Live and work in Albany without a car? (Colonie, Schenectady: apartment, crime rate)

[citychik]

Hello all,
Would anyone care to share opinions on how possible or feasible it would be to live and work in Albany without a car? I would be looking for an administrative position (Exec. Asst., Office Mgr., etc.) or, as a last resort, Retail Manager. I'd like to find a studio or 1-BR apartment (or a share if necessary) for less than $1000/mo., preferably within proximity to a walkable area with shopping (groceries and necessities, not designer clothing, LOL) and restaurants. Of course, job and apartment should be relatively near public transportation. I'm in NYC now, don't own a car, and don't see myself buying one for a while yet.

Is all that possible in Albany?

[ckhthankgod]

It could be possible, but likely depend on where the job is located. Pine Hills, Helderberg and perhaps the Delaware Avenue neighborhoods are a few that be worth looking into. There are other city neighborhoods in the area that may also work that you could possibly consider as well. Upper Union Street in Schenectady is one that comes to mind.

CDTA(Capital District Transportation Authority) is the public transportation service for the area. https://www.cdta.org

As for the job situation, you could look into area colleges/universities or area private tech companies, among others. For instance, the College of Saint Rose is in a walkable area and may be an institution worth looking into. This could help get you started: https://www.indeed.com/m/jobs?sameL=...erp%2Cwhatauto

https://strose.interviewexchange.com...C5ED?catid=822
https://goo.gl/maps/xYTCfBRPYBT2

Hopefully others will chime in.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

It could be possible, but likely depend on where the job is located. Pine Hills, Helderberg and perhaps the Delaware Avenue neighborhoods are a few that be worth looking into. There are other city neighborhoods in the area that may also work that you could possibly consider as well. Upper Union Street in Schenectady is one that comes to mind.

CDTA(Capital District Transportation Authority) is the public transportation service for the area. https://www.cdta.org

As for the job situation, you could look into area colleges/universities or area private tech companies, among others. For instance, the College of Saint Rose is in a walkable area and may be an institution worth looking into. This could help get you started: https://www.indeed.com/m/jobs?sameL=...erp%2Cwhatauto

https://strose.interviewexchange.com...C5ED?catid=822
https://goo.gl/maps/xYTCfBRPYBT2

Hopefully others will chime in.

Here is a better street view of the area I'm referring to near the College of St. Rose in the Pine Hills neighborhood: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Th...!4d-73.7856653


Union Street in Schenectady would be similar, as Upper union is walkable with stores and businesses, while Union College is along the street and is closer to Downtown Schenectady. Upper Union Area info: upperunionstreet.com • Home
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8042...7i13312!8i6656


Along Union Street, around/on Eastern Parkway: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8071...7i13312!8i6656


https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8069...7i13312!8i6656


By Union College: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8151...8i6656!6m1!1e1


Downtown/Little Italy portion: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8161...8i6656!6m1!1e1


Also, here is some Union College listings: https://www.union.edu/offices/human-resources/jobs/

[ckhthankgod]

This may help too: https://www.walkscore.com/score/1100...lbany-ny-12208


https://www.walkscore.com/score/1600...ctady-ny-12309


It isn't perfect, but it could help give an idea of a neighborhood's walkability.


This is the Delaware Ave area of Albany, which has stores/businesses along the street: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6400...7i13312!8i6656


Also, CDTA Route maps: http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...f0165478fec04c


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...c25a5d1840ba00


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...09a00f8c7bd79f


This area of Troy north of RPI, may be another option, as there is plenty of shopping on Hoosick Street and it is blocks away from campus: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7389...7i13312!8i6656


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...01ad15d437c461
Beman Park


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...c548b753bb9f50
Hillside


Neighborhoods


Albany NY Neighborhoods - Mansion, Pine Hills, Center Square, Colonie, Guilderland, Troy & More On Albany.com - Community's Official Guide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighb...New_York#Dunes


http://www.city-data.com/forum/alban...hborhoods.html
Neighborhood Associations | Schenectady, NY


https://www.cdta.org/routes-and-schedules
https://www.cdta.org/service-map/

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

This may help too: https://www.walkscore.com/score/1100...lbany-ny-12208


https://www.walkscore.com/score/1600...ctady-ny-12309


It isn't perfect, but it could help give an idea of a neighborhood's walkability.


