CONNECT WITH GREG
To me, community is the ability to say “hi” to a neighbor and they say “hi” back. And then following up that with, “how are you?” and getting a genuine response — real concern as to how a person is doing. Tarrytown offers that in spades. I can go into a restaurant and people know my name is Greg, they know my husband is gluten-free, or they know our favorite table is available. A server might offer us a glass of a new wine they’re into, or a cheese that just came in from France. Those sorts of interactions, especially for folks like us who don’t have kids, really matter. Community takes forms and shapes in different ways. In Tarrytown, we’ve been able to carve our own lane and figure out what that looks like for us, and that’s been a great experience.
What does it look like in Tarrytown?
There’s a real mix of people, in terms of those like me who just moved here a few years ago and people who have been here for generations, and how those two interact and play off one another has been quite interesting in the best way. I get to hear about the old GM plant down by the river, where there’s now townhouses and condos going for millions of dollars. I’ve gotten to know people who worked there when it was a thing. Those sorts of touchstones to the history of this town are very cool.
What does community mean to you?
What’s the time and place?
It’s 10:00AM here in Tarrytown, New York, just north of New York City.
What’s your mood?
Confident.
What’s on the agenda? Well — I usually start my day feeding my two cats, because my husband typically forgets before he leaves. Then I’m going to Coffee Labs on the way to the office. I typically use my walk there to say hello to our neighbors and business owners here on Main Street, which is always an important part of my day.
Once I’m in the office, I’m catching up on listings and deals other agents are working on so I have insights to present buyers I’m working with. My day from then on is mostly focused on retrieving as much information as I can to stay ahead of the curve.
In real estate, we get to be connectors of community. I constantly get to tell people what’s happening locally so when they’re ready to make a move, they generally already know so much about our town and want to be a part of it. If I can be a nexus, that’s a great, good feeling. And while I’m sure my part is incredibly small, it feels really important to me.
I have clients in the area who truly love being here and are contributing to the community in all the ways they see fit. That [participation] is so important in keeping up our traditions. When you come here and get involved, you see how it makes such a big difference. When we all get into the Halloween spirit together, it’s just infectious.
How do you build community through
your work?
Tell us about your journey. How did you come to tarry in this town?
We were living on the Upper East Side, both working in Manhattan, and found that whenever we had a day or two off, we’d be coming up here — to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow. We were like, oh my god, the restaurants are good! There wasn’t just this great Main Street, but a beautiful waterfront where you could kayak or watch the boats go by. It felt slower paced but still New York–savvy. So when we were deciding on a place to live long-term, we realized it was a real option for us to consider. It was a huge attraction to be able to get out of Manhattan and not be overwhelmed with the noise.
You’ve lived in other parts of the New York area. What makes here so different? The varied topography. In minutes, you can go from the river to up by the lakes, and it’s a completely different vibe. There are all these huge, mature trees and walking paths you can go down. You’ve got all these cute restaurants and shops. You can have oysters on the water or a five-star tasting menu on a farm in the same town. I don’t think any of the other suburbs really have that the way this area does.
name
Gregory Madrey-Miller
HOMETOWN
Hempstead, New York
years IN REAL ESTATE
4
CURRENT RESIDENCE
Tarrytown, New York
clocking in
with Gregory Madrey-Miller
Real estate never stops ticking. With each installment of ‘Clocking In,’ we’ll join a different agent from across the Corcoran network — in places they know best — to learn how they live, work, and play.
Corcoran Legends Realty, Tarrytown, NY
Photography by Alexandra Moreo
We’re getting in line at Coffee Labs. What’s your order? I’m ordering a large iced maple oat milk latte. And if they have a lemon poppy seed muffin, I'm certainly getting it.
What’s your favorite thing to do off the clock? Walking in Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Sleepy Hollow. It’s never super crowded. They have goats that munch on the grass in summertime, which is really sweet. And the views when you get to the top are insane. It’s such a beautiful walk, and there’s so many different ways to do the trails, whether you want to go milder or more strenuous.
I’m probably going later, actually. It’s been one of those days.
What do you love most about living here? Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow during Halloween is… a vibe. It can get a little intense at times, but it’s so special and unique to this place. You see your neighbors, your friends, and all the shopkeepers transform to provide this experience for guests that come to our town once a year. It’s also a chance for us as locals to all get to know one another. It’s honestly just the best time.
There are also just so many historical things here to visit and explore. You’ve got the old estates and mansions, the castle up on the hill — just all these really cool places.
