Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 6

68 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6 town’s desire to maintain its residential charm. Robertson admits, “We are pretty built out. Our growth estimates are small. We are just over 22,000 now and we see the town having the possibility of growing to maybe 24,000 and actually levelling back off at 23,000. But we don’t have the exponential growth that you would see in places like Clifton Park where subdivisions just continually occur.” When they do find room for expansion in town, they make sure to use it wisely. They currently have a major project being built along the Mohawk River that was a former automotive junkyard. Now it’s being transformed by developers Peter Luizzi & Bros. Construction into a 260-unit apartment complex that will include sprawling river views, a pool, clubhouse, putting green, bike trails, and parkland. Syed confirms, “It’s going to be beautiful. We like to call it one of the most transformational developments in the town of Niskayuna.” Part vehicle at home.” Being walkable and bikeable is the motivation behind the town’s plan for its Town Center Overlay District – a small triangle of the town that is been developed to become a walkable business district. “We recently approved some restaurants and a locally-owned hardware store in our Town Center Overlay District,” Robertson notes. “It’s that walkable, heart of your suburban community downtown.” They’ve also used the area as a way to help encourage more small businesses to start up in town. “We encourage any unused square footage to be put back to use,” Walsh explains. “We do what is called change- of-tenant reviews to try to help the potential business fit within the community and make sure it’s reasonable, useable and have service to the community.” That being said, square footage in town is at a minimum. Housing inventory is low and there isn’t much room for expansion, which suits the Niskayuna’s Lock 7 park offers a fully operational lock, docks, fishing and picnic area, as well as canoe/kayak access.