Relocating to Watertown...

[Njrover0216]

My husband was a soldier at Ft Drum and he said this exact thing. He said the new soldiers coming in are spoiled. He got out of the service because of this.

[JiminCT]

A lot of the crime in Watertown isnt related to the military so much; it is caused a lot by the other major industry in Northern NY. There is a HUGE prison industry up there. Many prisons means many families want to move to Watertown to be near their beloved family member. Many of these families have criminal elements that are not behind barbed wire fences and walls. Prison population + military base + bored locals=drug trade.

On the flip side, the expansion of Drum beats the cold hard reality that the economy of Northern NY has been depressed for 40+ years. Despite the old folks yearning for the "way things used to be"....its easier to say that when NY Air Brake, Knowlton, and many other industries were humming along and everyone could find a good paying job up there. The problem with the North Country is that many many locals are parochial, old school, hard-headed, and resist change (they are still fighting over wind farms...an obvious NEW industry that could be very lucrative and environmentally friendly). If it werent for Fort Drum...Watertown would be Utica north and in a perpetual decaying spiral...downward. Sorry...but its easy to resist change when you have already made your pile of loot. Ironic that in GOP majority Northern NY...the reality is, Uncle Sams money (thats called government spending ......) is currently fueling the growth of Watertown courtesy of the US Military. I believe they call that tax and spend.....

[teri04915]

i was wondering if anyone copuld tell me where in watertown i could find a room ot rent im a cna i think i may have found a job just needa room to get started my daughter will be staying in sc to finish school yr soi have time t o find something then .how is the job market there

[bela516]

I am currently stationed In Ft. Riley but I am from Albany, NY so was considering trying to PCS to Ft. Drumm so I could go home on the weekends (It is between that and Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah). I love the Adirondacks and the surrounding areas. I am used to the weather (I lived in NY all my life then went to Germany and then Kansas so I have never lived anywhere that the weather was warm all year round). Is the area lively? I will probably be going to Albany or Saratoga on the weekends anyway but want to know how the apartment situation and dining and shopping are.

I am also wondering what the military on-base culture is like. Are they hard-core infantry Hooah? I am a female SGT (P) in my early 30's an an Aviation mechanic. I joined the Army 4 years ago but am not into all the ruck-marching, "fun-runs" and chest thumping associated with Infantry. (Sorry - I am a girl, I don't like it - sue me ) I am with 1st ID/2-1 GSAB deployed right now and I know that 10th may be coming here to replace us I think. Anyone out there who is military who can give me the real deal - not the stuff off the official websites? They don't tell you anything you really want to know anyway.

[NedFlanders]

I live near Saratoga and have lived in Watertown. Watertown is not what I would call "lively" if you are looking for nightlife. Everything is pretty spread out and there is no real walkable area with the choices Saratoga has, but there are the usual bars.

Dining, no problem. The primary focus of Watertown is one long strip, Arsenal Street. The road a few chains such as; Red Lobster, Applebee's, Ponderosa, a gross Denny's, Friendly's, Bob Evans, Cracker Barrel a few minute drive and a bunch of fast food. There are also many excellent locally owned eateries on Arsenal, as well other areas.

For shopping, there is one small mall. I would compare it to the size of Wilton's mall. There are a few big box independents too, like Lowes and Kohls. There is also a Walmart, oh, and a Target, too. Syracuse is about an hour south of Watertown, so you can always go to the very large mall there.

[Njrover0216]

Ned could not be MORE wrong when talking about nightlife. There is a bar or a club on every main road in Watertown. That is mainly all there is to do is party in Watertown. Trust me do not think Watertown does not have a nightclub. Name of just a few of the bars and clubs: Strand, Pewter Mug, Poor Richards, Fat Boys, Kickers, Infinity, Clueless, Arties, Micks, Thunderdome, SHooties, Colesantes, Horizon, Joes Tavern...and many more, that is just a few to name. And as far as walkable you can do the Strand, Micks, Thunderdome,Kickers, Arties and Fat Boys in one walk.

Watertown is GROWING and they have Target, Walmart, Petco, Kohls, Home Depot, Lowes, Sams Club, Old Navy...there is also a mall called Salmon Run Mall, which is getting ready to be expanded and is going to be made much larger.

As far as how the military are, Ft Drum takes pride as to being the 10th mountain division. It is a hard core army base...so if you are looking for something laid back, I would not be going to drum. If you come to Drum you will be going to Iraq or Afgahnistan. You wil go to the field with 2 ft of snow on the ground..just keep that all in mind.

[NedFlanders]

The mall project doesn't even have a signed contract, or a date for start of expansion. I hope the mall does grow, but it certainly doesn't make the cut when touting what is nice about Watertown.

We'll have to agree to disagree about nightlife. First, if you'll note, I was comparing Watertown to Saratoga Springs. Watertown does not have an area any like the section I referred to and that the OP mentioned her her own writings. Watertown has the usual bars, but no large nightlife when compared to Albany, the authors reference point.

[Njrover0216]

I have never been to Saratoga Springs but lived in Watertown for the first 23 years of my life. There are as of now 4 large night clubs and several bars. Albany is our capital and is a bit larger then Watertown.

The mall is going to be expanded, I know this from an inside source. A contract hasn't been reached yet because of minor details, by the summer it should all be in writing. No doubt the mall is being expanded. You live in Saratoga Springs...what makes you so knowledgeable on Watertown? Google?

[NedFlanders]

Yes, Albany is larger and Saratoga is a tourist destination, thus the comparison about levels of entertainment. Regardless of growth due to the Ft. Drum expansion, I don't think the poster will currently find the amount of bars anywhere near equal, just due to the size of the capital and the draw of the track here.

I grew up in one of the small towns outside Watertown and then lived in Watertown off and on for several years. My family is still in the area and I am home often. I spent many a ****ty day working the make-up counter at Steinbeck's (right before it closed) the second time I lived in Watertown. I hope the mall is expanded, as it has been looking rather poorly in the last 10 years. Plus, it would be nice to not have to make the trek to Syracuse to buy anything besides Gap. I hope the situation is handled better than the on-going mess of a project in Syracuse.