Residential on the Rise

We asked Downtown resident Cheyenne C. about her experience living in Albany’s newest neighborhood, what she loves about living here, and why you would, too. Are you a Downtown resident who’d like to share your experience living here? Email us at hello@downtownalbany.org and you could be featured in our next Downtown Digest.

What first attracted you to live in Downtown?

I’m originally from the Bronx, NYC and I grew up around endless opportunities for food, drinks and entertainment. Eventually, I found myself in Albany for higher education. Throughout college, I’ve lived in various student apartments in “college town,” which is mostly a suburban area with not much to do. I was drawn to downtown Albany because it’s like the mini-NYC of the Albany area. There are large scale residential developments that allow for easy neighbor interaction. There are many restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues within walking distance! I feel closest to home when I’m in downtown Albany.

What are the top 3 things about living here?

1. The setup of downtown Albany makes it very easy to meet and connect with your neighbors or even downtown Albany tourists and visitors.

As we were going through a global pandemic, it was significantly more difficult to be social and make friends, but living in downtown

Albany has saved my social life!

2. The easy accessibility to some of the most talked about entertainment experiences is a great perk. One of the most diverse and unique experiences in downtown Albany includes a visit to The Yard: Hatchet House & Bar and their Boozy Moo alcohol infused ice cream! When you visit, you can throw axes, play lawn games, enjoy specialty cocktails, explore themed greenhouses, and/or eat a multitude of fun flavors of alcoholic ice cream.

3. The hard work of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District team continues to make the area more attractive, more fun, and more like home. Knowing that there is a great team of individuals dedicated to the improvement of my experience as a downtown Albany resident makes me proud to be here and excited to see what great things they will do!

What makes Downtown feel most like a neighborhood to you?

My residential community makes me feel like I’m truly part of a neighborhood. I think what’s most important about the concept of a neighborhood is a sense of real community. In my apartment building, we have a group chat that we utilize quite often. We let each other know about the arrival of packages and food delivery, we report lost items to each other, we borrow shovels, hammers and other household items, and sometimes we just joke around. It’s super cool and makes me feel connected to those I share walls with.

What are your favorite places to dine, shop, etc., in Downtown?

After a long week of work and school, my favorite thing to do is brunch! One of the best places to have Sunday brunch is The Bishop, where I enjoy bottomless mimosas, great food and great staff. They even have various flavors of mimosas that you can choose from.

When friends/family come to visit, where do you take them for dining and entertainment?

The first place that comes to mind is The Cloud Food Hall! During the week, I’d take my friends there during the day to enjoy some of the tastiest food that you can find Downtown. But if it’s the weekend, I’d take my friends there at night to enjoy music, drinks, hookah and a great vibe. The Cloud Food Hall is the perfect place to take visitors to have a great time, day or night!

What would you say to someone to convince them to move to Downtown?

If you’re looking for a community that offers affordable housing, great food and entertainment, a healthy mix between quiet and lively, and a team of people who are constantly making improvements and additions, downtown Albany is the place for you!

New apartments on the way

Two of Downtown’s most heavily trafficked streets will soon be home to more apartments, as buildings on State Street and N Pearl Street are up next for residential conversions.

The top 11 floors of 90 State Street are being transformed into 162 residential units. Known as The Abraxas, units will range from studio to two-bedroom, two-bath. Within just a few blocks of the large-scale transformation, Redburn Development Partners has purchased both 61 N Pearl Street and 66 State Street, which will result in a total of 42 new or renovated market-rate apartments. Since 2012, more than 880 apartments have been constructed or renovated in Downtown, with hundreds more under construction and in the pipeline in, or directly adjacent to, our District.

New website features filters

As mentioned on Page 6, the BID has launched an updated website, and with the new look comes better functionality for those looking to live Downtown. Now, you can filter out apartments by price, number of bedrooms, pet-friendly, and more. Experience it for yourself by scanning the code below or visiting downtownalbany.org/live - and we look forward to welcoming you as our new neighbors!

Liberty Lofts for the win

Congratulations to the residents of the Liberty Lofts building for their Residential Trivia Night win! This event hosted by the Downtown Albany BID was held this spring at Parish Public House, and this team came in with some lofty goals and left with the trophy.

Downtown residents: did you know we have an e-newsletter dedicated to informing you about your neighborhood including resident only events? Available as a benefit to those who live in our District, email us at hello@downtownalbany.org to get signed up.