What are the best areas of Montclair? (Bloomfield, West Orange: 2009, apartments)

[Olav23]

Hi all,

I drove around Montclair today and it seemed very beautiful in areas. Some seemed to get a bit sketchy.

I currently live in NYC and am looking for more of the suburban lifestyle.

I liked the Watchung Plaza area. It had a nice little "downtown" area with outside seating cafe's. This is exactly what I am looking for, and would be the best fit to transition from NYC living.

We drove to Walnut Street station and it seemed to get a bit sketchy. Glen Ridge seemed to be getting to the cusp of what we considerd okay, and then Bloomfield was just not for us at all.

We'd like to be within walking distance to a train station since my wife and I both commute into NYC daily and this is one less headache to deal with.

Can anyone suggest which train stations we'd prefer to be near or some "boundaries" to stay within to keep the sketch/crime level to the lowest level but still be a bit interesting as far as restaurants?

Thanks!

[NewJerseyMemories]

Originally Posted by Olav23

Hi all,

I drove around Montclair today and it seemed very beautiful in areas. Some seemed to get a bit sketchy.

I currently live in NYC and am looking for more of the suburban lifestyle.

I liked the Watchung Plaza area. It had a nice little "downtown" area with outside seating cafe's. This is exactly what I am looking for, and would be the best fit to transition from NYC living.

We drove to Walnut Street station and it seemed to get a bit sketchy. Glen Ridge seemed to be getting to the cusp of what we considerd okay, and then Bloomfield was just not for us at all.

We'd like to be within walking distance to a train station since my wife and I both commute into NYC daily and this is one less headache to deal with.

Can anyone suggest which train stations we'd prefer to be near or some "boundaries" to stay within to keep the sketch/crime level to the lowest level but still be a bit interesting as far as restaurants?

Thanks!

Hi Olav,

The most interesting and best parts of Montclair are many and varied. It depends on what you're doing.

If you want to live in Montclair, the best places are probably in the Upper Montclair area. I believe Watchung Avenue is the dividing line for Upper Montclair and the rest of Montclair. Upper Montclair has its own little village
area (or rather two - around Watchung and also on Valley Road).

Upper Montclair is a wealthy area full of educated yuppie types, although interestingly enough most of the biggest mansions are NOT in Upper Montclair but are in what I jokingly refer to as "Lower Montclair". Most of them are on South Mountain Avenue across from the Montclair Art Museum and on Upper Mountain Avenue. Montclair has been referred to as the Upper West Side of New Jersey. There are beautiful houses all over town.

Interestingly, even the rich people in Montclair are Democrats. Republicans are a rare breed. Montclair has a funky spirit because it has everyone from millionaires to welfare families, but they're all liberals. Montclair is VERY diverse. The funky liberals like to shop at Whole Foods (organics, you know).

Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street (which is charming), are both full of top-notch restaurants. Montclair has some of the best restaurants in New Jersey according to New Jersey Monthly. Bloomfield Avenue is a very busy place in "Lower Montclair". Recent arrivals in this area are Anthropologie, Elevation Burger, and Urban Outfitters. (actually Anthropologie is opening soon, I hope).

Seedy areas to avoid are the Pine Street area (near the Claremont CVS), New Street, and Mission Street because of the drug activity. Do not go near the Pathmark at Lackawanna Plaza late at night, esp. if you're alone. There are shady homeless people there.

Parts of Montclair near the Glen Ridge Line (near Mountainside Hospital), are not the nicest.

South of Bloomfield Avenue has some more seedy areas.

Anyway, if you move to Montclair you will quickly learn the rough spots.

Montclairians are passionately involved in their town. If you ever go to a schoolboard meeting, the parents come prepared. They are not shy. If there is a divisive issue in the town, both sides will immediately form committees and another committee will spring up to mediate the two sides. One of the ongoing controversies during the last few years was the issue of leafblowers used by homeowners (or those they hired) to groom their lawns (Montclair has many shade trees). The debate raged on for years about the hours these noisy machines should be allowed to be used.

[brookdaleresident]

The Watching area has a station as does Valley Rd/Bellevue Ave which is in Upper Montclair. As for Bloomfield, the south side isn't so great, but the area bordering Upp. Mtc is quite nice (this is the Brookdale section). They are both in residential areas and steips away from shops and restaurants.

[Olav23]

Thank you both for your quick responses. As I was driven around by friends, I don't have the freedom to really drive around again.

