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Real Estate & Homes in Albany - New York - Albany, New York homes and communities
Albany
 
The Capital City For the rich-city lifestyle without the big-city costs, Albany has it all. Located merely three hours from New York City, Boston, Syracuse and Montreal; five hours from Buffalo; and six hours from Washington, D.C., Albany is the heart of the Northeast. This capital city is quickly becoming a hot spot with its low cost of living, growing artistic community and enchanting history that is still being uncovered and preserved. Whether you want to live right in the hub of the city or in one of the nearby residential communities, your employment opportunities are numerous and your commute will always be brief. The seasonal changes provide for year-round outdoor activity, including hiking, climbing, camping, biking, skiing and snowboarding. Proximity to the Adirondacks and the Berkshires provide the perfect weekend getaway. This fascinating and friendly city is only a hop, skip and a jump away from the cultural meccas of Boston and New York City, but it is also surrounded by the unspoiled landscape of Northeastern New York.
Albany History
Originally known as Fort Orange, a fur-trading post established by the Dutch in 1624, Albany was renamed by the English after the Scottish title of the Duke of York. In 1754, Benjamin Franklin created the Plan of Union (the predecessor of the Declaration of Independence) here in the city that would be founded as the capital city of New York in 1797. Thickly woven with history, Albany has been home to numerous influential figures, including Philip Livingston, signer of the Declaration of Independence, 1776; Martin Van Buren, governor in 1829 and U.S. president from 1837 to 1841; Joseph Henry, inventor of the telegraph in 1831; William McKinley, graduate of Albany Law School and president from 1897 to 1901; Theodore Roosevelt, governor from 1898 to 1900 and president from 1901 to 1909; and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, governor from 1929 to 1932 and president from 1933 to 1945. In nearby Schenectady, Thomas Edison established his electric shop in 1886, initiating the beginning of the General Electric Company, and in 1928, the country’s fist public airport was established in Albany County.
 
Fast Facts
Location: Albany is located in east central New York along the Hudson and Mohawk rivers. A key city in the Northeast, it is situated only 150 miles north of New York City, 190 miles south of Montreal and 165 miles west of Boston.
Size: 22 square miles
*Population: 95,658
*Housing units: 45,288
Average temperature: spring 47ºF; summer 70ºF; autumn 50ºF; winter 25ºF
Average precipitation: 36.1 inches
Annual snowfall: 66 inches
* Information obtained from the 2000 Census Report
Communities
The city of Albany contains several distinct communities, providing diversity within walking distance. The downtown district that runs along the Hudson River has the flavor of the big city with its stunning architecture, thriving businesses, and numerous cafes and restaurants tucked down tiny cobblestone streets. At lunch hour in the spring, summer and fall, you will find people enjoying their meals in several small parks that lend a beautiful sense of life to the stone and marble, or taking a stroll down to the Corning Preserve via the Riverwalk bridge that affords a romantic view of the Hudson river.
Several blocks up the hill from the downtown area is Center Square. Nicknamed “the Village in the City,” this neighborhood is home to many of the city’s 20- and 30-somethings. A grid of beautifully preserved old brownstones and row houses branches off of the central vain of Lark Street, where eclectic shops, galleries and eateries give this neighborhood its village feel.
One block up from Center Square you will find Washington Park, a beautiful landscape of green accented by old trees, hundreds of tulips and a lakehouse that serves as a theater during the summer. Cookouts, sunbathers and children playing on the playground in the summer are replaced with sledding, ice skating on the lake and a holiday lights show in the winter. The park is also the location for numerous festivals, including Tulipfest and Latinfest, as well as a series of Monday night concerts during the warmer months.
For those of you who seek a more suburban nest for your family, the thriving communities of Bethlehem, Delmar, Loudonville, Guilderland and Colonie offer attractive, safe neighborhoods with booming real estate markets and excellent public schools.
 
