City living near a business district and the Hudson River
Sandwiched between the Empire State Plaza and the contrasting stretches of Interstate 787 and the Hudson River, the Historic District of Albany serves as the downtown of New York’s capital city. The area was initially settled in the 17th century and has evolved into a hub of business, shopping and history. “This is the hustle and bustle of Albany,” says Lorenzo Murray, a New York State licensed associate real estate broker with HUNT Real Estate. “This is one of the things that we try to bring attention to.” Government buildings stand sentry at Empire State Plaza. The five total office buildings, four of them identical, are complemented by The Egg, a performing arts center and one of several entertainment venues in the area.
Though the Empire State Plaza is just west of the Historic District, some residents of the neighborhood’s brownstones commute there for work. “You can’t talk about this area without mentioning the New York State Museum and the Empire State Plaza, which are beautiful,” Murray says. The plaza offices are interspersed with swaths of green space, standing in stark contrast to the monolithic buildings. Within the Historic District, Pearl and State Streets intersect and are surrounded by an array of local shops and restaurants. “This is all city living,” Murray says. “There are lots of hills. It’s not flat by any means. You have brownstones, mom-and-pop shops, hotels and state capitol buildings.”
Numerous dining options along North Pearl Street
Many of the restaurants in the Historic District are concentrated around State Street and North Pearl Street, which intersect near the middle of the neighborhood. Residents can find international fare at spots like Emmanuel Thai Restaurant, classic American dishes at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen or breakfast at the Skinny Pancake Albany. Other spots in the neighborhood include Mediterranean fare at the Spinning Gyro and pub atmospheres at Loch & Quay or the City Beer Hall.
More dining options sit a couple blocks east along Broadway. “677 Prime is a renowned steakhouse on Broadway,” Murray says of the restaurant, which takes reservations and offers numerous wine options. Locals seeking a combination of entertainment, food and drinks can head north up Chapel Street, just beyond the northwestern corner of the neighborhood. “The Yard Hatchet House and Bar is a great spot for axe throwing,” Murray says. Far Shot offers axe throwing as well, along with archery. For groceries, a Market 32 location sits about a mile west.
Historic rowhouses line neighborhood streets
The Historic District is mostly made up of multi-family homes and rowhouses. The area’s history is showcased in its architecture, which includes Georgian and Federal-style elements. "In the late 1800s, we saw the building of many beautiful mansions,” says Jackie Ring, who has lived in the Historic District for more than 20 years and has spent more than a decade serving as the president of the Center Square Association, “and some of those remain single-family. They do have the option of having an apartment because they are zoned one- and two-family row houses." Exteriors can be traditional brownstone or brick, or more colorful shells in brighter coats of paint. “The further you get away from the river, the higher the demand is,” Murray says.
A variety of architectural styles line the streets of the Historic District, but brownstone rowhouses are the most common and can date to the early 20th century. The prices of homes in the neighborhood reflect that variety, but costs typically fall between $300,000 and $500,000. “There are lots of condos,” Murray says. “Streets like State, Chestnut and Lancaster all have brownstones. People who are looking to live in any kind of city life – that is where they’re living.” Residents should be aware that the neighborhood has a CAP crime score of 10 out of 10.
A riverside preserve with a concert venue
In the northeast corner of the Historic District, the Corning Preserve occupies a stretch of nearly five miles running along the Hudson River. Visitors can find a mix of shaded and open areas within, along with trails and a boat launch. “The bike trails go along the river,” Murray says. The Empire State Trail and Mohawk Hudson Bike Trail both run through the park, in their entireties spanning 750 and 11 miles, respectively. On the southern end of the preserve, Jennings Landing features a 1,000-seat amphitheater that hosts concerts, and visitors can take in views of the Hudson from many spots along the trails.
In the shadow of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Building, now home to administrative offices serving the State University of New York System, locals can take in the Gothic architecture of “The Castle” from SUNY Plaza Park. Other parks in the Historic District include Tricentennial Park along Broadway, which hosts the annual September in the City Art Fair series. Just outside of the neighborhood, East Capitol Park and West Capitol Park flank the New York State Capitol and consist of open paths and shaded areas, as does the nearby Academy Park.
Venues for sports, music and more
Several performance and entertainment venues dot the landscape of the Historic District and the surrounding area. “You have the Egg, the Multicultural Arts Center, the New York State Museum and MVP Arena there,” Murray says. “It is a great tourist area.” The Egg has two theaters within its structure and has played host to comedians, musicians and other performing arts. The New York State Museum showcases the history of the Empire State through the area’s culture and nature, while the First Church in Albany dates to before 1800 and was established in 1642. The church is part of a long history of the Dutch in the region and is the oldest in upstate New York. The National Lacrosse League’s Albany FireWolves and NCAA’s Siena College men’s basketball team use the MVP Arena for home games, and musical performers there have included Frank Sinatra and Metallica.
Highway access to Interstate 787
Interstate 787 runs for about 10 miles along the Hudson, and access to the interstate is typically a mile or less away from most areas in the neighborhood. “Getting around the area is really easy,” Murray says. “Albany is not a congested city. We don’t have traffic.” The interchange, South Mall Arterial and other major roads all feed to the Dunn Memorial Bridge, which crosses the river into Rensselaer.
Drivers can also hop on Interstate 87 within a drive of less than 5 miles to the southwest, or Interstate 90 in less than 5 miles to the north up 787. Larger cities, like New York City and Boston, are both over 150 miles away from Albany. The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) operates bus lines on Pearl Street, State Street and other thoroughfares for public transit.
Education outside of the Historic District
Students can begin at Arbor Hill Elementary School, which receives a grade of C from Niche and spans kindergarten through fifth grade. They can then move on to William S. Hackett Middle School, awarded a B-minus from Niche, followed by the B-plus-rated Albany High School. Students at Albany High can enroll in collegiate-level courses and receive college credit via University in the High School (UHS), with many courses provided by Hudson Valley Community College.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Nicely updated building! Upper floors consist of 12 one bedroom one bath apartments, 2 two bedroom two bath apartments, laundry, and a work out room. First floor commercial office space with reception, 6 office spaces, kitchenette and two baths currently leased with two years remaining.
REDUCED PRICE! Open to offers! This is a truly one of a kind property situated in the heart of Downtown Albany! Have the chance to own this high end building outfitted with 41 luxury residential units, and 21 commercial spaces. 96 Walk Score; close to every need for prospective residents and those wanting to work directly Downtown Albany. Apartments are furnished with beautiful custom kitchens,
The Historic Kenmore Building is located in the very heart of Downtown Albany. The 93 apartments in the building have been carefully thought out, with historic details and modern touches. Each apartment has chevron laminate flooring, quartz counter tops, and unique layouts. The building has a gym, indoor pool, indoor dog park, dog wash and large roof top deck. Several parking options are within a
Spacious and modern one bedroom apartment on the 3rd floor of this well maintained apartment building. -Centrally located near the Capital, The Empire State Plaza and The Palace Theater. Stroll to the many restaurants and cafes in the area including Ama Cocina conveniently located on the first floor. -Bright and sunny windows, exposed brick walls, high ceilings. Hardwood and tile floors. Modern
Live in the heart of Downtown Albany in this historic building, beautifully renovated in 2015. Each apartment has high ceilings, refinished hardwood floors, granite counter tops, and spacious bathrooms. The large windows flood the apartments with natural light! Walk to shopping, dining and entertainment options galore.
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Stephen McCormick,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,583
Median Age
38
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
13.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$44,876
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$68,882
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.2%
College Graduates
34%
Advanced Degrees
23.2%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
56.2%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
42''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
78/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
90/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
72/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
