By MICHAEL LISI, Special to the Times Union First published: Sunday, July 8, 2007
Spend a few minutes driving through Eldorado Acres and it quickly becomes evident that this Rotterdam subdivision is a desirable place.
It's apparent the people who live there think that's the case. It's easy to tell by the way their keep their custom-built homes. A mix of recently built custom Colonial and contemporary-style homes and ranches with neatly landscaped lawns on treed lots characterize the upscale 100-plus lot development, located off Duanesburg Road. Set in the southwestern part of town, the homes in Eldorado Acres are good-sized; most have four bedrooms, two-car garages and range from 1,700- to 2,400-square-feet.
Yellow "Children at Play" signs dot roads in the subdivision, making it clear that Eldorado Acres is a family neighborhood. The driveway basketball hoops and backyard jungle gyms at more than a few homes more than make that case.
The houses, built by Amedore & Sons from the early 1990s through 2000, have notably appreciated in value over the years; homes that sold in the $150,000s in 1993 are selling in the $320,000s today. And when they go on the market, houses in Eldorado Acres houses tend to sell for close to their original asking price.
In May 2006, a 1,700-square-foot, four bedroom custom Colonial at 139 Country Walk Road sold for $240,000, $4,000 less than its asking price. A 2,480-square-foot, four bedroom custom contemporary house at 277 Autumn Run sold for $420,000 in December 2006, about $4,000 less than its asking price.
Schools
Children living in Eldorado Acres are enrolled in the Schalmont Central School District, attending the Mariaville Elementary School, the Schalmont Middle School and Schalmont High School.
According to the 2005-06 state Report Card on the Schools, the district had an enrollment of 2,107 in the 2005-06 school year. The high school had 716 students enrolled that year, with 172 seniors. In 2005-06, 89 percent of graduating seniors earned a Regents diploma.
Commuting
Eldorado Acres is bounded by Duanesburg Road to the north, Pangburn Road (County Route 103) to the west, Shardon Court (in the Shardon Manor development) and Wemple Road to the south, and Al Constantino Drive and Duff Bambury Court in the Becker Crossing subdivision to the east. Duanesburg Road (County Route 7) is the main thoroughfare leading to the development. Heading east, it intersects with Burdeck Street (County Route 337), which leads to Mariaville (County Route 159) to Schenectady and Curry Road into Rotterdam. Exit 23-A of the state Thruway is close-by, as is the on-ramp to Interstate 88.
Shopping and recreation
Grocery and convenience stores, as well as a selection of restaurants, retail shops and other outlets can be found along Duanesburg, Princetown and Mariaville roads, which lead to the Five Corners area of Rotterdam.
The Iroquois Rod and Gun Club is located on Feuz Road, a 10-minute walk from the development. The Briar Creek Golf Course on Pangburn Road is nearby, as is the town's Memorial Park on Curry Road across from Sunrise Boulevard. Memorial Park has a basketball court and new playground equipment. There are three baseball fields, used by the Rotterdam Little League and Rotterdam Babe Ruth youth baseball leagues. Mortgages
A 2,285-square-foot Colonial style home with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms at 112 Country Walk Road is selling for $329,900, down from its original price of $339,900. The house has a finished basement, a two-car garage, public water and public sewer service.
A 2,200-square-foot Colonial with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms at 115 Country Walk Road is selling for $329,000, down from its asking price of $339,000.
Taxes
Homeowners pay $371.27 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for town, Schenectady County and special district property taxes; Rotterdam currently assesses property at about 3 percent of actual market value. That will change once the town completes a property revaluation this year. The school property tax rate for 2006-07 is 614.10 per $1,000. Taxes on a home valued at $300,000 are approximately $8,870. For more information about Rotterdam's revaluation project, log onto the town's reassessment Web site at http://www.rotterdamassessments.com.
Michael Lisi is a freelance writer from Schenectady and a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
I totally disagree with you on this one senders. There was a very brief statement made about Amedore. And they do, in fact, build a decent home.
What I took from this article, was why the TU takes the time to go to Rotterdam neighborhoods and print their findings in their paper. It would be nice if the Gazette or the Spotlight News did the same thing.
I think this was a very positive article about one of the many nice Rotterdam neighborhoods. I would like to see/read more.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I only see one problem with this article. First of all, it's great to see something in Rotterdam finally getting some GOOD attention. Nice to have it now, becausethe mud-slinging that's coming over the next couple weeks has GOT to get bad. but here's the question I have: Schools
Quoted Text
Children living in Eldorado Acres are enrolled in the Schalmont Central School District, attending the Mariaville Elementary School, the Schalmont Middle School and Schalmont High School.
These kids don't get bussed all the way to Mariaville, do they? I wouldn't think that they do, I would think, instead, that they would go over to Jefferson Elementary on Princetown Road.
Hmmmmm, good point there BK...you are so good at the details that I apparenty skim right over!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
That point may be something to check into as it seems like a waste of time and gas to me.
Time and gas for what? To find out what school the kids go to? They wanted to add into the article a "Do it for the children," so they put in as much as they can about the children as they can, they just don't research it.
I honestly don't know where the cut off point is for Jefferson. It is possible that it was an error on the reporter's part. But I'd have to guess that he got most of his info from talking with the residents who live in that develoment.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I just think this is a simple thing to find out, and I think that he just made a determination without actually asking the question. Maybe he called the Superintendant's office to find out. We know how quick they get back to people on things. ( And oh, yeah, still nothing. Doubt I ever WILL hear anything.)
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