This is the Delaware Ave area of Albany, which has stores/businesses along the street: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6400...7i13312!8i6656


Also, CDTA Route maps: http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...f0165478fec04c


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...c25a5d1840ba00


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...09a00f8c7bd79f


This area of Troy north of RPI, may be another option, as there is plenty of shopping on Hoosick Street and it is blocks away from campus: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7389...7i13312!8i6656


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...01ad15d437c461
Beman Park


http://cdta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Vie...c548b753bb9f50
Hillside


Neighborhoods


Albany NY Neighborhoods - Mansion, Pine Hills, Center Square, Colonie, Guilderland, Troy & More On Albany.com - Community's Official Guide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighb...New_York#Dunes


http://www.city-data.com/forum/alban...hborhoods.html
Neighborhood Associations | Schenectady, NY


https://www.cdta.org/routes-and-schedules
https://www.cdta.org/service-map/

RPI listings: https://rpijobs.rpi.edu

[mls012]

In short the answer is yes! The main roads in Albany are Central Ave, Madison Ave and Washington Ave.
I would suggest you find housing within very short walk of any of these 3 main streets. That's your primary bus routes and will take you pretty much anywhere. IMO Pine Hills neighborhood has the most amenities within easy and safe walking distance and also sits right on the main bus routes (Madison and Washington).


I'd also suggest looking into downtown Troy, across the river from Albany.


Your budget for a studio/ 1br should also work just fine.


First step is finding that job, then search for grocery stores, then apts. Sounds silly- but it's not- there are only 4 major grocery stores in the City of Albany. While we have our share of corner stores, specialty shops etc.. I wouldn't want to have to depend on those for everything.


Good Luck!

[citychik]

Good point about grocery stores. Does Albany have any food delivery services such as FreshDirect, PeaPod, etc.?

I'm not sure I'd be interested in Troy. I've read that it's very susceptible to flooding and has quite a lot of low-income housing and crime. Plus, to make things easier, I'd rather live as close to where I work as possible, and I believe my chances of finding a job with decent pay are higher in Albany.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by citychik

Good point about grocery stores. Does Albany have any food delivery services such as FreshDirect, PeaPod, etc.?

I'm not sure I'd be interested in Troy. I've read that it's very susceptible to flooding and has quite a lot of low-income housing and crime. Plus, to make things easier, I'd rather live as close to where I work as possible, and I believe my chances of finding a job with decent pay are higher in Albany.

I don't know about the flooding, but the poverty and crime rates for Albany and Troy are roughly similar in terms of both issues. Albany, NY Income and Careers - USA.comâ„¢

Troy, NY Income and Careers - USA.comâ„¢

Albany, NY Crime and Crime Rate - USA.comâ„¢

Troy, NY Crime and Crime Rate - USA.comâ„¢

They are just across the Hudson River diagonally from each other. A lot of this will be determined by where you find employment in the area.

In terms of grocery delivery, I found this: ShopRite from Home of Albany – ShopRite

https://www.google.com/amp/www.times...de-6216332.php

[citychik]

ckhthankgod, I appreciate how helpful you always try to be, and I know you mean well, but... too many links!

I am actually quite a good researcher. Research is a hobby of mine, in a way, and I love to do it. So, finding reports and statistics is something I can do rather easily. In fact, I created a spreadsheet for my relocation goals. into which I've input data from numerous research sources, so I could analyze what I've found on various places I'm considering. And I'm a regular editor at Wikipedia, so I know the accuracy of Wikipedia is not ironclad, but I do generally look things up over there before I even come here to City-Data.

However, I ask specific questions at the City-Data forums because I'm looking for the personal experiences and opinions of the people who participate here and are familiar with the local scene of whatever area I'm investigating. So, if you have first-hand experience to share, then by all means, I'd love to read it. But all those links to various reports, surveys, maps, etc., tend to blur and swim in front of my eyes and don't really give me the personal insights I seek.

What is your personal experience with living and working in Albany?

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by citychik

ckhthankgod, I appreciate how helpful you always try to be, and I know you mean well, but... too many links!

I am actually quite a good researcher. Research is a hobby of mine, in a way, and I love to do it. So, finding reports and statistics is something I can do rather easily. In fact, I created a spreadsheet for my relocation goals. into which I've input data from numerous research sources, so I could analyze what I've found on various places I'm considering. And I'm a regular editor at Wikipedia, so I know the accuracy of Wikipedia is not ironclad, but I do generally look things up over there before I even come here to City-Data.

However, I ask specific questions at the City-Data forums because I'm looking for the personal experiences and opinions of the people who participate here and are familiar with the local scene of whatever area I'm investigating. So, if you have first-hand experience to share, then by all means, I'd love to read it. But all those links to various reports, surveys, maps, etc., tend to blur and swim in front of my eyes and don't really give me the personal insights I seek.

What is your personal experience with living and working in Albany?

I don't live there, but I don't know if the information is too overwhelming, as it is to put "experiences"/assumptions/ perceptions into perspective and is purposely set up based upon City/neighborhood location and transportation.

I was just offering information to put the statement about Troy into perspective, as you could be told something and then find out it isn't necessarily so or isn't much different from somewhere else you are considering. That's all and hopefully others will chime in for you in a way that you are looking for.