For a prime example of how city planning and development can transform an underutilized stretch of land into an oasis, look no farther than the Westchester County seat, White Plains. Thanks to an explosion of new construction around the city’s train station and Mamaroneck Avenue corridor, the Downtown area is experiencing a renaissance.
“White Plains has got the alternative for New York City living,” says Paul Sarlo, a broker with Douglas Elliman in Scarsdale. “It’s all walkable, with shopping, high-rise living, lots of restaurants. It’s a fun place to live, with a good vibe.”

New developments include the luxury Continuum high-rise rental buildings just completed in what residents previously called “the hole in the ground,” adjacent to the train station (which is also undergoing a much-needed renovation). With a range of dining options along Mamaroneck Avenue and shopping options at malls like The Westchester and The Galleria, as well as various independent boutiques, the Downtown area is appealing to more than just the commuter class.
“You have older people who are selling big homes all over Westchester and moving closer in, so they can walk to shopping and the train relatively easily,” explains Nicholas Wolff of Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty in White Plains. “And then, on the other end, we have younger Millennials looking for city amenities.”