Melrose Neighborhood Overview
Melrose is a historic, primarily residential neighborhood located on Albany's west side, bordered by Washington Avenue to the north, Brevator Street to the south, and stretching between Ontario Street and the New York State Thruway. Originally part of the Town of Guilderland, it was annexed by the City of Albany in the early 20th century. The neighborhood's character is defined by its quiet, tree-lined streets, a strong sense of community, and a diverse architectural landscape that reflects its development over many decades.
This is a neighborhood of stability and subtle charm, offering a more suburban feel within the city limits. Its location provides convenient access to major transportation corridors, including I-90 and I-87, making commutes to downtown Albany, the Harriman State Office Campus, or Crossgates Mall relatively straightforward. While largely residential, Melrose maintains a distinct identity separate from the adjacent student-heavy Pine Hills and the commercial stretches of Central Avenue, appealing to those seeking a quieter urban lifestyle.
Housing & Real Estate
The housing stock in Melrose is notably diverse, featuring a mix of early 20th-century American Foursquares, Cape Cods, bungalows, and post-World War II ranches and split-levels. This variety offers options for first-time homebuyers, growing families, and downsizers alike. Many homes feature well-established landscaping, detached garages, and generous lot sizes compared to more densely packed neighborhoods closer to the city's core.
Price ranges in Melrose are typically moderate for the Albany area, often presenting a more affordable entry point than neighborhoods like Buckingham Pond or New Scotland. The market is predominantly owner-occupied, contributing to the neighborhood's stable feel, though there are some multi-family homes and rental units. Recent trends show steady demand, with well-maintained properties selling quickly, reflecting the area's enduring appeal for those seeking value and space within the city.
Schools & Education
Melrose is served by the City School District of Albany. The neighborhood's designated elementary school is often Eagle Point Elementary School, though district boundaries can be subject to change, and families should verify with the district directly. Students typically progress to Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School and then to Albany High School. The district offers a range of academic and extracurricular programs, including International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the high school level.
In addition to public schools, several nearby private and parochial options serve the broader west Albany area, including The College of Saint Rose’s early childhood programs and various Catholic schools. The neighborhood's proximity to the University at Albany’s main campus also provides access to cultural and educational resources, making it attractive to university staff and families involved in academia.
Parks & Recreation
Melrose is anchored by its namesake, Melrose Park, a cherished green space that serves as the community's recreational heart. The park features baseball and softball fields, basketball and tennis courts, a playground, and open fields for casual sports and gatherings. It is a hub of neighborhood activity, hosting little league games, family picnics, and community events throughout the year, fostering a strong local camaraderie.
While Melrose Park is the primary dedicated recreational space, residents also have relatively easy access to the larger Pine Bush Preserve for hiking and nature exploration, as well as the facilities at the nearby University at Albany. The neighborhood's quiet, sidewalk-lined streets are also conducive to walking, jogging, and biking, contributing to an active, family-friendly outdoor lifestyle.
Local Dining & Shopping
Melrose itself is largely residential, so its commercial amenities are found along its periphery, providing convenience without intrusive noise or traffic. The nearby stretch of Central Avenue offers a wide array of international dining options, from Vietnamese and Thai to Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisine, alongside classic diners and pizzerias. For everyday groceries, residents frequent the Price Chopper on Central Avenue or the Hannaford on Washington Avenue Extension.
For shopping, the massive Crossgates Mall is just minutes away via I-87, offering big-box retailers, department stores, and a cinema. However, many Melrose residents also support local businesses along Central Avenue and in the nearby Stuyvesant Plaza, which features upscale boutiques and eateries. This blend of accessible, diverse, and affordable local services with major retail proximity is a key practical benefit of the neighborhood.
Who Lives Here
Melrose is home to a mix of long-term residents, who have lived in the neighborhood for decades, and younger families and professionals drawn to its affordability and space. The population is diverse in terms of age and occupation, including city employees, state workers, university staff, healthcare professionals, and tradespeople. This creates a grounded, working- and middle-class community with a strong emphasis on neighborliness and property upkeep.
The overall community vibe is one of quiet, unpretentious stability. Residents are drawn to Melrose for its sense of privacy, its family-friendly atmosphere, and its practical location that balances residential calm with urban convenience. It’s a neighborhood where people know their neighbors, children play in the park, and community ties are strengthened through casual interactions and shared appreciation for a well-kept, accessible part of the city.
Top Real Estate Agents in Melrose, Albany
9 agents met the full merit gate for Melrose, Albany, CA, selected from over 450,000 licensed California professionals.
Contact
Phone: (510) 205-4369
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.thegundermangroup.com/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/David%20Gunderman
Why selected: Selected for his extensive community leadership, including board roles with East Bay School for Boys and the San Francisco Zen Center. He further demonstrates elite performance and national ranking recognition.
Community & Leadership
Board of Trustees member at East Bay School for Boys[6]
member at San Francisco Zen Center[6]
supporter at Impact Justice[6]
supporter at Berkeley Repertory Theater[6]
supporter at Cal Performances[6]
supporter at Alameda Library Foundation[6]
supporter at ACLU[6]
supporter at Greenpeace[6]
supporter at Planned Parenthood[6]
supporter at Sierra Club[6]
supporter at Family House[6]
activist at CARE organization[6]
activist at ACT UP[6]
supporter at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS[6]
supporter at San Francisco AIDS Foundation[6]
Notable Achievements
Wall Street Journal / REAL Trends Top 100
25+ years experience
REAL Trends The Thousand - 2019
REAL Trends The Thousand - 2013
REAL Trends 'The Thousand' National Ranking
Third Highest Grossing Team Recognition
REAL Trends / The Thousand Recognition
The Leading 100 Bay Area Real Estate Professionals
REAL Trends / The Thousand
Third Highest Grossing Team
25+ Years of Service
Co-founder of third highest grossing team nationally
Over 3 billion in sales
500+ five-star reviews
272 Five-Star Reviews
Verified Specialties
Relocation, Commercial Properties, Rentals, luxury properties, investment opportunities, complex market transactions, East Bay real estate, luxury homes, waterfront properties, estate sales, buyer representation, seller representation, historic homes, investment properties, estate properties, architectural homes, East Bay market specialist, historic properties, architectural estates, luxury real estate, high-end residential, team-based service, collaborative approach[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (415) 310-0066
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.anthonyecassel.com/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/Anthony%20Cassel
Why selected: Selected for his founding role in the charitable initiative Cassel & Brown Cares, demonstrating deep community commitment. This leadership is supported by over 800 families served, $1 billion+ in sales, and.
