In appreciation of Schenectady
Schenectady Central Park's rose garden: One reason Katherine <3 Schenectady
I moved to the Capital District back in August of 2005 from Washington, DC. And I consider it a total upgrade.
Being a transplant gave me a whole different perspective on my adopted home. All the people I met who have lived here their whole lives found Albany boring, Troy dirty, Saratoga expensive, and Schenectady dangerous. I never found those things to be true.
Albany is exciting and fun, Troy is beautiful and revitalized, Saratoga is just a little pricey, and Schenectady is -- well, not dangerous but... what? What is Schenectady really?
I'm not quite sure, yet. I'm having fun finding out.
But what I am sure of is that there's really only one problem with Schenectady and it can be summed up into one word: perception.
When I moved here, I moved to Albany's Pine Hills neighborhood. It was great: walkable, filled with interesting people, and pretty. But back in January I moved to Schenectady to be closer to work. Though I miss Albany, I'm finding Schenectady to be an adventure. There's so much history, amazing food, and fun people. But few of my friends see it the same way. I get a lot of "Schenectady? Isn't the whole city a ghetto?"
Um, hardly at all.
I moved to the neighborhood directly adjacent to Union College. There's far, far less noise, and from what I can tell, far fewer cars being broken into, than in the area directly adjacent to St. Rose.
There are great festivals and parades in Schenectady. There are great festivals and parades in Albany, too, but there's too much bodily fluid involved. And Schenectady is just as walk-able as Albany, Troy and Saratoga.
There's so much whining about how downtowns in Troy and Albany are dead nights and weekends and that there's no real walkable shopping. Schenectady has great walkable shopping available nights and weekends in both downtown and the Upper Union neighborhood.
Everyone talks about the great architecture in Troy and Albany. Schenectady has amazing architecture too -- and not just row houses. The neighborhood that GE built for its employees has beautiful early 1900s architecture.
People claim that Schenectady is some jobless black hole. In reality, jobs are being created left and right by a growing technology sector. When Forbes listed the Albany-Schenectady area as fourth among the country's metro areas for jobs, it specifically highlighted Schenectady.
And frankly, Schenectady's Central Park is the best park in the District. There's a pool, a restaurant, community gardens, and landscaping all in one place. The best. I said it. And I mean it.
To say that the Electric City is a totally safe and magical place would be ignorant. There are very unsafe and dangerous parts of the city, the taxes are comparatively high for the area, and there's a seemingly uphill battle with building vacancy rates. Every city has its own similar problems. But other cities aren't judged so wholly like Schenectady.
So where's the disconnect between the reality of Schenectady's awesomeness and the perception of unpleasantness?
The way I see it, Schenectady needs champions. Not only to the whole Capital District but to Schenectady itself. Schenectady needs a self-esteem facelift. Word on the street is that champions are out there. But I only know one. And she's my councilwoman. That's cheating. I guess what I mean is Schenectady needs a Duncan Crary or a Maeve McEneny. A face. A tour guide. Anyone have a candidate?
Schenectady simply needs someone to make it look in the mirror and say, "I'm good enough, smart enough, and gosh dang-it people like me." Then it needs to turn around and yell it at the rest of the Capital District.
Katherine Stephens is a champion of the Electric City.
photo: Schenectady 2009
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Comments
A couple of years ago I finally checked out the Sunday Greenmarket for the first time. I strolled down Jay Street, got coffee from Ambiance and went home with a ton of goodies, thinking to myself, " Schenectady, who knew?"
I think I even told AOA Mary and Greg that.
I'm slightly biased- my Polish immigrant relatives eventually moved from the coal mines in Scranton, PA to GE. My Schenectady/Rotterdam roots run deep.
I think Albany should take a tip Schenectady and try to replicate the Proctor's corridor by the Palace.
... said Jess on Jun 24, 2012 at 11:31 AM | link
And this small city has its own film commission! Dozens of indie filmmakers are hard at work all the time. Besides Proctors, we have a NYC style movie house downtown.
Every month Art Night shows off the efforts of both established artists and young people starting out.
We have ethnic restaurants of every description; the latest, Tara Kitchen, a Moroccan bistro on Liberty Street, is not to be missed. The summer's ethnic festivals are always a good time. My Greek-American neighbors have an unsurpassed talent for hospitality and spreading joy at their party.
