Brownstoner Upstate: Athens on the Water

Fridays at 11, Brownstoner Upstate brings you a selection of properties within three hours north, and a little east or west, of New York City.

The city of Hudson in Columbia County gets a lot of play. It’s certainly subject to everyone’s “it’s the new Brooklyn!” assessment due to its cultural vibe, because there are some great houses in the area, and it’s a stop on the Amtrak. But directly across the river in Greene County is Hudson’s less well known west-of-Hudson counterpart, Athens. It’s not as big, and certainly nobody will ever confuse it for a neighborhood in Brooklyn. It is, however, a lovely little small town along the waterfront, possessing an easy-going feel and a host of historical properties. There’s a sizable lake community near Athens called Sleepy Hollow Lake. We think the area is worth exploring if you’re interested in Greene County in general. Athens is located about 5 miles north of Catskill, 40 minutes south of Albany, and approximately two hours and 25 minutes from Brooklyn.

As we said, plenty of history in which to live in Athens, some properties in better shape than others. This 18th century Victorian seems to be in fine shape, with many of its original period bells and whistles intact, like the wood work and the tin ceilings. Love the two story balcony and its location right in the village, just a block or two from the river. Beds: 3. Baths: 1.5. Square Feet: 2,076. Lot Size: .07 acre. Est. Taxes: $4,480.

14 S. Franklin Street, Athens (GMAP)

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To be perfectly honest, this big lakefront home in the Sleepy Hollow community isn’t quite our style (it is possible to overdo gunmetal), but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have plenty to recommend it: Cathedral ceilings, tall windows, and a downstairs studio space that we like better than the rest of the house. Not to mention its access to the lake. What’s more, we’re not ones to complain about nice spa baths. Beds: 4. Baths: 3. Square Feet: 3350. Lot Size: .39 acre. Est. Taxes: $10,619.

31 Greensburgh Court, Athens (GMAP)

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Again, another house with design aspects we aren’t truly in love with, but we do like the interior…and not so much the exterior. Purely personal preference. Perhaps those who live in the Sleepy Hollow love their sprawling Contemporaries in as many shades of grey as possible. We do, however, appreciate the clean lines and lofty spaces of this house, and the view of the lake at sunset won us over. Beds: 3. Baths: 3. Square Feet: 2700. Lot Size: .6 acre. Est. Taxes: $11,130.

219 Sleepy Hollow Road, Athens (GMAP)

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