The Westchester community attracts an eclectic mix of residents who appreciate the artsy vibe, the charming homes and the proximity of the city.
By Anne Mancuso, New York Times

Before discovering Pleasantville, N.Y., several years ago, Erin Williams lived with her husband and elementary-school-age daughter in a succession of Westchester communities. They bought a house in Ossining, N.Y., but found the commute to Manhattan too time-consuming. And getting around town wasn’t any easier. After selling their house and renting in Manhattan for a while, they moved into a rental in Tarrytown, N.Y., while searching for their next stop.

That’s when they hit upon Pleasantville, a village in the Westchester town of Mount Pleasant. There, the family found a three-bedroom 1880s colonial house for $600,000, in a close-knit neighborhood with residents of various cultures, near the village center.

“It checked all the boxes,” said Ms. Williams, 40, a graphic novelist, who likes the area’s walkability, the school system and the community. “We love our neighbors. One snow-blows our driveway without asking and another, a Vietnamese lady, brings us cucumbers from her garden.”

Another draw was the arts scene. At the center of the village is the Jacob Burns Film Center, which has been attracting moviegoers from Westchester and beyond for more than 20 years. Three of the five screening rooms were recently revamped and there are plans to install a wine bar, said Denise Treco, the center’s director of marketing and communications.

The film center “put Pleasantville on the map,” said Hillary Landau, an associate real estate broker with Compass, attracting a “very eclectic” mix of residents, including “creative types, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers.” READ MORE

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