Albany a possiblity.. have questions (New York, Clifton Park: eviction, homes, neighborhood)

[famlife]

hey!

me and my family are actually planning a move to Denver, CO, but now we have recieved a promising job opportunity in Albany. So far we have a great lead for a job in Denver, but it seems we are actually getting somewhere with this NY company so we are really taking a hard look at Albany. It's sort of our back up plan for now We are keeping an open mind. It would put us closer to family, good sailing and Montreal anyway! (we are crazy about Montreal, and being so close would be a dream)

okay, so here's where the questions come in..

We have a large family (5 kids, one on the way)........
would you locals consider it a relatively safe and active city to raise kids in? they are homeschooled, so schools aren't a biggie, but we don't want to have to worry about them when they're riding their bikes around the neighborhood either.

how is the health care in the area? we are sick of backwoods flunky doctors that we can't trust. plus, we're having a baby in a few months, how are the hospitals?

is it a cultural area? we'd like for our kids to grow up aware of other ethnicities than our own, which you'd never know it from where we live currently

are there plenty of things for kids to do? as i've said, i homeschool. we live for our extra-curriculars, and aside from church, that's usually how the kids make their friends. (children's theater, community sports, etc)

thanks in advance for any info! much appreciated!

[Ellwood]

There are quite a few threads regarding living in the Albany area. I suggest you do a SEARCH on Albany for some information. I live in Saratoga area which we absolutely love, so I can't provide you with Albany information, but I know it has been discussed throughout the forum in the past.

[famlife]

before i posted this i looked 3 pages deep in the Albany section and didn't see anything. i'm trying to figure out where that place is that indexes all the posts.... i guess i'll keep digging if everyone's opposed to repeating themselves

[Ellwood]

Originally Posted by famlife

before i posted this i looked 3 pages deep in the Albany section and didn't see anything. i'm trying to figure out where that place is that indexes all the posts.... i guess i'll keep digging if everyone's opposed to repeating themselves

Suggest you go to NEW YORK and use the SEARCH Thread function in upper right hand corner. When they divided the forums up recently those threads may have remained in the NEW YORK forum where it was originally posted.

[Rumblebelly]

I lived an hour north of Denver for 10 years and I think you'll find more cultural diversity in Albany. Heath care and extra-curriculars? Probably about the same in both areas.

Where are you coming from?

[famlife]

northern wisconsin.. i'd like to dismiss NY for better climates lol but it's hard to do cause the best job offer we have so far is in Albany.. plus we'd be closer to family... lol i keep going back and forth. i thought today that it was CO/AZ all the way, till DH had another phone interview today and it went awesome. <sigh> lol

if it works out to be NY, at least we are used to the climate... can't get much worse as far as winters are concerned! lol

[j12308]

I think you could find everything you are looking for in this area. It just may take some searching and driving. I don't know that all the various things could be found in one town. I do know that there are some home schooling groups in the area and a group for toddlers that goes on hikes during the morning that seems to be for homeschoolers. Good luck w/ the job search/move.

[acstr]

If you're looking for "cultural diversity", meaning poor ethnic groups gang banging, stealing, welfare, living in run down properties and eviction notices Albany is a great choice. There are some great buildings in Albany to live, restaurants, etc. But your kids will run into the above mentioned as neighbors.

However, I would suggest a suburban area like Clifton Park, North Greenbush, Saratoga Springs where you can enjoy better restaurants, homes, neighbors, etc.

If you want your kids to grow up and be CEO's, business owners, financial traders, etc they will need to grow up in a supporting enviroment. If you want entitled hippies or bums (communist-Democrats) than raise them as that crazy liberal family on Lark St. in Albany as you're deciding to do.

[famlife]

Originally Posted by acstr

If you're looking for "cultural diversity", meaning poor ethnic groups gang banging, stealing, welfare, living in run down properties and eviction notices Albany is a great choice. There are some great buildings in Albany to live, restaurants, etc. But your kids will run into the above mentioned as neighbors.

However, I would suggest a suburban area like Clifton Park, North Greenbush, Saratoga Springs where you can enjoy better restaurants, homes, neighbors, etc.

If you want your kids to grow up and be CEO's, business owners, financial traders, etc they will need to grow up in a supporting enviroment. If you want entitled hippies or bums (communist-Democrats) than raise them as that crazy liberal family on Lark St. in Albany as you're deciding to do.

that's not exactly what i meant by cultural diversity... and i haven't even heard of Lark St before lol

i don't really care what their career choices will be. i guess we have the european attitude towards vocational things. but i'm hoping to not raise crazy liberals or communists, etc.. we are more of the traditional catholic mindset!


lol thanks for the heads-up on the areas... and i hope not everyone in Albany from other racial groups are uneducated, immoral and disadvantaged..



i just assumed that NY had a good mix of people, being that it was founded on immigration. i could be wrong!


thanks for all the info! you guys are great!

[rturg]

I have lived here for 6 months. I moved from Minneapolis, MN but I am from a little town in northern wisconsin call Tomahawk. The area is diverse and there is something to be said on what neighborhood to live. But that is anywhere you live. The northern burbs are nice also, and a little closer to the Aderondack's Which you should love for outdoor activities. Do a search on Aderondack State Park once.... There are also parks everywhere that are very close. I do hiking so that is nice. Cant wait to snowmobile though!!
The area, besides downtown Albany, reminds me of Wausau,
WI in its layout and size. Wausau is much smaller in population, but, this town seems small to me also. You can zip around this town quick on its one oval interstate around it. Bad traffic during rush hour on the interior 2 way streets though. It does not last long though. Also in town, barely a sidewalk to be seen. I am scared to go for a walk on the road as to the way people drive around here. Youwill be honked at many times...dont take it personal though. Just the way it is. I dont think they can change that for the town has been here for hundreds of years, so everything is narrow and I dont think they here alot of eminent domain here. I know I would love to take 10 feet of yards and make some walking area's for the kids.

one other note.... 2nd most taxed state in the union...vermont is number 1.