirely white. However, over the past two decades, we have seen huge changes in the population. These changes have taken place throughout Westchester, but they are particularly apparent in Yonkers. Less than half of the residents are white while the African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian populations have experienced tremendous growth. Some of this can be attributed to the fact that a lot of low income housing was built in parts of Yonkers. While diversity is a good thing, the low income housing also resulted in areas with more crime. However, that isn't too say that all of Yonkers is cheap and unsafe. Since it is such a large city, quality of life and cost of living vary from area to area. While southwest Yonkers is a pretty impoverished area, Yonkers also has plenty of upscale areas such as Park Hill and the downtown waterfront area. Public transportation is okay, although it certainly isn't as quick or convenient as in most of the boroughs. It is definitely a better place for drivers, as the traffic and parking is much better than in most of New York City. Yonkers also has plenty of things to do... there is plenty of shopping, and you can take the family out to the Hudson River Museum or the Science Barge. For adults, if you like gambling, there is the Yonkers Raceway. I'm told that it also has slot machines, but I haven't been there myself.