Miller Place

While Miller Place has grown rapidly in recent years, the hamlet has retained much of its heritage.

The historic district (listed in the National Register of Historic Places) has more than two dozen 18th and 19th century homes that line about a half-mile stretch along North Country Road. Once the heart of Miller Place, the district also has a duck pond and a few businesses in attractive facades. "It's picturesque," says Ed Stein, assistant manager and sales agent at Century 21 Rustic Realty. "It reminds me of New England."

Much of Miller Place still evokes a small-town feeling, said Isabel LaPadula, a longtime resident and owner-broker of Bel Breeze Real Estate. Particularly north of Route 25A, the area is noted for its hilly neighborhoods, narrow roads and dense woods.

The community has several active organizations, such as the Miller Place Civic Association. "Planning and Zoning is probably the most active committee right now," said association president Kathy Rousseau.

Much of the area's growth, including new strip shopping centers and housing developments, has been concentrated along and south of Route 25A. Rousseau said the association also has been working closely with Michael Dubb of the Beechwood Corp., who has been cooperative about the proposed development of about 287 acres on the DeLea Sod Farm.

"The other area we are concerned about is increased traffic," she said. "The schools and roads are feeling it."

House styles include capes, ranches, Colonials, Victorians and contemporaries. Many of the waterfront homes sit on cliffs. Prices typically range from $300,000 to $1 million, Stein says, and the notion of paying more as you get closer to the water doesn't apply in Miller Place.

New developments include Imperial Estates, a subdivision on the former Imperial Nursery property that comprises 75 single-family postmodern homes on 3/4-acre lots.

Residents can visit Cedar Beach on Long Island Sound, which also offers a fishing pier, boat ramp and nature trail. There are several private beach associations as well.

-Lisa Doll Bruno (1/14/2005)