Arts and Entertainment
Albany is home to numerous museums and galleries showcasing the work of notable artists, as well as area history and architecture, including the New York State Museum, the Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany Center Galleries and the Henry Hudson Planetarium. You can explore the U.S.S. Slater, one of the three remaining Destroyer Escort vessels built between 1942 and 1945, docked at the riverfront and boasting its original configuration and armament.
Home to the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the New York State Theatre Institute, there is an abundance of artistic activity. The Egg, the Palace Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre, Proctor’s Theatre and Park Playhouse enrich the cultural life of the capital region with year-round entertainment and artistry. During the summer months, the area is buzzing. The Alive @ Five concert series brings a weekend feel to Thursday nights with live musical performances at the Riverfront amphitheater. The Pepsi Arena showcases concerts of popular musicians as well as football, hockey and basketball during their respective seasons.
Dining
There is something to satisfy even the pickiest appetite in Albany. With all of the flair of a metropolis, Albany offers the best of ethnic foods, including Shalimar (Middle Eastern), Ichiban (Japanese, Chinese and sushi), Saso’s Noodle House (Japanese), Sitar (Indian) and El Loco (Tex-Mex). For traditional fare, be sure to visit Jack’s Oyster House, a favorite for fine dining since 1937; the Albany Pump Station, where you should be sure to take home a Growler of their delicious brew; Bomber’s Burrito Bar, where a prickly pear margarita can tickle your taste buds; and Shades of Green, where you can sample the very best in vegetarian and vegan delights.
Shopping
Whether you prefer the atmosphere of small independent merchants or a one-stop-has-it-all, Albany can meet your shopping needs. People drive from as far as Massachusetts and Vermont to shop at the Crossgates Mall, an enormous structure spanning 1.65 million square feet. This shopping center features all the top brands and numerous independent retailers. Nearby Stuyvesant Plaza is home to upscale boutiques, specialty markets and eateries. For those with a more eclectic taste, visit the independent merchants on Lark Street, where you can find handmade jewelry, antiques, books, fresh-roasted coffee and vintage clothing.
 
Empire State Plaza Planning for the Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza began in 1962. After 98 acres were cleared to make way for the structures, construction began in 1965 and was completed in 1978. At least 900,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured, and 232,000 tons of steel were put in place alongside marble from Vermont and Georgia.
The 11 buildings of the plaza are connected to the Capitol building via a quarter-mile-long concourse, which is lined with shops, restaurants and artwork. In addition to the New York State Capitol, a striking architectural edifice that required $25 million to build and 30 years before its completion in 1899, the plaza holds the Legislative Office Building, the New York State Museum, the New York State Library, the New York State Archives and a massive Convention Center. The Corning Tower, 42 stories tall, is the tallest building in New York state outside of New York City. From the top floor observation deck, you can admire the rolling Hudson River Valley; much of the city and its historic buildings; and the foothills of the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Berkshire Mountains.
In addition to the numerous memorials and public square with its fountains, pools and parks, the centerpiece of the Plaza is The Egg, a uniquely spherical structure that is home to two theaters and a wrap-around lounge.
Employment
As the capital city of the state of New York, the largest source of employment is naturally the state; however, the area’s numerous hospitals, universities, and public and private schools also provide a wealth of employment options. With GE located in nearby Schenectady, a growing real estate market and booming private enterprise including Lexis/Nexis, MapInfo and SUNY research facilities, the right career is never very far away. Of course, should your career require travel, New York City and Boston are barely three hours by car, and Washington, D.C. is only six hours away, eliminating the need for lengthy hotel stays.
 
Education In addition to the State University at Albany, the city boasts a long list of opportunities for higher education:
- Albany College of Pharmacy (founded in 1881)
- Albany Law School (the nation’s oldest independent law school, founded in 1851)
- Albany Medical College (founded in 1839)
- College of Saint Rose (founded in 1920)
- Maria College
- Siena College (Loudenville)
- Union College (founded in 1795, Schenectady)
- Junior College of Albany (founded in 1957)
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, RPI (the oldest engineering school in North America)
Where is Albany?
Written by Erin Johncox exclusively for HomesParadise.com.
City photos courtesy of Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Nature photos courtesy of Tony Nevue.
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