Westmere is a suburban community with access to Downtown Albany
Westmere is in the middle of it all. The community sits between Albany and Guilderland, meaning residents get access to suburban amenities within driving distance of big-city entertainment. “It’s very convenient to a lot of things,” says Jamie Mazuryk, an associate broker at Venture Fox Realty Group LLC who lives close to town. “It’s a great location. You’re surrounded by incredible food. The mall is right there. [The University at Albany] is close. There’s a ton to do.” The area also has a variety of housing options, nearby parks and highly rated schools.
Townhomes, traditional houses and luxury homes are surrounded by trees
Many of the community’s residential streets lie in a grid-like pattern, though some snake through the area and end in cul-de-sacs. Several kinds of trees surround the roads, including pine trees. They can also be found in front yards, along with small bushes. While neighborhoods typically don't have sidewalks, some main streets like Johnston Road and U.S. Route 20 do. New Traditional townhouses can range from $260,000 to $360,000. Traditional homes usually sell between $300,000 and $600,000, while larger luxury properties often run from $675,000 to $1 million.
The Guilderland Central School District gets high marks from Niche
Students are zoned for the Guilderland Central School District. Guilderland Elementary School earns an A-minus Niche grade, as does Farnsworth Middle School. Guilderland High School students can enroll in Syracuse University Project Advance classes to earn transferable college credit. The school receives an A score. New York does not have a private school choice program, though students can attend magnet and charter schools. The University at Albany, part of the State University of New York system, is around 3 miles away. The school, also known as SUNY Albany or UAlbany, serves more than 17,000 students.
Nearby green spaces have hiking trails, fishing platforms and gardens
The community sits next to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s Blueberry Hill, which has two nearby trailheads. Several berries can be foraged along the nearly 2.5-mile hike. The preserve is open for hunting, fishing and trapping; white-tailed deer can be tracked in the fall and winter, while turkey season is in the spring and fall. A few miles away, Six Mile Waterworks Park allows for non-motorized boats and has two fishing platforms. Cook Park features basketball and tennis courts, baseball diamonds, an amphitheater, a playground and a dog park.
To the west, Guilderland’s Tawasentha Park is known for its community gardens. It also features tennis and pickleball courts, basketball hoops, summer swimming pools and winter sledding hills. Regal Crossgates, at Crossgates Mall, plays the latest Hollywood blockbusters and has an IMAX theater. Funny Bone comedy club hosts stand-ups like Doug Stanhope and Steve-O. Christ the King Roman Catholic Church is on the western side of the community, and the nearest synagogue, Congregation Ohav Shalom, is close to 5 miles away.
Crossgates Mall has plenty of retail and restaurant options
Crossgates Mall has about 150 shops, including Michael Kors, Lululemon and Apple. It’s also home to restaurants like Maggie McFly’s, an American eatery and bar, and Texas de Brazil, an all-you-can-eat steakhouse. Other restaurants sit along U.S. Route 20. Athos Restaurant puts a modern spin on traditional Greek entrees, and Capital City Diner seats guests in an Art Deco space. Mazuryk says The Scene is the place for coffee and cocktails, thanks to its high-end aesthetic. The community has a Market 32 for groceries, and a Walmart sits within nearby Crossgates Commons Plaza.
Access to U.S. Route 20 and Albany International Airport
U.S. Route 20 is the community’s main thoroughfare, and interstates 87 and 90 are nearby. St. Peter’s Hospital is around a 5-mile drive, and Albany International Airport is less than 10 miles away. Downtown Albany is nearly 10 miles away. “It’s not tough at all to get downtown,” Mazuryk says. Several Capital District Transportation Authority bus stops are found along U.S. 20. Mazuryk says the area experiences all four seasons, but “there’s not a ton of snow to the point where you’re hunkered in your house.”
The annual Albany Tulip Festival is a few miles away
The community is a few miles from several of Albany’s annual events, including the Albany Tulip Festival. The free event, held just over 5 miles away at Washington Park, puts more than 100,000 tulips on display each Mother’s Day weekend, alongside live music, family activities and food vendors. Lupine Fest, held each May at Albany Pine Bush Preserve, celebrates the titular flowers and attracts Karner blue butterflies.
