One Town, Ten Drives: Yorktown – Day 8

One Town, Ten Drives: Yorktown – Day 8

Today’s drive brought us closer to the heart of utility-supported Yorktown — an area where sewer lines run down both sides of the road, and the landscape tells a very different story than the wooded hideaways of earlier days.

Here, land has already given way to homes — but not completely. Tucked between well-kept colonials and newer construction are the holdout parcels: narrow but deep lots, a few grassy side yards that might actually be unbuilt flag lots, and even one or two homes sitting awkwardly on double lots, hinting at potential subdivision.

Unlike the broader, natural topography of Day 7, Day 8’s land is flatter, cleaner, and easier to visualize for construction. You can almost see the foundation layout already. But that doesn’t mean it’s simple. In fact, these areas often require sharper due diligence: setbacks, lot frontage, and street access become crucial. And while access to sewer is a huge advantage, it also comes with tighter planning board scrutiny and higher competition.

There was one standout: a corner parcel across from a ballfield — flat, cleared, bordered by mature trees, and with all the utility hookups already at the curb. That’s the kind of land that doesn’t sit long, especially with Yorktown’s buyer pressure right now.

What You Miss When You Don’t Walk the Land:

You miss the way foot traffic patterns cross a corner lot, how sound carries from a nearby park, and how wide or narrow a “buildable envelope” really feels once you're standing on it. Paper plans don’t tell you whether you’re building a dream home… or boxing it in.