Edge hamlets
Chris Churchill reports that a "downtown-type development in Glenmont that would consist of 464 housing units and about 100,000 square feet of retail space" is being planned at Wemple Rd and 9W. While it's good to see planning for a walkable development, we wonder if project like that might be better suited for, say, the Harriman State Office Campus site, instead of the far reaches of Bethlehem.
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
Downtown Albany hasn't been the same since the Harriman Campus. As someone who has been rooting for the slow but noticeable renaissance in downtown, suburban projects like those (which might result in another exodus of permanent city jobs and residents) make my skin crawl.
... said Summer on Apr 20, 2010 at 4:57 PM | link
It's inaccurate to paint this area as an rural netherland-- it's no more than a 15 minute drive to downtown Albany, and a few large shopping plazas are less than a mile north on 9W.
And, Summer, maybe it will siphon away some families and individuals from the downtowns, but at least new construction closer to Albany will keep these folks closer to the region's core instead of in the real exurbs and Northway sprawl. Nowadays, any economic development here should be considered good economic development.
... said Bob on Apr 21, 2010 at 11:02 AM | link
"Far reaches of Bethlehem".... the Harriman Campus is about the same distance from downtown as Bethlehem. And why are some people always trying to convince others as to why urban living is the only way to go?
... said KG_rider on Apr 21, 2010 at 12:00 PM | link
@KG Simple, cause it's much greener.
... said Jackers on Apr 21, 2010 at 5:29 PM | link
The area around the Harriman Campus is a bit more busable than Glenmont, FWIW. The 7 gets really spotty after 6PM. There are wayyyy more services within walking distance, too. It's not a simple question of distance or driving time, if you want Albany to actually be a cohesive, living city.
... said B on Apr 21, 2010 at 6:57 PM | link
If this goes through my family and I are moving out of Glenmont. We live right around the corner from where they want to build and I feel it will affect our quality of life.We moved here three years ago from Long Island to GET AWAY from that sort of thing. Terribly dissapointed.
... said k on Aug 6, 2010 at 3:32 PM | link