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If you were seeking the perfect combination of urban living, along with the tranquility of suburban life, ignoring downtown Greenwich would be a mistake. Its picturesque streets, world class shopping and cosmopolitan charm are pretty hard to match. This video may leave you wanting more, so don't say I didn't warn you! Take a ride with me, and let's explore what it's like to live in downtown Greenwich. Let's go!

Hi, if you are new here, my name is Charlie Vinci. My family has been in the area for 5 generations, and I have helped 100s of buyers find their dream home, and sellers to get top dollar. You can dig through my YouTube channel for more real estate content, or, you can grab my buyer's guide where I have organized all of the maps, videos and guides for you.  

Table of Contents

Greenwich Ave

Let’s start by exploring Greenwich avenue, and the streets nearby. If you have visited Greenwich, there is a good chance you have been here. The roughly three quarter mile long Greenwich Ave is highly walkable and jamb packed with high end and premium shopping. There are more than 200 stores and restaurants here, including Saks Fifth Ave, Tiffany, Tesla, Restoration Hardware, J Crew, Apple, Diane's Books, Funky Monkey Toys, Carriage House Motors and many, many more. Be sure to explore the side streets too. 

I don't feel like I would be doing you justice if I didn't point out the architectural significance of the area. It's varied and interesting. If you come visit me, there is a good chance that we’ll meet at the Greenwich Office. My Greenwich location sits atop Saks Fifth Ave, and I have to say, the view of the varied architecture here just doesn't get old.

If you get hungry while you are here, you are in luck, because many of Greenwich's top rated restaurants are on Greenwich Ave. You have seemingly endless options, but here are a few of the best: Elm Street Oyster House for Seafood, Terra for Italian, Le Penguin for French, MIKU for sushi, Pasta Vera for their homemade pasta, Blackstones for steak, Lobster Craft for…well, lobster, and on and on. If you are planning to explore the neighborhood, I would highly recommend eating on Greenwich Ave.

Train

If you are coming in from Manhattan, you would get off at the main Greenwich station. There are three other stations in town, but this is the main station. It typically has the fastest trains to grand central and the trip takes about 45 minutes. If you are planning to commute, check out our Moving to Greenwich Commuting Video, because it will give you a better understanding of station parking, drive times, and the different stations, or just grab our Greenwich Buyers guide because the information is available there too.  

Parks

You have three significant parks in the neighborhood. Let's start with Bruce Park.  It's about a third of a mile tall by roughly three quarters of a mile wide, and absolutely beautiful. There are ponds, bridges and trails, as well as one of the best playgrounds in the entire gold coast. Definitely bring the kids here to burn off some steam. 

Another great option, if you are on Greenwich Ave area, is Greenwich Commons. It's a great place for a stroll, to take a break, or even a picnic on a warm day. It also has a small playground.

If you are looking for a waterfront park, you have Roger Sherman Park. It's a great place to see the harbor, and hosts some of the town's events. 

Walkability

In my experience, different people are looking for different types of walkability. You may want to walk to the train, be able to walk to shopping and restaurants, walk or run in a park, or just be able to take a break from work, and go for a casual walk during the day. Let me point out some of the areas that you may want to explore, if you are interested in living in a walkable area.

To the west and east of Greenwich Ave, you will have easy access to all of the shopping and dining that I have mentioned earlier. You will probably want to jump in the car for groceries, but I would argue that's suburban life, and who wants to carry or cart all of those groceries anyway.

If you are less interested in the shopping, and more interested in going for a walk, run or bike ride, check out the area around Bruce park with its ponds, trails and wide sidewalks.

The areas around Greenwich Ave and Bruce park may be busier than some people would prefer. If you want to be near the train, shopping and amenities in Downtown Greenwich, but prefer a quieter experience for you or your family, you may want to consider the smaller communities in the Downtown neighborhood. 

