By MICHAEL LISI, Special to the Times Union First published: Sunday, June 29, 2008
Putnam Woods is easy living.
The 52-unit condominium subdivision, located on Putnam Road in Rotterdam, has plenty of privacy, is within walking distance to shopping and comes with lawn care, snow removal, and yard clean-up in the spring and fall. Built in 2006 and 2007 by Amedore Homes, the condos are constructed on a private road that's owned and maintained by the development's community association.
That fits with the neighborhood's design as a private community. Putnam Woods has privacy, with its one road -- Annabelle Place -- designed in a horseshoe shape with access to Putnam Road. Trees line Annabelle Place, and the development is backed by a wooded, undeveloped area.
Putnam Woods appeals to older homeowners who have realized the American Dream of owning their own home and have grown weary of all the work that goes with it. They have chosen to downsize into a custom condo where yard work and shoveling snow are things of the past. The units are quite large, measuring between 1,200 and 1,800-square-feet, with patios and porches, vaulted ceilings, bay windows, stainless-steel appliances and one-car garages.
The neighborhood is across the street from the Rotterdam Square Mall and a short drive from restaurants and Mainstage at Proctors in Schenectady.
Schools
Children living in Putnam Woods 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
The development is about a five-minute drive to Interstate 890 at Exit 2A. It's about a 30-minute drive to downtown Albany and almost an hour to Putnam Road east leads to West Campbell Road (County Route 337), leading to the I-890 onramp, situated about a mile northeast of the Rotterdam Square Mall. I-890 provides access to the state Thruway and leads east to Route 7.
Shopping and recreation
Convenience stores, as well as a selection of restaurants, retail shops and other outlets can be found along Campbell Road. The Rotterdam Square Mall is on Campbell Road, just across the street from the start of Putnam Road. The closest grocery store is the Price Chopper on Altamont Avenue, about a 15-minute drive away.
The New York State Canal Lock 8 Park is located on Rice Road. The park provides boat access to the Mohawk River. There is also a biking and hiking trail and places to fish and picnic. The town's Plotter Kill Nature Preserve is about a 20-minute car ride away. The preserve, which has parking areas on Mariaville Road (Route 159) and Coplon Road, offers three waterfalls -- the Upper Falls, the Lower Falls, and the Rynex Creek Falls. There is a gorge and well-maintained hiking trails. A 1,750-square-foot condominium with two bedrooms and two bathrooms at 143 Annabelle Place is selling for $244,900. Built in 2007, the house has a one-car garage, cathedral ceiling, a bay window, a gourmet kitchen, built-in cabinets, ceiling fans and wood-laminate floors. A 1,750-square-foot condominium with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a one-car garage at 26 Annabelle Place is on the market for $229,900. Built last year, the unit has central air, a vaulted ceiling, wall-to-wall carpet, and a laundry room.
Taxes
Currently, homeowners pay $9.01 per $1,000 of assessed value for town, Schenectady County and special district property taxes; Rotterdam assesses property at full value.
The school property tax rate for 2007-08 is $17.22 per $1,000. Homeowner maintenance fees are extra.
Using the town's current assessment rate, taxes on a home valued at $200,000 are approximately $5,246.
Michael Lisi is a freelance writer from Rotterdam and a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
...if you want to walk down a hill with nothing in your hands, cross a 4 lane road with a speed limit (that is not always held to) of 40 miles per hour, then walk across a major parking lot, then do your shopping and carry all the wonderful things back across the parking lot and across the 4 lane road, then climb at least 2 nice steep hills.
Quoted Text
Convenience stores, as well as a selection of restaurants, retail shops and other outlets can be found along Campbell Road.
And these would be where???? Can you give me the name and address of that convenience store that he found?
And don't forget that this weekend, the gas, oil, and all other engine fluids start to get dripped into your drinking water. That's right, it's the open house for the newly built apartments down by the mall...and they haven't even paved the driveway yet, to cause some extra run-off.
Ya had me laughing with this one Kevin. You should have written the article, cause you hit it right on!!!!!
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
Wait - did they get this story from the Gazette?? I thought they were the only ones that printed stories without checking facts - essentially regurgitating what they're fed by "the machine" ???
This is very atypical of the TU, I'm shocked. Kevin, you're right on tho!
That flower shop looks like a real dump The guy that used to run the joint should have stayed with Playboy as a photographer for the Playboy Bunnies. Nice guy but the flower business wasn't for him! And now look at what was once a great business! Maddone!!!! Looks like tabacco road!
Oh come on now biag, there are plenty of areas in Rotterdam that look a bit shabby. Hamburg Street just happens to be one of them.
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
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