It sounds like you and I are very much on the same page, so since time is of the essence, what stations should I focus on?

It sounds like I should stick to apartments near Wachtung station, Upper Montclair station and Mountain Ave station. Does this sound about right? If this sounds accurate, I'd love to hear your prioritized list of the 3, from what you think is best to worst.

Sorry to nag, but I am out of this place as of Oct 31, and the trains don't seem to run on weekends to go explore by foot. I will probably get a zipcar membership

[MontclairBrooklyngirl]

I lived in Montclair in the 80's and have been in NYC for over 20 years. Coming back to Mtc hopefully this year. Visit often. I was never scared even in the Pine Street Areas. The areas are poorer, but Montclair overall has such low crime.

Someone said "South of Bloomfield Avenue has some more seedy areas." Homes that are rented rather than owned, closer together, shabbier etc is not my particular idea of seedy, but yes, not as nice as other areas for sure. And there are million dollar & 1/2 million dollar homes further out, ON the south side, in Montclair (bordering West Orange etc.) There are some very nice homes on the left side of Bloomfield Avenue, not just the right side (Watchung & up). However, less ammenities & travel options. Bay Street train only. NYC bus right on the border of Mtc & West Orange. As New Yorkers, sketchy has a whole different meaning for us! Don't be afraid to explore the other side of Montclair, but trust your gut above all else. You want to be somewhere you feel comfortable! Montclair has NO murders most years... Then some years there was one. I look at that against New York statistics, among other statistics, and yeah, I feel safe. In all parts. Pine Street is about to go thru regenderfication with some great condos, too. Keep that in mind. And it borders Glen Ridge, a very safe, nice town as well, with a much higher price point. For me, I play it safe everywhere. I wouldn't walk thru Central Park at midnight alone. I wouldn't walk on 4th Ave in Park Slope at midnight alone. Just not as populated, therefore, not safe at that time. Same applies for the Pine Street area.

I think you will love the NYC travel options & shopping in the Watchung area. Just keep your options open!

[elflord1973]

Originally Posted by Olav23

Hi all,

I drove around Montclair today and it seemed very beautiful in areas. Some seemed to get a bit sketchy.

I currently live in NYC and am looking for more of the suburban lifestyle.

I liked the Watchung Plaza area. It had a nice little "downtown" area with outside seating cafe's. This is exactly what I am looking for, and would be the best fit to transition from NYC living.

We drove to Walnut Street station and it seemed to get a bit sketchy. Glen Ridge seemed to be getting to the cusp of what we considerd okay, and then Bloomfield was just not for us at all.

We'd like to be within walking distance to a train station since my wife and I both commute into NYC daily and this is one less headache to deal with.

Can anyone suggest which train stations we'd prefer to be near or some "boundaries" to stay within to keep the sketch/crime level to the lowest level but still be a bit interesting as far as restaurants?

Thanks!

Most of the "affordable housing" stock is south of Bloomfield ave on the Glen Ridge border -- Mission St and New St.

I think it's hard to go wrong if you stay west of Elm St/Grove St.

I think it would be a mistake to go too far north, especially since you seem to have so much trouble driving ! you'd be missing out on all the good restaurants on Bloomfield avenue (well, you could drive there, I guess)

Watchung Plaza area would be a good pick. So would somewhere near Bloomfield ave (up around Valley st)

You didn't say anything about your budget.

[Olav23]

Ahhh, the ol' budget question. I'd like to keep expenses around the same that I pay now, but it might or might not be do-able with the added cost of njtransit fare. Right now I pay $2500 a month. I was hoping to keep it around $2k if at all possible. But if I love the place and neighborhood, I would go up to $2500.

I have a baby on the way in a few months, so I want to have cleaner air, nice parks, safe neighborhood for wife and baby and restaurants nearby. I know I want it all

[elflord1973]

Originally Posted by Olav23

Ahhh, the ol' budget question. I'd like to keep expenses around the same that I pay now, but it might or might not be do-able with the added cost of njtransit fare. Right now I pay $2500 a month. I was hoping to keep it around $2k if at all possible. But if I love the place and neighborhood, I would go up to $2500.

I have a baby on the way in a few months, so I want to have cleaner air, nice parks, safe neighborhood for wife and baby and restaurants nearby. I know I want it all

You could get yourself a nice 2br condo on Claremont avenue for under 300k.

A house is going to cost over 400k, at least for the areas you're considering.