A close-knit community in eastern New York
Every year, the Niskayuna community gathers for its “Niska Day” celebration to show their regional pride with a parade in the morning, a festival in the afternoon and fireworks lacing the skies once night falls. It’s a day of community outreach that involves residents, local businesses and first responders and attracts thousands of attendees from all over the neighborhood. “It’s a suburban community of Colonie and Schenectady,” says Brian Brosen, a licensed associate broker and leader of the Capital Team. “It’s a very diverse town in the sense of population.” Between Niskayuna’s highly-regarded schools, its bevy of pocket parks and proximity to winding trail networks that unfold throughout New York, the neighborhood offers its residents suburban life along the Mohawk River.
Suburban streets lined with old and new homes
Many homes in Niskayuna date to around 1950 or earlier. “There’s a huge mix,” Brosen says. “There’s old Cape Cods and smaller ranches in what we call ‘Olde Niskayuna’. That’s the original small houses and there’s old, mature trees. It’s very walkable and it’s picturesque.” The older single-family homes in the area, including Cape Cods, ranches, colonials and bungalows, typically fall anywhere between around $240,000 and $400,000. Tudors and split-levels are also mixed into the landscape. Newer single-family homes, built closer to the turn of the millennium and in the 21st century, are typically colonials and custom homes and sell for $600,000 or more. “People can get a starter home in Niskayuna for about $275,000 to $325,000,” Brosen says. “$400,000 to $700,000 is fairly common.” Residences here commonly sit along narrow, tree-lined streets, and long, narrow lots allow for sizable front yards and pools, gardens or sheds behind the house.
A trifecta of A-rated schools
Niskayuna Central School District receives an overall grade of A from Niche. “It’s always been popular because it has a highly-rated school district,” Brosen says. “People come there specifically for the schools, and the academics are a huge draw to that area.” Kids can start at Hillside Elementary School, which scores an A, for education up through fifth grade. Enrollment then graduates to Van Antwerp Middle School, which also gets an A and hosts grades six through eight. Niskayuna High School completes the educational arc for students in the neighborhood, also garners an A and ranking just outside the top 100 high schools of more than 1,200 statewide. Located just up the road from its precursors, Niskayuna High offers programs for business education and engineering technology while also fielding athletic teams for football, baseball and more.
Statewide trails and pocket parks
Niskayuna’s location along the Mohawk River means residents are never far from enjoying the great outdoors. “There’s a big rail trail there with some pocket parks along it,” Brosen says, “with everything from playgrounds to fitness places set up along the bike and walking trail.” The Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail runs for almost 100 miles and is part of the Empire State Trail and the Canalway Trail networks, which span large swaths of New York. “You can enter the Niskayuna part of the trail and you’re 10 miles from downtown Albany or five miles from downtown Schenectady,” Brosen says. “There’s walking and nature trails throughout, and Niskayuna is loaded with pocket parks.” Portions of the trails line the river, and some of the parks scattered throughout the neighborhood include Jeff Blatnick Park, where visitors can look out on the river, play sports at facilities for basketball, tennis or baseball, cool off on the splash pad or frolic with their furry friends at the dog park. Other green spaces include Aqueduct Park along the river to the north and the Niskayuna Community Park nearby.
Additional green spaces around Niskayuna
Outdoor enthusiasts can visit the Lisha Kill Natural Area or, just around the bend in the Mohawk River, the Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve. “Niskayuna is close to a couple of nature preserves,” Brosen says. “They’re not in Niskayuna, but they’re close. Outdoor stuff is big in Niskayuna. There’s lots of biking, a lot of walking on the paths.” The neighborhood also hosts annual celebrations, including the beloved “Niska Day” in the spring near the Niskayuna Soccer Park. “Niskayuna Day is a huge, town-wide festival and fair,” Brosen says. “It goes all day long, ends with fireworks and draws thousands and thousands of people.” Other annual staples include the Old Niskayuna Luminary, where the community lights the streets during the holiday season in December. The Schenectady Curling Club and the Mohawk Golf Club are sporting outlets in the area as well.
A neighborhood co-op along Nott Street
The primary commercial center of Niskayuna sits around the intersection of Balltown Road and Nott Street. “There’s shopping plazas there, a few restaurants and grocery stores,” Brosen says. “Balltown Road and Route 7 are the main thoroughfares through Niskayuna, and there’s more chain stuff along the Balltown Road commercial corridor. Niskayuna has one of the more thriving co-ops in the area, right in Olde Niskayuna, and that’s popular.” The Niskayuna Co-Op sits right off that intersection, complete with a bakery and butcher shop. The nearby Broken Inn is active in community events, and other establishments include Tequilas Mexican Bar & Grill and Uncle Rico’s Pizza, both in the shopping center eastward across Balltown. Farther west down Nott Street, diners can seek out dishes at Rookies Sports Bar & Grill, Sicilian Pizzeria and Luca’s Eatery. About three miles south down Balltown, the Mohawk Commons Shopping Mall has a Target, Burlington, Lowe’s and more for general needs.
Close proximity to a trio of interstates
A portion of New York State Route 7 runs through the southern half of Niskayuna. Via the nearly 200-mile-long road that spans much of southeastern New York and connects the Pennsylvania and Vermont state lines, motorists can reach Schenectady, Binghamton, Rotterdam and more. “That’s a very busy road,” Brosen says. “It gets you to all the highways in 10 to 15 minutes, depending on where you’re located.” Interstate 87, Interstate 90 and Interstate 890 are all less than 10 miles away; 87 runs down to New York City and up to Montreal, while 90 is part of the national highway spanning Seattle to Boston. The Albany International Airport is about three miles southeast.
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Schulman
