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We were there for about three years. During that time the camera store closed. The flower store closed. I'd say it's basically stable, if not in the midst of a very, very long decline. Most people just hop in their car and go to Montclair whereas fifty years ago they would have walked downtown. So businesses unfortunately took a hit.
But the rentals were cheap, that's for certain. The main drawback was the private bus service wasn't as often as I would have liked. I ended up typically biking into Harrison to take the train.
Yeah, I had the mistaken impression that Belleville had a rail station with NYC service until I talked to a landlord there recently. That was a disappointment I must admit, though I do have a car of course (one can't manage very well in most NJ locations without one). I hate buses.
It used to have a train line, but that was taken away with the new Main Line service if I recall. Bus or car are the only options, unless you want to drive to Bloomfield, which is about the closest NJT stop.
We were there for about three years. During that time the camera store closed. The flower store closed. I'd say it's basically stable, if not in the midst of a very, very long decline. Most people just hop in their car and go to Montclair whereas fifty years ago they would have walked downtown. So businesses unfortunately took a hit.
But the rentals were cheap, that's for certain. The main drawback was the private bus service wasn't as often as I would have liked. I ended up typically biking into Harrison to take the train.
I think Belleville is in a decline as well. It's nowhere near as nice as it was years ago, with all of the elements of Newark moving in.
I think Belleville is in a decline as well. It's nowhere near as nice as it was years ago, with all of the elements of Newark moving in.
I'm aware of that view of Belleville (partly via this forum). That's why I'm wondering about Washington Avenue. I think someone here characterized it not long ago as an "abandoned Main Street." (But there's a lot of that around, and it certainly isn't limited to the Newark area or to Essex County.)
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