Glen Ridge Questions (Newark, East Orange, Irvington: 2009, low crime, buying a home)

[anne_nyc]

Hi! Like many people on this forum, we are looking to escape NYC for more space and better schools. We are kicking off our search this weekend by seeing a few places in Glen Ridge, Nutley, Montclair and Verona. These forums have been incredibly helpful to get a little insight into these towns (thank you!!). We recently came across two listings in the southern part of Glen Ridge that sound perfect on paper but I am starting to wonder if they are in a less than desirable area. One is on Willow St near Ridgewood Avenue and the second is on Linden Avenue near Spencer Road. How are these areas?

Next question - does Glen Ridge offer public pre-K to all residents?

Finally, what's the easiest way to commute to east Midtown from Glen Ridge? We have friends in Montclair that use the DeCamp buses and they sound great. Are these available in Glen Ridge or are the trains more convenient/faster?

Thanks!

[86Sebring]

for transportation, you can always check Njtransit.com
There are buses all over going to the city.
I am not familiar with the areas you are interested in, but why not take a ride there and check it out for yourselfs, talk with neighbors etc.
good luck

[LCMT]

Best websites to research before buying a home

[MaverickDD]

Originally Posted by anne_nyc

...We recently came across two listings in the southern part of Glen Ridge that sound perfect on paper but I am starting to wonder if they are in a less than desirable area. One is on Willow St near Ridgewood Avenue and the second is on Linden Avenue near Spencer Road. How are these areas? ...

There probably is no "bad area" in Glen Ridge itself. However, Willow Street is within a couple hundred yards of the East Orange border and the neighborhood changes very quickly.

More so, lower Montclair to the west isn't that great either. The encroachment of decay is quite close.

Check crime statistics for the street before you buy.

[ReluctantGardenStater]

Originally Posted by MaverickDD

There probably is no "bad area" in Glen Ridge itself. However, Willow Street is within a couple hundred yards of the East Orange border and the neighborhood changes very quickly.

More so, lower Montclair to the west isn't that great either. The encroachment of decay is quite close.

Check crime statistics for the street before you buy.

Describing any area of Montclair as "decaying" is quite an extreme statement.

Despite the irrational fear of some in "Upper Montclair" (a pretentious and totally false label to begin with - it is all one town), the rest of the town is not falling apart. I live in just the next town over and feel quite safe in pretty much any area of Montclair after dark. This is not true for many other towns in Northern NJ, so residents of Montclair should cherish would they have, instead of dramatizing the situation.

[MaverickDD]

Decay an "extreme statement"? ("Quite an extreme statement" at that.) Think again.

July 28, 2009: Montclair Street Crime Up 30 Percent (Baristanet)
(Police Chief) Sabagh says street crime is a direct result of Montclair's geography: "Essex County is most violent county in the state of New Jersey." Not only do criminals come from more urban areas like Irvington, East Orange and Newark, but Montclair has its own gangs, Sabagh said, including the Bloods, the Crips, the Latin Kings, the Hollow Crime Family and the Hak Mob. Most gang members range in age from 15 to their mid-20's.
It's also possible that a major crime cleanup effort in East Orange, financed by a Homeland Security grant, could have displaced gang and drug activity, sending it our way, he said. Montclair has its own application in for an economic stimulus grant.

Crime Map of Montclair, NJ | Montclairian.com - An Online Community for Montclair, NJ