The community Clubhouse in Park Lane Reserve 

View of the backyard of 31 Buckout Road, a nearly 5,000-square-foot home, which Julia Brasesco sold earlier this year for $1.5 million. 

One of the Westchester towns where real estate has boomed in the past year is Harrison, especially the Park Lane Reserve in West Harrison. The area, developed in the 1990s, drew city dwellers in droves in 2020, said Julia Brasesco, an agent at Compass, because every one of the 290 single-family homes sits on a minimum of a half-acre.  

“Before Covid, buyers from the city were only interested in homes within walking distance of train and town,” noted Brasesco. “There’s been a 180-degree shift. What buyers want now is lots of space — indoors and out — and Park Lane offers that at reasonable prices.” It is not walk to town, but it’s only a 10-minute drive to White Plains and an express train to Grand Central. 

What’s appealing about the Reserve for newcomers is that the master plan development is a community. For an annual fee of $1,000, residents can join the clubhouse, which has a fitness center, a billiards room, and a banquet hall. In season, the pool is the place to be.  

“The other thing New York City buyers appreciate about West Harrison is its diversity,” remarked Brasesco. 

There are currently just a handful of homes on the market in West Harrison, priced from $1.699,000 to $1,995,000. 

Because Harrison is home to a number of corporations, it has a large tax base and offers good value to residents.  

For families, a big part of the value of living in Harrison lies in its excellent public schools, and busing is provided to private and parochial schools.  

Having lived and worked in Harrison, Julia considers herself a “specialist” on the community.  “I know that it is a great town to raise a family.” 

And she can recommend a variety of great dining spots. At the top of that list is Emilio Ristorante, which for over 40 years has served up divine Italian cuisine in a charming old house two blocks off Halstead Avenue, the main street. She knows the menu intimately because the owner, Sergio, is her husband. 

A la famiglia!