Twice daily, the 20-foot high, faux-vintage clock anchored on the corner of Eckerson Road and Route 45, chimes a greeting from the mayor. Sometimes perceived as shameless political self-promotion, the clock and the town of Hillcrest are hard to forget.
Established as a summer resort for vacationing New Yorkers in the early 1900s, this community of nearly 7,600 is a hamlet of Rockland County, NY
Twice daily, the 20-foot high, faux-vintage clock anchored on the corner of Eckerson Road and Route 45, chimes a greeting from the mayor. Sometimes perceived as shameless political self-promotion, the clock and the town of Hillcrest are hard to forget.
Established as a summer resort for vacationing New Yorkers in the early 1900s, this community of nearly 7,600 is a hamlet of Rockland County, NY. Like its southern neighbor, Spring Valley, it's an ethnically diverse community. During the 50s, 60s, and 70s as property values in New York City appreciated, immigrants in New York seeking inexpensive housing flocked to Hillcrest in pursuit of the American Dream. Accessible by train, Hillcrest became a commuter's community after the Tappan Zee Bridge was built in 1955. In the past fifteen years, new waves of immigrants have made Hillcrest a cultural melting pot. Apartment renters living in Hillcrest can dip a Portuguese sweetbread in coffee for breakfast, savor Haitian "Griot" for lunch, and finish the day with a bagel and a smear of cream cheese at a kosher dairy restaurant.
Despite being outside of the New York cosmos, Hillcrest is expensive. Property taxes in Rockland County are some of the highest in the country. This expense isn't just shouldered by homeowners; it's transferred to rental properties, too. On a positive note, renters will find variety for the money. Nearly 25% of Hillcrest is rental property -- rental apartments, luxury apartments, homes for rent, or studios for rent.
Much of the hamlet, tree lined and residential, maintains a neighborly feel. Many of the homes and apartment buildings, built during the post-war period, are older capes, split entries and high ranches and are frequently broken into two-family apartments.. Brick-faced garden apartments are also common.
To find an apartment rental, be prepared to cough up cash. Many landlords require a security deposit and one-month's rent. Utilities are rarely included and some landlords add a sewage and water fee.
New York State laws favor tenants rights and its important to know your rights. The state has a relatively new bed bug disclosure policy. Landlords must disclose if their property has had successful bed bug remediation in the past year. This means that a renter can back out of a lease if their apartment building is on the list. In addition, a potential renter can go to the Bed Bug Registry, a free, online database where reports are filed about a hotel, motel, or apartment building. While the thought of bed bugs instill fear and disgust, there is much one can do before signing a rental agreement.
Hillcrest, a subdivision of Spring Valley, NY has four distinct neighborhoods.
Avalon Gardens Drive/Smith Road: Bounded by Route 45 to the West, West Clarkstown to the East, and bisected by Eckerson Road, this neighborhood, built up between 1970 and 1999, is a mix of 2 bedrooms apartments for rent and three to four bedroom homes for rent. Public buses run regular routes en route to the Spring Valley Marketplace, Route 59 shopping, to park-n-ride lots, and Spring Valley Train station. There's great shopping in this area, like Spring Valley Marketplace and Educational Warehouse.
New Square: Straddling Route 45 and New Hempstead Road, New Square, is mostly single-family structures. Renters seeking three to four bedroom homes for rent can find them here. . and east of Hillcrest, New Square is convenient to Route 45 and public transportation. Because of the number of large families in this neighborhood, rental properties are scarce. Renters who wish to live in this section might find a home for rent. Average residences range from three bedroom up to five bedroom or more. If you want to run errands here, you can do it! The area's home to M&S Kolel and New Square Supermarket.
Union Road / Anthony Drive : South and west of Hillcrest, this area is densely populated with small to medium-sized apartment complexes. Occupancy rates are high and apartment rentals are scarce. This is a great place to be if you like to spend time outside because it's the location of Spring Valley Park.
Village Center: North of the Village of Spring Valley, Village Center is a quick walk to shopping and public transportation. The neighborhood is in transition and many large luxury apartments are springing up between clusters of small, older homes. It's also possible to find a studio for rent here. Find great amenities here like the Dream Health Center and the Hillcrest Shopping Center.
There are numerous reasons to find an apartment in Hillcrest. It's a 30-minute drive to the George Washington Bridge on the Palisades Parkway. It's a 10-minute drive to New Jersey; a 30-minute drive to Westchester Airport, and lies north of Route 287, a major eight-lane highway. affordable car and taxi services are plentiful. Metro-North/New Jersey Transit Authority runs regular train service within a mile of the Town Clock. Hourly buses transport commuters to New York City, to Westchester County and beyond. Route 59, a major shopping artery is a ten-minute walk from Hillcrest. There are two acute-care hospitals nearby.
Nearly 30% of Rockland county is wilderness and allocated for parks. Hillcrest residents can take advantage of swimming, hiking, cross-country skiing, and boating at Harriman State Park, Bear Mountain State Park, and Rockland Lake State Park.
There is much to embrace in Hillcrest. For apartment renters, it offers convenience, a community, and many amenities. And, its proximity to New York makes it an ideal haven for apartment renters.
If you want something that feels exciting, you can always head right into New York City, the Big Apple and the City That Never Sleeps! There is an endless amount of things to do in New York, from Broadway Shows, to Five Star Restaurants, to beautiful historic sites. Visit the Statue of Liberty, explore Ellis Island, or go to the Top of the Rock! No matter what you decide to do in New York City, it's easy to get there from Hillcrest. The drive is about an hour via the Palisades Parkway, if you don't mind braving the traffic of New York City on your own!