Community & Leadership
founder at Cassel & Brown Cares[6]
Notable Achievements
22+ years experience
Over $1 billion in real estate sales
800+ families served
$1B+ in Sales Volume
Top 1% Nationally
California Association of REALTORS Champions of Home Award
90% referral-based business
92 five-star reviews
22+ Years Real Estate Experience
5-Star Client Rating
90% Referral Business
Total Sales Volume
Families Served
#1 Company Wide 2016
Superior Market Performance
Verified Specialties
Relocation, Property Management, New Construction, luxury real estate, family transitions, first-time buyers, sellers, investment properties, luxury residential markets, family real estate decisions, property staging, marketing, luxury homes, family relocations, multigenerational clients, luxury properties, investment acquisitions, residential real estate, buyer representation, seller representation, family moves, multi-generational transactions[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (510) 757-4787
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.annefestegroup.com/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/Anne%20Feste
Why selected: Selected for her exceptional quantifiable performance, ranking in the for local sales volume with over $300 million sold. She further distinguishes herself with a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation and a.
Notable Achievements
20+ Years Real Estate Experience
CRS (Certified Residential Specialist)
Top 1% Agent Locally for Sales Volume
Top 1% locally for sale volume
$300 million in properties sold
Verified Specialties
Relocation, Property Management, East Bay real estate, residential sales, buyer representation, seller representation[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (510) 226-8788
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ezfletcher.com/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/Bill%20and%20Eli
Why selected: Selected for his active community involvement through charitable donations and volunteer work with local organizations. He is and a remarkable 90% repeat/referral business rate from nearly two decades of experience.
Community & Leadership
Donor and volunteer at Local community organizations[6]
Notable Achievements
90% Repeat and Referral Business
Verified Specialties
Escrow, Staging, repeat and referral business, client satisfaction, legal expertise in real estate, repeat business, referral business[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (510) 590-0963
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.alexmichas.com/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/Alex%20Michas
Why selected: Selected for his deep community involvement and leadership roles, Alex Michas also demonstrates exceptional performance and record-breaking sales like the $23M 26 Sea View transaction.
Community & Leadership
Board Member at Piedmont/Oakland/Berkeley Association of Realtors[6]
Committee Chair at Local Realtors' Community Investment Committee[6]
Mentor at Compass Agent Development Program[6]
Supporter/Volunteer at Local Equestrian or Land Conservation Non-Profit[6]
Notable Achievements
Highest Priced Residential Sale Record
$33.5 Million Luxury Estate Sale
90% Repeat and Referral Client Base
Over $50 Million in Renovations for Sellers
Verified Specialties
Investment Properties, luxury estates, high-value transactions, buyer representation, seller representation, market analysis, renovation consulting, investment properties[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (415) 535-2996
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eastbakergroup.com/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/glenniekramerbaker
Why selected: Selected for her leadership of the East Baker Group and deep community involvement. She combines over a decade of experience with strong market knowledge and a proven commitment to her clients.
Verified Specialties
Relocation, Staging[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (510) 332-5747
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://vanguardproperties.com/agents/ann-lovi
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/AnnLovi
Why selected: Selected for dedicated community service and professional excellence, demonstrated through performance, ranking in the top 1.5% of realtors nationally with over $225M in career sales and a. Her deep market expertise, honed over nearly two decades, consistently delivers outstanding client results.
Notable Achievements
Santa Clara University Graduate
Top 1.5% of Residential Realtors Nationally
Career Sales Over $225 Million
Verified Specialties
Relocation, residential real estate, commercial real estate background, luxury properties, client referrals, home design and renovation consulting, commercial real estate, home design, renovation consultation, client service[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (503) 819-9191
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://amyprice.realtor/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/Amy%20Price%20Broker
Why selected: Selected for her deep community roots and leadership as a Principal Broker since 2008, combined with a and.
Notable Achievements
Principal Real Estate Broker License
Management Experience
5-Star Rating
Verified Specialties
Relocation, Rentals, New Construction, Lot/Land, residential transactions, first-time buyers, investment properties, retirement transitions, buying and selling process[4]
Cities Served
Albany
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).
Contact
Phone: (510) 334-6952
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.cb-re.com/
Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/AaronBrownEastBay
Why selected: Selected for his deep community roots and leadership as a Founding Partner of a respected local brokerage. He combines this with a and over 400 successful transactions.
Community & Leadership
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Notable Achievements
Founding Partner of Cassel & Brown Real Estate
Over 400 Transactions Completed
Team Achievement: $1B+ in Sales
Team Achievement: 800+ Families Served
5-Star Rating with 21 Reviews
Verified Specialties
Property Management, luxury properties, first-time buyers, sellers, multi-generational clients, property staging, digital marketing[4]
Cities Served
Oakland
All listed agents meet the same qualification standard (see Merit Criteria above).