5 Reasons Your Family Will Love Living in Rockville Centre, According to a Long Island Real Estate Agent | Community newspapers Herald

Are you looking for a new place to live? This Long Island realtor says you should check out Rockville Centre.

A self-described “South Shore girl,” Tiffany Balanoff ABR, PSA, RENE, SRES, SRS, a real estate broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate on Long Island, grew up in the area, and still spends her time going to restaurants in Rockville Center and shopping in Merrick And enjoy the beaches in Long Beach. Her parents still live in the area as well.

Over the past eight years of working in real estate, Balanoff said Rockville Center is one of those communities like no other.

Neighborhoods with vibrant downtown areas and everything within walking distance have become popular living destinations. According to reports, the more walkable a community is, the happier residents are. They often feel more socially connected, as well as physically and mentally healthier.

Rockville Center has dozens of quality restaurants, retail stores, entertainment venues and more, all within walking distance of each other.

“For me, Park Avenue is really the heart of the city,” Balanov said. “It’s the Rockville Center strip — that’s where your restaurants, your bars, your nightlife, your shops. And the train station is there.”

Tiff Tips #1: If you’re in the mood for Italian food and specialty cocktails, Balanoff recommends dining at Mangia Bene. For a fun rooftop experience, plan a night out at Rooftop 32 at Kasey’s Kitchen and Cocktails. Balanov also suggests a new sushi place called Rozu, and is “obsessed” with the Village Cheese Shop and Vine and Branches.

Tiff Tips #2: For families looking for more kid-friendly activities, there is also a movie theater on North Park Avenue and Maple Lanes Bowling Alley. Hempstead Lake State Park and Lister Park also have great ball fields, biking and hiking trails, and playgrounds for visitors to enjoy.

Tiff Tips #3: Leicester Park is where the community hosts the region’s best Fourth of July fireworks display, and Rockville Center Entertainment Center is a favorite spot for avid pickleball players, Balanoff said.

The Rockville Center train station is located downtown at 55 Front St. Travelers can reach Penn Station or Grand Central in less than 40 minutes.

Rockville Center is ideal for homebuyers looking to shift toward suburban living, but still want that urban feel, Balanoff said.

“My clients moved from Manhattan to Rockville Center and the transition was easy,” Balanov said. “Giving up the city lifestyle isn’t easy, so when you live in Rockville Centre, you can enjoy suburban life while still taking the train for a quick trip into the city – you don’t have to miss it.”

Tiff Tips #4: Aside from its proximity to Manhattan, Rockville Center is also just 15 minutes from the white sand beaches of Long Beach, and less than 30 minutes from Jones Beach Amphitheater where you can catch great concerts, Balanoff added.

Rockville Center continually provides support to the community, often through a large number of family-friendly events, Balanoff said.

Rockville Center recently held a popular mini music festival called Playing on the Porch where live bands perform on porches, decks, front yards and driveways for free throughout the village. The event also raises money for the Southside High School Scholarship Program.

The Mayor’s Golf Outing on September 28 is another Rockville Center charity event held at the Rockville Links Club. Palanov plays in this outing every year. “It’s important to not only enjoy the community you live in, but also to give back. When I play in Mayor’s Golf, I get to do both!”

Park Avenue in Rockville Center was completely closed for Eat Shop Rock where attendees could sample food from various restaurants, shop at various stores, and enjoy live musical entertainment.

Tiff Tips #5: A summer event close to Palanov’s heart that she sponsors is the annual Cornhold Philanthropy Tournament, hosted by the independent Odd Fellows Lodge No. 279 in Rockville Centre. This event raises money for the Rockville Center Breast Cancer Alliance, as well as many other local charities.

“This is a new event for Rockville Center but it is gaining some great momentum. We have food and beer from local breweries and live music. We took it up another notch this year and added a bouncy house for the kids, and incorporated the use of an app into the tournament which seems to have attracted some pros to join the tournament. It was really exciting “It’s a fun and exciting day for everyone and it’s for a great cause.”

If any small business owners are looking to move to the area, the Rockville Center Chamber of Commerce is incredibly supportive of the local economy, Balanoff said.

A supportive room leads to a successful business, which means great options – such as restaurants, shops and events – for all community residents.

In addition to hosting events and meetings to help entrepreneurs make connections in the village, the Rockville Center Chamber “actively promotes” nearby businesses. They also serve as a liaison with the local village government and through this role the Chamber is able to serve as a “voice” for business owners and residents.

“I have never seen a chamber of commerce so active,” Balanov said. “They really focus on promoting local businesses on social media.”

“The homes in Rockville Center I find very special,” Balanoff said. “There are a lot of Tudor-style homes, and these older homes have a lot of history, even if it’s just someone’s personal family history.”

A Balanoff single-family home is currently listed on the market at 40 Stratford Road. It is one of the homes she describes as a model of historic homes in Rockville Centre.

“It’s a combination of the classic style of Rockville Center, which is like stained glass and a lot of brick,” Balanov said. “At the same time, it has been updated on the inside in a way that blends old and new together seamlessly. The homes here are absolutely gorgeous.”

Balanoff also notes that most of the people who live in Rockville Center reside in Rockville Centre. For example, 45 percent of the people looking at this specific list already live in the area.

“Once we get you in, we won’t let you go,” she said.

Are you interested in moving to Rockville Centre? Call Tiffany Balanoff at 516.410.6671 or visit her website to see her latest listings.