Seward Place

If historic homes are your weak spot, you may need to sit down while you read this. This waterfront neighborhood is just southwest of Downtown Schenectady and is full of trendy restaurants and nightlife. There's always something to do just outside your doorstep in Seward Place.

Seward Place's 19th-century homes carry so much charm that veteran realtors look to move into the area. Brian Brosen is a licensed associate broker who has been selling real estate in the Capital Region for 19 years. Seward Place has captured his imagination. "I've personally looked to move into Seward Place. I would live there with no problem," he says. As you walk down the sidewalks, you'll appreciate street clocks that punctuate the old-world charm. Italianate-style homes with tall, narrow windows and ornate hanging eaves and Victorian homes with light-loving bay windows make up most of the vintage housing stock. You can find multifamily fixer-uppers in the low $100,000s to historic townhouses for the mid-$300,000s.

Families in Seward Place will have to head outside the neighborhood for school. C-minus-rated Van Corlaer Elementary School is the nearest. As a key school under the Schenectady Community Schools Initiative, Van Corlaer builds strong community partnerships to support the students in their physical and social-emotional health. Diversity is the strength of the Schenectady City School District. C-minus-rated Oneida Middle School also makes New York's top 30 most diverse New York public middle schools. B-minus-rated Schenectady High School merits a Niche.com and is among New York State's top 30 most diverse public high schools. Union College offers a private liberal arts education just north of Seward Place. Brosen says, "As a homebuyer, you'll be among a transient population." But the college has a positive and vital role in the community, says Brosen. "The college campus has good relations with the community and the city."

If you buy in Seward Place, you'll benefit from dynamic attractions and relaxing green spaces. The neighborhood includes the historic Proctors Theatre. The theater opened in 1926 and hosted the first public television demonstration; today, people from across the city visit for premier live shows. There's also a Bowtie Cinema in the neighborhood. Seward Place is also home to City Hall, a US Post Office and a YMCA. Front Street Park features a public swimming pool. At Riverside Park, catch sunsets or stroll along the walking path that follows the Mohawk River.

The city's retail gem is the Jay Street pedestrian marketplace, with over 25 boutique shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Every Sunday, there's a lively outdoor market along Jay Street with live music and vendors—a great place to meet your new neighbors. If you live in Seward Place, it's often a walk to some of the city's best eats and retail. If you plan to drive anyway, the Clinton North Lot and the Center City Lot have direct connections to the Jay Street Marketplace.

The Schenectady Greenmarket is a neighborhood farmers market open every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. It's a dog-friendly local market and a great place to support vendors selling locally-grown produce and crafts. And there's usually live music adding to the pleasant atmosphere. You can also grab grocery essentials when you stop for your cup of joe at Arthur's Market. This cute neighborhood café is a popular breakfast place selling specialty groceries, such as milk and sugar, from local markets. For a chain supermarket, you're less than two miles away from the Market 32 on Eastern Parkway.

Transportation takes many forms in Seward Place. Route 5 runs through the neighborhood and is a straight shot to Albany. Further west, Interstate 890 runs through the area as well, cutting down on the time it takes to reach Albany. You can get to the capital city in just under 30 minutes with regular traffic. The 810 bus makes frequent stops along Eerie Boulevard. And when you need to leave the city, the Amtrak Station on Eerie Boulevard makes it convenient and quick.

Written By

Kana Awoyemi

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Schulman

Video By

Tyler Newbold