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Westchester County New York started to change into the suburban community it is today in 1925 with the opening of the Bronx River Parkway. Construction of the Parkway began in 1906 as part of the project to clean up the Bronx River, which had become a badly contaminated eyesore by the turn of the century. The project to clean up the Bronx River turned out to be a huge success. The river bed was cleaned and dredged and 170 thousands trees and shrubs were planted along the river banks. Paths and benches for the public were set among the trees and lakes, and what was once been looked at as the Westchester eyesore had become the envy of all other neighboring communities.
The Bronx River Parkway was followed by the Saw Mill River Parkway, the Hutchinson River Parkway, the Taconic Parkway, and the Cross County Parkway, all completed by the 1930s. The scenic beauty of Westchester's parkways is still fresh fifty years later. The next major road construction did not take place until the 1950s and 1960s, when the interstate expressways and thruways were built.
During the end of the Second World War real estate investors and developers began buying up the remaining farms and homesteads as falling profits and rising taxes pushed more and more farmers to sell. The Westchester County Planning Commission then began to carry out a long sought after vision of turning Westchester into a suburban paradise.
In the past ten years, many areas in Westchester have undergone major renovations. New courthouses, libraries, and dozens of new department stores have been built in the area. There are also many new homes and other forms of housing units being built in Westchester today; there is a significant movement to retain older homes and buildings, with many landmarks being renovated to be used as schools, colleges, and offices. Westchester boasts impressive museums, historical sites and art galleries, performing arts centers and many other family-friendly attractions that delight, intrigue and educate. Some of the most knows are the African American Heritage Trail, American Revolutionary Sites, Historical Tresures, Playland, Castles, Gardens, and Performing Arts.
Today one can purchase a home in historic Westchester starting around $300,000 for a modest 2 or 3 bedrooms. Several types of rental properties are also available for both investors and prospective tenants.
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