Welcome to the Center Square neighborhood! We were immediately attracted to this vibrant, comfortable and historic neighborhood when we moved here from Brooklyn and hope you also enjoy what we love about this house and this area. 

Center Square is a great neighborhood with so much variety to offer! We love grabbing coffee and breakfast pastries from Stacks Coffee around the corner or The Daily Grind and enjoying a walk through Washington Park, or the smaller, quieter Hudson/Jay park. Our dogs enjoyed walks through Empire Plaza or nearby Lincoln park where they could chase the ducks into the reflecting pool while we enjoyed the vistas across the Hudson. We enjoyed weekend brunches at Iron Gate Café or Dim Sum at Rain. Lark Street and the nearby downtown Albany neighborhood have a plethora of great dining and drinking options for evenings out with friends and neighbors. Some of our favorites are El Mariachi for margaritas and authentic Mexican or Savoy Tap Room for cocktails and burgers. We also enjoy the luxury of being able to have a cook-out in our quiet rear garden or sitting out on the front stoop with a glass of wine and chatting with neighbors during summer evenings.

217 Jay Street was built in 1857 as one of a set of homes for workers at the nearby Amsdell Brewery (now the Knickerbocker apartments), which was one of the largest breweries in NY State. At the time, Albany was a major producer of beer, second only to Milwaukee in output and the local breweries competed for skilled workers by offering stylish, comfortable homes that were close to their workplaces. 

We don’t know much about the history of our home in the early days, but hints like the original marble fireplace in the front parlor and the decorative cornice on the front façade indicate that it was a source of pride for the original owners. Sometime in the 1980s, a previous owner did a full rehab of the building and exposed the beautiful brick walls and floor joists that give the home such character and its rustic/industrial vibe. This combination of history and style attracted us to the home. We refinished the floors and modernized both bathrooms and the kitchen, seeking to keep a balance of classic materials and modern style. We hope you enjoy this historic home as much as we have.

Sincerely, 

Current owners of 217 Jay Street