Walking through an old, historic district and along the Mohawk is an inexpensive recreation. Want more cost free activity? Our library rocks!
There is music everywhere, much of it free. Does a church in your town have jazz vespers every Sunday? How about a Planetarium? Got one of those?
Our parks are beautiful, but they do need some love.
Our new, hard working Guyanese neighbors are rebuilding one of the challenging neighborhoods and bringing new life to cuisine and summer festivals.
Best of all, humans are not just another part of the scenery. People here seem to notice others. They hold open doors for those struggling with packages, help folks in wheelchairs across streets, speak to strangers while waiting out the long pedestrian lights on Erie Boulevard. Our neighbors matter.
This transplant loves her new hometown.
... said Lorri Carr on Jun 24, 2012 at 12:00 PM | link
Well, those who know me know this is one of my fav soap boxes. Let's start a list of Schenectady's selling points. I find it more real, tolerant, creative, diverse, caring, accepting and generous than many communities. It's colorful! There are no "blue bloods." There is a higher level of intellingence - four collegse - Union, Union Grad School, SCCC and Ellis Hospital School of Nursing plus the brainiest scientist (most patent holders) in the region. It's arts - both professional and community based are full time, year round and representative of visual, performance and alternative genres. It's medical facilities are the best from cardiology to birthing to emergency room to rehab, Schenectady leads. Schenectady is the place where people from Saratoga County, Montgomery County, Scoharie County, and Albany Albany come to work, enjoy the arts, get medical attention, and seek recreation. How about the destination shopping like Ferri's Formals, the Open Door, Players Choice Racquet Sports, Muslers, Simon's, Head to Tail, Sow's Ear, and more. And, the restaurants, especially the Italian restaurants, can't be beat for the best food, value, atmosphere, and service. That's just a tip of the iceberg - please add to the list.
... said Joanne on Jun 24, 2012 at 4:45 PM | link
I love Schenectady! I moved to Schenectady in 1995, a year after college (my now ex-husband was born and raised there, and wanted to stay). After renting there for 5 years, we bought a house in the Goose Hill neighborhood (right next to Union College and Ellis Hospital), and lived there for 5 years. The house was, in fact, the house he grew up in, and it was a terrific little house in a great neighborhood. I loved living there. I've since moved a bit north (not exactly by choice), but I still work in downtown Schenectady, and it's been exciting to watch the city grow and begin to achieve its potential.
I consider myself LUCKY to have been a (small) part of the city's renaissance, and I love watching people discover and rediscover this great city. The people I get to work with on a daily basis (from the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation, Proctors, Schenectady Museum, Paul Mitchell School, YMCA, SCCC, just to name a few) are *all* cheerleaders for the Electric City, and it's amazing to be on this team of creative and capable talent, all working towards the same goal - making people see Schenectady for what we know it is: a great place to live and work (and, let's be honest, eat).
Give me an "S"!
Give me a "C"!
Give me an "H"!
Give me an...well, you get the point.
Schenectady is more than what you read in the news. A lot more. It's pretty awesome, if you ask me.
... said Wendy V on Jun 24, 2012 at 5:08 PM | link
My wife and I are also transplants to Schenectady, however some years ago. We both moved to the Albany area in the 1980's for careers, later met, got married, and when we looked for a house, we wound up on Schenectady because of the available of many houses in nice neighborhoods that we could afford. We spent 14 years on Dean Street off of upper Union Street before moving to a larger house on Parkwood Blvd. We love the walkable neighborhoods and the ability to walk to stores or ... just to walk.
One pet peeve of mine is the "high taxes" comments. The taxes must be viewed in perspective. The tax RATE is high, but home prices are low, so the total monthly payment for a nice house is much lower than comperably sized homes in surrounding communities. I'm very satisfied with my very reasonable cost of living in Schenectady.
I agree that the biggest problem with Schenectady is perception. Yes there are areas with poverty and social problems, as every city has. But it is perception that Schenectady is a dangerous place. It is not. It is perception that the schools are not good. But I know that my own two kids had a wonderful experience in the city's public schools and both are now excelling in college.
I have spoken to many city residents who love it here. Especially those who have moved in and have that "outsiders" perspective.
... said Bill Nechamen on Jun 24, 2012 at 5:13 PM | link
I've been living in the Capital Region for almost seven years now and Schenectady has always been the scariest of the tri cities. I have a great Aunt who had a home on State. So I spent some time there as a child. Other than that, I've only mostly gone there to go to Proctors for shows and try to get the heck out of there, However, my husband lived there for a few years and he knows some great places. It really helped open my eyes.
