East Greenbush offers shopping, easy commutes and sought-after schools
Just 6 miles outside Albany and 12 miles from Troy, the town of East Greenbush is half suburb, half fledgling country. “You’re very close to highways, but yet you have open space and development. It’s not like you’re right next to each other unless you’re in a development,” says Mary Stapleton, an associate broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices with 20 years of experience who lives in East Greenbush and has sold homes there for 9 years. She adds that the neighborhood’s abundant shopping, popular restaurants, highly rated schools and proximity to major employers like Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and GlobalFoundaries all serve as major draws.
Homes with large yards on suburban streets, rural houses with acreage
East Greenbush is full of New Traditionals, colonials, Cape Cods, ranch-style and hi-ranch houses on generous suburban lots. The median sale price is about $370,000, which is lower than the national median. There are full subdivisions east of I-90 with home prices that reach around $740,000, while homes to the east of the interstate have more land and higher prices, reaching almost $990,000. Homes here typically sit on over an acre, and prices are higher thanks to the potential for land. Homes that need repairs and some townhouses make up the lower end of prices, about $300,000 or less. Whether they’re more suburban or rural, East Greenbush’s homes spend an average of just 18 days on the market before they sell, compared to the national average of 52 days.
Highly rated East Greenbush schools and career prep at Columbia High
The East Greenbush Central School District earns an A from Niche and features five elementary schools. Children can attend Citizen Edmond Genet School before moving on to Howard L. Goff Middle School, both of which earn A ratings. The A-rated Columbia High School offers a career and technical education program that covers 15 fields, including aviation, gaming and multimedia, and cosmetology.
Commuting to Albany on Columbia Turnpike
Columbia Turnpike is East Greenbush’s main thoroughfare, but the road is also officially known as both U.S. Route 9 and Route 20. It provides a straight shot into Albany, a 6-mile drive that takes about 15 minutes. Albany has destinations like the Albany Medical Center and Albany International Airport; the airport is 18 miles from home. U.S. Route 4 and Interstate 90 also pass through East Greenbush, leading 12 miles to Troy. While many people drive to get around, Capital District Transportation Authority buses make stops along Columbia Turnpike before continuing to the bus terminal in downtown Albany.
Exploring the town park and the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail
Stapleton says that the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail is a major draw for cyclists, runners and walkers alike. The 36-mile paved trail runs through the heart of East Greenbush, and it’s popular for everything, from daily exercise to walking through town without navigating busy, car-clogged streets. “Ever since Covid, I think people walk a lot more,” Stapleton says. “It’s a real walking community, especially in the neighborhoods where the streets all connect.” The rail trail crosses right behind FunPlex Fun Park, which is a miniature amusement park complete with a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf and go-karts.
East Greenbush has a smattering of parks with athletic spaces dedicated to its soccer, baseball and girls’ softball youth leagues. East Greenbush Town Park has a playground, dog park and wooded walking trails. Anglers cast lines in the pond and stream along the park’s edge. Pheasant Hollow Golf Course has a 9-hole course and driving range. The YMCA, Planet Fitness and East Greenbush Bowling Center provide space for burning off energy indoors. Churches in the area host events, though people can also attend the Albany Tulip Festival or the Troy Riverfest.
Local restaurants and major retailers on Columbia Turnpike and Route 4
Routes 20 and 4 are dotted with busy restaurants. Nic’s Trattoria is popular for its chicken parmesan; Chez Mike is known for its short ribs and Soho Asian Bistro offers sushi, ramen and hibachi-style dinners. Greenbush Salsa Latina is a go-to spot on the weekends. “They have music in the summer,” Stapleton says, adding that the restaurant is known for its margaritas. “And the food is so good for the price.” For dessert, people head to Lickety Split for ice cream or The Crisp Cannoli. Market 32 and Hannaford sell groceries right in the heart of town. Shopping centers in the north part of town, like Rensselaer County Plaza, have big box stores like Target and Walmart.
Plans on the way to clean up Superfund site in East Greenbush
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation placed the Fashion Care Cleaners & Laundry, Crown Cleaners and Former United One-Hour Dry Cleaners on its State Superfund Program list after discovering the businesses have contaminated soil and groundwater. There is a potential for the contamination to create vapors that could be inhaled while in the businesses. Future testing is needed to determine the level of risk. The department has identified other sites in East Greenbush, but they have either been mitigated or are not currently posing a risk to public safety.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
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Photography Contributed By
Houston Knight
