NYC - Morris Plains - Any residential place that suits these work destinations (Morristown: apartment complexes, rentals)

[prince33c]

Hi All,
I work in the Manhattan Financial District (downtown) and my wife just got a job offer from a company in Morris Plains (NJ). We have a 4 month old son and now we are wondering which is the perfect place to live that makes the commute for both of us comfortable.


We are looking at renting an apartment and my main considerations are:

• A nice residential area which is safe as I live with my family and a baby
• The commute is easier for my wife so that she may travel less and be home fast. I am fine if I need to travel for 1 to 1.5 hours
• An area that has some good daycares for the baby as we would be leaving the baby there

Hope to see some replies as I really need to take the decision fast.
Thanks!!

[wileynj]

I would start in Morris Plains. Train station is right there! great little town and I believe the school system is decent. Love Morris Plains..best steak house in NJ is located in town..Arthurs!

[prince33c]

Thanks for the reply. How much time would it take for me by train to travel to downtown manhattan from morris plains? Any idea.

Also, Are there family homes in morris plains to rent or gated communities? Which one is better and what's the rent like ?

Thanks so much.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by prince33c

Thanks for the reply. How much time would it take for me by train to travel to downtown manhattan from morris plains? Any idea.

Also, Are there family homes in morris plains to rent or gated communities? Which one is better and what's the rent like ?

Thanks so much.

Try this website for rentals www.gsmls.com. This will give you some idea of the rent costs in that area. I have to check NJ Transit website to see if the Morris Plains line is a direct. By car, NYC is only 40 mins? So train, depending on how many stops...I would venture to say 45 to 1 hr. But I'll double check just to make sure. there are some very nice developments in Morris Plains. Morristown as well but be careful with some areas in Morristown. Parsippany is another choice for you..or even Denville - another very cute town with decent school. Let me go and see what Transits says about the commute time : )

[wileynj]

If I'm reading it correctly...just over an hour into Penn Station is the destination point I used. New Jersey Transit - Home

[lammius]

Yeah the train is about 66-70 minutes from Morris Plains to Penn Station. Add 20 minutes to get downtown via 1, 2, 3 or A, C, E trains. Add ___ to get from whatever house you select to the Morris Plains train station. Add ___ to get from the subway station downtown to your office. You see where this is going? You're looking at minimum 1 hr 40 min door-to-door and $320 for the train monthly pass PLUS $84 for a monthly subway MetroCard. $404/month for that commute.

Alternatively, Lakeland Bus Co. has a downtown express bus, which can get you from Parsippany to Wall Street in about an hour. I have a co-worker who uses this route and loves it. It stops at a few other locations west of Parsippany too, though a few minutes are added to the trip the farther west you go. Places like Denville, Mtn Lakes, Rockaway are on the schedule. Lakeland Bus Lines Denville and Mtn Lakes are good towns and a reasonable driving commute to Morris Plains. Rockaway I don't know much about. The bus fare would work out to about $320/month if you commute 5 days/week, and no need for a MetroCard.

[prince33c]

Thanks Lammius. I looked at the Lakeland bus line site and I think the bus service from Mtn Lakes is not to Wall Street but the Port authority bus terminal. Is this right or am I looking at the wrong place !!
Any idea about the rentals in Mtn Lakes and how long will it take for my wife to go by car to morris plains?
One most importnat thing - will there be a good child daycare in Mtn Lakes for my 4 month baby?
Appreciate your help.

[lammius]

Originally Posted by prince33c

Thanks Lammius. I looked at the Lakeland bus line site and I think the bus service from Mtn Lakes is not to Wall Street but the Port authority bus terminal. Is this right or am I looking at the wrong place !!
Any idea about the rentals in Mtn Lakes and how long will it take for my wife to go by car to morris plains?
One most importnat thing - will there be a good child daycare in Mtn Lakes for my 4 month baby?
Appreciate your help.

Click on the link to the "Down Town Wall Street" route in the east-bound column, which leads here: Lakeland Bus Lines. It lists "Pick Up Locations" which are really "drop off locations" at Varick, W Broadway, Park Pl, B-way, and State St.

From what my co-worker said once, though, I think the bus enters NYC through the Lincoln Tunnel and does make at least one stop in Midtown before heading down 6th Ave toward Lower Manhattan. If you want specifics, give them a call and ask about it.

As for rentals in Mountain Lakes, hmmm... That town is mostly houses, not many apartments. Denville probably has more on the rental market (it has a downtown and probably more diversity of housing stock). Parsippany has lots of apartment complexes. Check craigslist. And some forumers here who live in that area might be able to give you more guidance for finding a place.

The driving trip from Mountain Lakes/Denville to Morris Plains would be about 15 minutes, unless AM traffic is bad on Route 53 or something. Again, someone who lives in that area could tell you better than I can about the traffic and daycare options

[Ellwood]

Morris Plains, Cedar Knolls, Whippany (aka Hanover)

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by prince33c

Thanks Lammius. I looked at the Lakeland bus line site and I think the bus service from Mtn Lakes is not to Wall Street but the Port authority bus terminal. Is this right or am I looking at the wrong place !!
Any idea about the rentals in Mtn Lakes and how long will it take for my wife to go by car to morris plains?
One most importnat thing - will there be a good child daycare in Mtn Lakes for my 4 month baby?
Appreciate your help.

I'm not sure you'll find much in the way of rentals in Mt. Lakes...very wealthy area. I would try Denville...next town over and straight shot into Morris Plains on Rt. 53.