An industrial-era gem on the Hudson River
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5/26/2018
I've lived in Troy for 17 years and love it more than ever. I was initially attracted by its handsome industrial-era architecture, walkable downtown and budding arts scene. It was quieter back then and a little run down. Lots of beautiful old buildings had fallen into decline. But it was a city with good bones, friendly people, and lots of local pride. Due to the grassroots efforts of some dedicated citizens, we gained a fabulous regional farmer's market and lots of home-grown small businesses. Many shops have come and gone over the years, but our downtown continues to bustle with small tech, business incubators, hip restaurants and breweries, an indie bookstore, vintage and boutique clothing shops, several banks, a drug store, health food shop, and the post office. The farmers market brings in thousands of people every Saturday, and it’s a festival-like atmosphere. There’s lot of great old housing stock here, from large Victorians to elegant brownstones and modest row houses. Downtown is bordered by two universities (Russell Sage and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) and Hudson Valley Community College to the south. The regional bus lines connect through Troy, with good service to North Troy and more limited service to the quieter, more residential East Side. Housing is still undervalued, though prices are rising, especially downtown. There are a few cons – notably, the high taxes and more gray days than I’d like. We don’t get the harsh winters and lake effect snow that plagues Syracuse or Buffalo, but we might get a half dozen big storms over the winter. Many of us have only street parking and, depending on where you live, digging and plowing out can be a bit chaotic. But, to me, it’s a small price to pay for a city that offers so much.
Jennifer | Troy, NY