Located within the city limits, this neighborhood is close to the Fort Totten US Govt Reservation and offers easy access to local shopping centers. The Arden has 3 shopping centers within 4.9 miles, and is just over a 11-minute drive from Yorkville. Residents also have access to five parks, including John Jay Park and Carl Schurz Park.

The Arden has a storied past, with one of the country’s largest historic estates. Completed in 1909, the 97,188-square-foot mansion was designed by Edward Henry Harriman (1848-1909) as an expression of American excellence. It was unique among Gilded Age estates for its “wholly American” design, and it still retains its luster as one of the nation’s premier conference centers. Murals by (Barry) Francis Barrett Faulkner lined the corridors of the inner court; corbel carvings of bighorn sheep stood over two of the fireplaces; and a wide stairway of unpolished marble greeted guests.

Today, the Arden houses some of the region’s most important research institutes, including the New York State Museum, and serves as the headquarters of the Research Center on Natural Conservation, which is backed by Soufun Holdings, a Beijing-based real estate developer. It is open for tours and hosts events, including the annual Arden House Music Festival.

The arden has a close-knit character seen at its annual fair and in the theater, craftsmanship and art that mark the homes here. A number of the residents follow the Arts and Crafts philosophy, a reaction to industrialization that emphasizes individual design and the use of hand-crafted materials.