On Thursday we walked from the parking garage by Proctors to Erie Boulevard, to the Schenectady Museum and then down to Jay street and across to Proctors. I had no idea the Jay street pedestrian mall existed. It's beautiful. When we exited The Grog Shopee we went out the back door and in to a beautiful hallway. I definitely saw a beautiful side to Schenectady that day. It was a side I didn't think existed. I definitely have a better appreciation of Schenectady. So it's not all that bad.
I suggest people check out the history information at the Schenectady Museum and at Proctors. You'd be surprised how much history is in the area. I also suggest going to my favorite part of Schenectady, the Stockade.
So, I agree, Schenectady is not all that bad.
... said Wendy McLaughlin on Jun 24, 2012 at 8:35 PM | link
I am not originally from the area, but ended up buying an old house. I really like my neighborhood. I enjoy learning its history and talking walks in the near by GE Reality plot. I like that I can walk to almost everything except work. I like the diversity. While taxes are high, they do include garbage, sewer, and water. Our garbage service is great. It is not perfect, but I enjoy living here.
... said Juda on Jun 24, 2012 at 10:35 PM | link
Katherine, great piece and couldn’t agree more with the points you make. Our cities fall victim to misinformation and myths that I have to constantly educate my suburban counterparts on (often to no avail), who often still remain dubious at the end of our discussions (for instance, pound for pound, the Albany School District offers the most opportunities and best education experience in the Capital Region, especially when you balance these opportunities against the per capita rate to educate each student, but most suburbanites can’t look past the low graduation rates, which is a separate socio-economic issue, and has no bearing on the fact that kids from middle-class families come out of Albany with far more than I did coming out of North Colonie).
While I’m a champion of Albany (just recently purchased a home near the up-and-coming Delaware Avenue), as an urbanist, I see the value in all of our region’s cities, with each one playing an unique part to the regional community. While I’m often tempted to say that Albany should replicate the Proctor’s experience, that is Schenectady’s resource to enjoy and share with the region, while Albany has plenty of unique opportunities to share or expand on within the region (symphony, the Palace, Times Union Center, water front, etc). These unique experiences are what make our cities such an incredibly undervalued asset to our region. Having traveled extensively, I can say that folks may find Albany/Capital Region boring, but we do possess so many wonderful opportunities that I think our community just doesn’t know how to appreciate it. We are certainly not a NYC, but the region’s three cities combine do have enough restaurants, cultural venues, and events to sufficiently keep even the most active weekender busy all year long, so I don’t know what people are gripping about (personally, I think it is largely a symptom of the big is better, even if we don’t need or use it all feature of today’s society).
As for taxes, people have to grow up and come to terms that if you want all the things in life you have come to enjoy (libraries, good schools, parks, nature paths, etc) you will inevitably pay more in taxes. I’ve had friends moved to Texas and don’t pay nearly as much in taxes, but the schools are poor, the libraries far and few in between, and they end up making up for it with a sales tax that is higher than NYS. Furthermore, the splintering of our cities into a multitude of suburban fiefdoms has resulted in the duplication of government services, infrastructure, and politicos that results in the need for more tax revenue to feed this duplication. If we all happened to live in our cities, instead of building new roads, new sewers, new schools, and hire more annoying leaches (hmm, I mean politicians), I think you would see our tax rates drop.
... said R on Jun 25, 2012 at 9:58 AM | link
Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the home prices are low BECAUSE the property taxes are high? If the prices weren't so low, no one could ever afford to buy there. I'd rather pay more for a house (and keep the property value in my pocket) than to give those extra thousands to the city. That being said, I think Schenectady does suffer from a bad (and undeserved) rep. I too enjoy the greenmarket and there are some great local businesses. Love Garafalos, Pereccas and Villa Italia!
... said Karen on Jun 25, 2012 at 10:08 AM | link
Karen, I have to disagree with you on two points. First off, I thinking paying taxes to support your community (especially if you love it) is a worthwhile investment and is often too neglected by those considering where they are going to live; especially if they plan on living there a long time. I know this is a matter of personal preference and what your household purchasing power is, but I’d rather pay the extra $2,000-$2,500 to enjoy all the assets Albany has to share, than locate far and away just to save a few hundred bucks a month on my escrowed mortgage payment (and with the high gas prices, I often end up paying a comparable tax rate to my suburban peers, if you factor their commuting costs on top of what they pay in property taxes).
