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Old places, new faces
Census data show a city growing for first time in more than 50 years, changing in racial makeup
Sunday, July 3, 2011
By Kathleen Moore (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

SCHENECTADY — As a city, Schenectady is a far different place than what it was a decade ago.

For the first time since 1960, the population is growing again, although slowly. The storefronts that were shuttered downtown are now vibrant, and there are so many children that the school district must keep adding buildings and the city has started to pay park attendants to run programs in the summer.

The racial makeup of the city is changing, too, with immigrants and blacks leading the population growth.

In 2000, whites made up nearly 77 percent of the city’s population. Now, they are 61 percent of the whole, while blacks, Asians and those who identified themselves as “some other race” have added thousands of new residents to the city.

In raw numbers, the city has only added about 4,000 more residents. But Schenectady is a city of neighborhoods, and 2010 U.S. Census data illuminate far larger changes on the neighborhood level.

There are many more children now in areas that for decades had only a few children. There are occupied houses on streets that once were mostly vacant. The changing demographics could shift everything from priorities for park improvements to road repairs.

For the next 11 weeks, The Daily Gazette will highlight one neighborhood each Monday, explaining the changes in the past decade as well as the problems facing the neighborhood now and its greatest strengths.

The first neighborhood profile will be Woodlawn, in Monday’s Gazette.

But first, the citywide numbers........................>>>>.............>>>>......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00100&AppName=1

"Storefronts that were shuttered Downtown are now vibrant?" ROTFLMAO!! Like Olenders, Trustco and Gillen's Gulch? Take another look at State below Erie. The occupied homes statement is equally disturbing. The number of homes for sale/abandoned is shocking. Another Gazetto feel good special devoid from any reality.

There's more people here for the sole purpose of getting on our welfare system because it's so easy to get and lucrative once your accepted.

Everyone should be asking...........how many of these folks are working folks (and where they are working), how many are on section 8, how many are on unemployment and how many are enjoying hot dogs at the hot dog stand while waiting in line at the dss building? If none of these folks are, then it is a nice warm and fuzzy story. imho

Quoted from Shadow

There's more people here for the sole purpose of getting on our welfare system because it's so easy to get and lucrative once your accepted.

Bingo. The problem the Daily Gazette has is that the editors jump into their Lexus and BMWs and drive north up Maxon Road and never really GO INTO the city neighborhoods to view reality because their limousine sensibilities might be offended by the unwashed and non-Ivy League persons they might have to interact with (even though they went to State schools.) They really know how to spin the bullschit for the dictatorship they are part of, however.

I wonder what fiction they will twist up to promote the Mont Pleasant area?

Maybe the growing diversity of the area, and the renaissance as illustrated by the one business opening there recently.  The diner.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

Bingo. The problem the Daily Gazette has is that the editors jump into their Lexus and BMWs and drive north up Maxon Road and never really GO INTO the city neighborhoods to view reality because their limousine sensibilities might be offended by the unwashed and non-Ivy League persons they might have to interact with (even though they went to State schools.) They really know how to spin the bullschit for the dictatorship they are part of, however.

With the ad revenues tanking it's more like VW's. When they actually "examine" a neighborhood like Northside a couple years ago it's a laughable puff piece. Every business mentioned folds within a year. Another example was Tuesday In the Park where the DEM moron Mayor {an Oswego Grad} cancelled it due too many great unwashed. So what if it drew 50,000 to Central Park? But DEMS care alot!

     Wonder how many of these new residents have a mailbox here and in The Bronx? Shadow has it right easy to qualify for DSS benes. No residency checks. Then fill out a voter reg at both DSS offices. In ten years the population of the City went up only 4,000? And for that the entire County voting strength was reshuffled.

For every new business we lost a business downtown, I maintain. We got restaurants, we had restaurants. Remember there was a health food store on State Street? Downtown may look fancier, but business for business, we haven't gained more than we had already.

For every job created-we lost 3 jobs. Schenectady County again has the highest unemployment in the region. We have two of the top three highest taxed jurisdictions {Schenectady AND Scotia}. Also interested in the Mt P report to see if any mention of the deserted shopping center and Crane St Business District. The pride of Mt Pleasant-the bakery will be relocating here.