Small Communities

While you will find several small home owners associations in the downtown neighborhood, there are three that I would consider small communities, the first being Millbrook. Millbrook is a golf community with a club, pool, tennis and more, and living in the community puts you on the fast track to club membership. While it's not instant access as it one was, at the time of filming it will put you on the clubs short list for membership. It’s likely the easiest way to get into a golf club if you don't have a sponsor at the other golf clubs in town. 

Another option would be the community of Indian harbor. This small community sits on a peninsula which offers both waterfront and non-waterfront living. The community is gated, and has a community pool. 

You also have the very exclusive and slightly larger community of Mead Point. It is also gated, and offers waterfront and non-waterfront living, as well as community dock, and a small private beach.

If Greenwich waterfront living is for you, you may want to check out my Greenwich waterfront tour which takes a deep dive into the communities and islands along the coast. 

Housing

Housing types in Downtown Greenwich are as varied as they get. We don't have many co-ops in the Gold Coast, however, you will find them in this neighborhood, as well as condos and Single family homes. Since availability changes constantly, I have compiled a list of all homes available in the downtown neighborhood and it's automatically updated every 15 minutes.

Shopping

In addition to the shopping on and near Greenwich Ave that I had mentioned earlier, you will find Grocery stores, banks, car dealerships, restaurants and more, along West Putnam ave, which is also Rt1. 

Recreation and Events

I mentioned the parks earlier, however, you have a few more notable options for recreation in the neighborhood. If you are looking for a great beach, you will have to leave the neighborhood. It's most likely that you will want to visit Tod's Point, which may be identified as Greenwich Point on your map. Greenwich point beach is absolutely amazing and should not be missed, you can learn more about it in our Old Greenwich Neighborhood Tour. 

Although technically just outside of the neighborhood boundaries on the map, it's worth mentioning that The Greenwich Symphony Orchestra hosts several events every month.

If you are a boater, or want to be one, you may want to set some time aside to explore the Indian Harbor Yacht Club. If you need a place to stay while you are exploring the area, try the Del a mar, which is just north of the Indian Harbor Yacht club. Many of our clients have enjoyed the stay.   

You also have the outstanding Greenwich Library. There are others in town and they are all good, but this one tops the bunch in my opinion. 

You can also explore Bruce Museum, which is in Bruce Park. It's excellent if you love art or natural history. 

Speaking of art, there are numerous art studios to take classes including The Greenwich Art Society, and the Greenwich Performing Arts Studio which are on Greenwich Ave.

You will also have plenty of fun annual events, including, Art on the Avenue, The Greenwich Town Party, The Greenwich Holiday Stroll, Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, which if you aren't familiar is a high end car show, The Art show at the Greenwich Arts Council, The Greenwich International Film Festival,  The Greenwich Sidewalk sale, restaurant week and more!          

Schools

If it's schools that you are interested in, Greenwich assigns schools based on where you live, so I have compiled a school district map, as well as the school look up feature on my site. You will want to use these to determine which school your child will go to. If you are looking for a school rating site, try greatschools.org, many of our clients have found this site useful when assessing Greenwich public schools. All of this information is available in my Greenwich Buyers guide. 

Wrap-Up

If you are thinking of buying in Greenwich, call me, I would love to help you navigate the process. 

I look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

Charlie Vinci

Lower Fairfield County Realtor

203.952.7752

charlievinci@gmail.com

About the Author:

Charlie Vinci, the Founder and Lead Agent of the Charlie Vinci Team has become a mainstay in Connecticut’s real estate market, earning accolades as one of the top 3% of realtors within the state. Fueled by a dedication to the success of his clients and an ever-growing assortment of area-specific resources, the business continues to thrive in the constantly evolving real estate marketplace. An informative YouTube presence has been the primary driver/focus for the team, as it has allowed Charlie to engage directly with his audience and provide a consultative approach to an often ambiguous process. Whether an international client seeking relocation to the US or a local homeowner considering the sale of their property, The Charlie Vinci Team has the market knowledge, resources, and expedient level of service that clients not only desire, but deserve.

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