Secondly, I think the 2008 housing bust has demonstrated that a house is for living and shouldn’t be treated as an investment tool (unless you are using it as a multi-unit rental property, where you can make some money). Too often, people buy a home and look at the initial purchasing price and have high hopes of appreciation and cashing out more than they put in on that initial investment, but neglect to factor in the mortgage interest, PMI, home insurance costs, and maintenance and repair costs that go into a home. Will you ever recoup these costs when you go to sell in 30 years, especially if you bought an expensive home, just to skimp out on a few thousand bucks in taxes?
For instance, my home in Albany cost me about $185,000 and over the course of 30 years will cost me about another $190,500 ($103,000 mortgage interest, $4,500 PMI, $28,000 home insurance, and $55,000 maintenance and repair) for a total of $375,500. My friend, who has a comparable sized home and style in Latham paid $295,000 and on my rough estimates will be on the hook for an additional $277,400 ($173,000 mortgage interest, $6,500 PMI, $43,000 home insurance, $55,000 maintenance and repair) for a total of $572,400. That home has a lot of appreciation to accomplish if my friend wants to break even with their 30 year investment. Whereas, my cheaper home (whether it is because of higher taxes or other factors), will cost me much less over the course of time. Unless you plan on ditching your home within a few years and therefore don’t put a lot of skin in the game or pay off your principal in 15 or 20 years (rather than 30) and assume less interest over the course of the loan, I think my suburban counterparts are getting fleeced in the long term. Meanwhile, my comparable home, that cost me a third less to purchase and which will cost me far less in the long run to maintain, may actually make a profit when I got to sell it. I always hate doing the math and question why I just didn’t stick to renting…
... said Rich on Jun 25, 2012 at 12:10 PM | link
@ Rich--great post! I love this kind of bigger picture analysis. I live in Albany and love it, and am often amused at the reasons people cite for avoiding Albany.
For example:
--Albany is nice, but then you have to figure in the private school tuition (from people who know nothing first hand about Albany city schools to a parent who has sent two kids to them).
--I don't want to pay Albany taxes (but apparently don't mind paying piecemeal for services like trash collection; also shelling out for commuting costs)
--I like the quality of life in the suburbs (to each his own, but I cannot imagine that the time and stress of a daily commute enhances anyone's quality of life).
I never try to persuade anyone where they should live--it's a very complex and personal decision. But the decision often seems based on unsound assumptions and thin research.
(I don't mean to hijack this Schenectady-based post--I am guessing people may make similar observations about Schenectady and Troy.)
... said KM on Jun 25, 2012 at 3:30 PM | link
I would like to add that I love raising my kids in Schenectady. I have had great experiences with Schenectady schools, where I love seeing ethnic and cultural diversity in the student body (my kids go to Woodlawn.)
The libraries offer excellent free programs and a massive choice of books! Central Park is terrific, public pools, parks, playgrounds, free programs (like 15Love that offers free tennis lessons in the summer and Myers Dance studio which gives all male dancers a full scholarship), a church for every denomination and vacation bible schools all over town, Roots and Wisdom's gardening program, festivals and parades and the Woodlawn preserve. Free lunch programs all over the city in the summer and lots of clubs and camps for school age kids at a reasonable price. And you know what else? Opera. I actually took my kids to a free one act opera at Schenectady Civic.
I would be paying a lot more money for these activities if I lived anywhere else. The only problem we have is that we have to choose between things to do!
... said Danielle on Jun 26, 2012 at 12:13 AM | link
RE:Rich,R,KM and Especially Danielle
Taxes are a something that should be paid without griping and complaining to support our city, state, and country. The problem is not every able bodied person is paying their fair share and money is being wasted by the government. I live in Albany were the library and schools go up every year (Albany High is an unmitigated disaster KM) and I am a big supporter of the library system. Why with our ongoing fiscal issues is the library not freezing their budget? As a property owner I am paying well over my fair share for both of these system with diminishing returns.