     Income is low and taxes are the highest in the region. Downtown cannot maintain a health food store, french creperie, stock brokerage offices, kosher delis or upscale furniture stores like we had back in the day. It can maintain hot job and lousy pizza by the slice stands.

..........and what exactly, is the positive effect of this 'so called' increase in population for schenectady?

Is there now lower taxes? Is there now a lower crime rate? Is there now less folks at the dss building? Is the school system better? Are the streets and all infrastructure being maintained? Are there less section 8 and evictions? Is the mortgage tax higher? Is sales tax revenue up?

And with this influx of people to schenectady, why in the hell did they close one of two hospitals??? And if this influx is a positive....then why has the city been in and continues to be in a decline?

Where is the other side of the story???

This appears to be a desparate attempt by the dems to try to win election this fall.  DV might have even been telling them they need to do something because those of us who know the truth and have the facts and prove how bad things are

What is interesting is there is NOTHING indicating the income levels in the city now compared to ten years ago, and IF they put income in at all, it will be critical to include the inflation.   It will also be necessary to divulge the income of those that moved into the city.  

And also needed will be what the typical property values were then and what they are now and show that TOGETHER with the taxes then and the taxes now.  

Yeah, and you see, the vacancy rate droopped ONLY because they wanted to "hide" the fact that there were so many vacany properties.  

How long is the time that houses sit on the real estae market.  They need to divulge that.  And the assessemnt value, the original asking price, how many price reductions,  final selling price, and the amount of time sitting on the market.

And yes, we know there are some new jobs.  But dishwasher jobs and ticket takers are not good jobs.  Such a news story need to tell how many good paying jobs have been created---NOT MOVED (from one street to another NOR from one town to another).


And where is this shopping downtown?  
Where can one by clothes, other than Rudnicks?  
Where men buy business suits?  
Where can women buy dresses?  
Where can parents buy dress clothes for their children?  
Where can parents buy school clothes for their children?  
Where can parents buy play clothes for their childrren?  
Where can people buy outerwear for the various seasons?  
Where do people buy shoes, sneakers, sandles, and boots?  
How about hats, gloves, and mittens?  
How about bath towels, dish towels, bed sheets, blankets, bedspreads, curtains, draperies, rugs, bath mats?  
How about tablecloths---for holidays as well as everyday time, or table mats?  
Where can one buy small kitchen appliances?  How about DVD's, CD's, players, computers, TV's and video games and assorted accessories (remotes, speakers, etc)?  
Where does one buy craft supplies, knitting stuff, sewing machines and accessories?  
How about paint, brushes, canvass, charcoal, paper, etc?  
How about furniture and mattresses?  
How about dishes, glasses, flatware, silverware, china, candles, candleholders, etc?  
Where does one buy nuts and candy?  
How about household tools?  
Where does one buy pet supplies?

Oh yes, what percent of the population back then were on welfare.
What percent is on welfare today

What percent back then graduated from college
What percent today have college degrees

What percent back then had high school diploma
What percent today has it

What percent are owner occupied homes then
What percent are owner occupied today

As of today, there are:

379 single family homes (average list price of $118,837)
158 two family homes (average list price of $78,136) and
83 multi family (average list price of $125,812) properties

that are currently being marketed for sale through the Multiple Listing
Service and that are located within the City of Schenectady limits.  These
figures do not include those properties that are For Sale By Owner or those
that may be in bank foreclosure proceedings and thus not yet able to be
listed.

Hopefully, the influx of residents will invest in the city by purchasing
homes there.

Mc. People need to go to the mall to shop. Albany has same problem.  Never met anyone who couldn't get to the mall

Interesting that the Gazetto will begin their neighborhood research in Woodlawn. Guess it would just be a downer if Bellevue, MP or the Hill went first.

This is so pathetic, why doesn't the Gazette just plant a picture of every DEM running in November on their front page now until the election. At least this type of fairy tale journalism would end.