any help on amsterdam?

[RockBuilt]

Correction to my above post:
The rehab on that eight unit building was $329000.00, not $229000

[bostonb06]

My family has called Amsterdam home for over 85years running businesses since they immigrated there from Italy. My family's restaurants were always well received by the people of Amsterdam and they made many many friends. Generations of my family have gone through the school districts and some are still currently there (I think back on my days there in happiness and sadness as my elementary school sits vacant and boarded up). I sit back and look at Amsterdam...and try to imagine (because I'm too young but have been told about) how wonderful it once was. The Rug capital of the world...what happened to you...the businesses moved South and people lost their jobs. Industry dried up and the city has been on a downward spiral. I won't bash the town or people who live there, many are my friends and there are som wonderful and amazing people there. I've often imagined I could be wealthy enough someday and have the money to fix Amsterdam. I've moved away and tell myself I don't want to move back, but I think about my family and my childhood and know my heart will always be in Amsterdam and I'll always be in an Amsterdam state of mind. There are so many towns out there like Amsterdam that have essentially dried up after the industry that once sustained them moved out. Amsterdam does still have businesses but nowhere near the level it used to. There are also still beautiful areas of Amsterdam with nice homes and friendly neighborhoods. I'll always love Amsterdam and I love it when I head home to my parents (although they don't live directly in Amsterdam anymore) and getting to go where everyone knows your name. It will always be near and dear to my heart no matter what happens to it. I hope that someone or something can turn it around, although the outlook is dismal I still hope.

[31yramsterdamresident]

Hey Rock Built have you ever thought about running for Mayor of AMsterdam? If you havent maybe you should you seem like you have great knowledge of things that should be going on in Amsterdam and ways to improve it. I would certainly vote for you if you ran for mayor I have been living here all my life 31 years and I can not believe how bad it is getting. I moved to North Carolina for 5 months while my husband was stationed out there and I wish we would have never came back here. There is a lot of potential in AMsterdam but the fact is the community can not or shall I say wont come together to fix it. I hope someday in the NEAR FUTURE something changes for the better for Amsterdam because it certainly needs it.

[flippinamsterdam]

I just spent a while going through this thread from start to finish and it's a fascinating read.

As someone who's lived here a long while, too long I think, I can relate to both views on the city: a singularity of doom or a glimmer of hope. I move back and forth on where I stand sometimes more than once on the same day.

I think Amsterdam is a bit like the fable of the ugly duckling: you want to see the swan but all you see day after day is the ugly duckling. So those of us who stay hope some day our wisdom and foresight will bring forth the swan and then we can say 'Aha!, we were right'. And those of us who have left shake their heads at the folly of this waiting as day after day, year after year, decade after decade, they see the same ugly duckling.

But even while the city is a bit of an ugly duck, I do find some swan-like reasons for living here and that's what keeps me here at least for now. That said, I also get why the very same reasons would make others flee.

Cheers!

[platelt86]

I am lookin to move to amsterdam but seem to have trouble finding jobs and i dont really know the area to search surrounding towns. ANY HELP PLEEEASE????

[Hoping2Bee]

I have read many of the comments regarding Amsterdam, and I may have skipped over the answer to my question. Does anyone know of any "safe/ good" areas in Amsterdam??? Is "South Amsterdam" better than the "City of Amsterdam"?? Please let me know. Thank You!

[Puru]

I live less than twenty minutes from Amsterdam on route 5. The only thing in Amsterdam is a few businesses and some confusing roads. :/
It's probably a nice place, but where I live it's gets a lot of flack. Over the years it seems like it's become really "built up" too, like a lot of other places around here.

[rug city]

Originally Posted by Hoping2Bee

I have read many of the comments regarding Amsterdam, and I may have skipped over the answer to my question. Does anyone know of any "safe/ good" areas in Amsterdam??? Is "South Amsterdam" better than the "City of Amsterdam"?? Please let me know. Thank You!

Most of Amsterdam is safe, however, there are a number of rundown areas where people could care less about the quality of life and the condition of their homes.

I would look around the Van Dyke Avenue area going straight on up to the Golf Course and around Chapel Street area. This area is the most stable, there is some nice architecture, and it is a good old fashioned walkable community. South side is okay, but a little insular and run-down for my tastes, though it is the target of many planned projects that should slowly revitalize the area.

I really like Amsterdam, and I think you get a lot of house for the money.

[mellbell]

Skip Amsterdam entirely.Broadalbin is 10 minutes from there. The schools are one of the top 10 academically. THe streets are clean and beautiful. There is NO crime, check the leader Heralds police blotter....nothing happens there. There are no drug issues, your children will get an EXCELLENT education. It is small town, and a wonderful place to raise your children, like Amsterdam, school taxes are high...but UNLIKE Amsterdam, it is because your child will get an education. THe homes are maintained, streets are paved. The fire dept and EMS are the best in response time. You can leave your car &home unlocked and there are no worries.They look out for their own up there.Take adrive through and see for yourself, the difference between the two areas will astound you.