I could go on and on but will end with this, Danielle-free lunch programs all over the city? Really, why aren't these kids parents supplying them with lunch (a new tax payer responsibility)? Maybe they should not be with parents that cannot meet the simple responsibility of supplying their own child with a lunch (If I am now responsible for feeding other peoples kids when I am already paying into multiple programs that should enable people to feed their own child I say take the kids and put them in a better environment-I'd rather pay more for that program).
... said nyny55 on Jun 26, 2012 at 5:22 PM | link
@nyny55...Well I am glad you didn't go on and on as you said you could.
("Unmitigated disaster"?...wow)
... said KM on Jun 26, 2012 at 10:56 PM | link
Nyny55, The free lunch program that you seem to be so offended by is meant to be a summer version of the National School Lunch Program which provides free and reduced price lunches to children from low-income families. This goes well beyond that. It is also a social atmosphere and since many of the sites tend to be in parks encourages kids and families to get outside and be active. A bonus of the Summer Lunch program is that it provides a whole ton of people (church groups, businesses, etc) an opportunity to volunteer in, and outside of, their community.
As to your first point, you seem to contradicting yourself by "griping and complaining" about paying into these programs that go to benefit the entire community. Maybe there was just supposed to be an indignant question mark after that first sentence?
On Schenectady: It really is a consistently fascinating city that offers a lot of history, amazing buildings, interesting people, and a ton of secret wonderful places that you'll find if you spend enough time there. There really is always something going on if you step outside and just look around.
... said Joe on Jun 26, 2012 at 11:33 PM | link
RE : Joe
The griping and complaining in my statement has to do with an unfair amount and or when taxes dollars are mispent, not a just burden that is shared by all
(maybe you did not read the full post or are choosing not to address that point) . Once again, the free lunch program is a redundancy to other aid that is meant to help low or no income families out. Why are these children not being fed by their parents (who have this responsibility)? What are there parents doing with the aid since they cannot supply their own child with a lunch?
RE: KM your welcome for me not going on -wouldn't want facts to get in the way of your opinion.
... said nyny55 on Jun 27, 2012 at 3:10 PM | link
nyny55: Should that read "I wouldn't want my opinions to get in the way of your facts"? Would read more accurately that way.
The idea that kids would be better in an overburdened foster/welfare system than getting a free lunch is insane. Early programs that help children end up paying off in spades. Plus it astounds me that anyone would ever begrudge a hungry child a pb&j.
... said lucy on Jun 29, 2012 at 11:09 AM | link
Thank you for writing this. I grew up in Schenectady, and when I was 13, moved to Phoenix, Arizona.
I always tell people I feel that those that are Albany naysayers and who give negative connotations about Schenectady have never lived outside of New York State. The ones, like me, who have seem to understand its wealth of beauty, history and culture. The Capital Region is surprisingly amazing and Schenectady is no exception.
I came back here in 2008, after living in Arizona for 14 years, and I never second guess that decision. I've lived and worked in Schenectady, Albany, Troy, Delmar and Clifton Park and Schenectady is still my favorite.
... said Sabre on Jun 29, 2012 at 1:57 PM | link
Check out the www.GreaterSchools.org website and you will see the Schenectady City School district has a ranking of 3 out of 10 with 10 being the best. Meanwhile schools located immediately around Schenectady are ranked between 6 and 9.
As far as this comment, "but most suburbanites can’t look past the low graduation rates, which is a separate socio-economic issue"...sorry but your wrong. Here is a breakdown of the graduation rates for Schenectady. The first percentage is the rate for Schenectady High, the second rate is the NYS average.
Graduation Rate
Source: NYSED, 2007-2008
This District State Average
All Students 55% 76%
Female 59% 79%
Male 50% 71%
Black or African American 48% 61%
Hispanic or Latino 50% 59%
White 60% 86%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 59% 65%
Not economically disadvantaged 50% 80%
Students with disabilities 38% 56%
General-Education students 58% 79%
You will see that the graduation rate for NOT economically disadvantaged students is 50%...I'm sorry, but that is just abysmal . Schenectady's graduation rates fall below the state average in every single area.
The reason Schenectady (and Albany and Troy for that matter) are struggling is because their schools are failing their students. You can have all of the diversity, great restaurants, entertainment and walkability that you like, but if you don't have families wanting to live there, your city is never going to flourish and succeed.
... said dgc on Jul 1, 2012 at 8:36 PM | link
It's so refreshing to read mostly positive comments about Schenectady, my hometown.
... said Gina Cappello on Aug 22, 2012 at 4:28 PM | link