My wife and I moved to 80 Davis Avenue in Albany just over 2 years ago. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the neighborhood and instead of sharing the usual platitudes, I wanted to provide three unique facts about our community.

1.) If you drive many Capital Region miles – running errands, taking kids to school and practice, commuting – location matters. One of the most obvious features of our neighborhood is the proximity to Route 85. Having lived in downtown Albany for 8 years before moving to Davis Ave, I didn’t fully appreciate the benefits of 85. We’re just one left turn and 1/4 mile from the 85 onramp. Route 85 provides access to the surrounding suburbs as well as 90 and 87. It has cut 5-10 minutes off my trip depending on where I am traveling because of the quick access to the major roadways. Traveling to the bank, Honest Weight Food Coop, airport, downtown Albany, Colonie Center, Crossgates, Home Depot, the grocery store, and more are all now within minutes via smooth highway driving.

2.) Yes we have a pond, but did you know it’s an ice rink in the winter. The shallow pond freezes in the winter, and it’s a great place to skate. People in the neighborhood play pick up hockey, and every winter the neighborhood association hosts a winter festival. I really enjoy walking to the pond with my skates on the weekend for some winter exercise- no lines, no crowds, no cost.

3.) Many of the homes in our neighborhood were built in the mid century. In fact, before the homes were built in the late 1950s this was just hunting fields. One of the oldest structures in the neighborhood is 68 Davis Ave, which was the original hunting cabin. The lots are generally larger and mid century construction usually features block foundations and copper piping, with brick and aluminum exteriors. The soil is sandy so many of the basements are dry, as the soil has good drainage.