What do you think of Harrison? (Newark, Jersey City: appointed, apartment, condominiums)

[Antonia]

Hi! I'm a 25 year old starting a job in Times Square. I want to live close to the city without having to live in the city. I know Hoboken and Jersey City are the closest to Manhattan, but I was wondering about Harrison. Is it safe to walk around at night? I really like the fact that it is right on the PATH line so commuting into NYC would be really easy for me.

I appreciate any input you guys may have!

[SAgosto]

I am curious as well.

TTT!

[mbrown29]

I grew up in Harrison and when I lived there it was safe for kids......They had curfew ( all kids should not walking the street at night after 10pm.) There is a bridge that connects to Newark ( ironbound section)- which has great restaurant.

I actually was there last Aug. for my class reunion and its still the same.....just different people. Its a nice place to live and if you have kids is also great.

I don't think you will be disappointed.

Good Luck-

[mama4mia]

Originally Posted by Antonia

Hi! I'm a 25 year old starting a job in Times Square. I want to live close to the city without having to live in the city. I know Hoboken and Jersey City are the closest to Manhattan, but I was wondering about Harrison. Is it safe to walk around at night? I really like the fact that it is right on the PATH line so commuting into NYC would be really easy for me.

I appreciate any input you guys may have!

Antonia, it depends on where you live or have lived and what you are used to. Harrison is a small town with Ridge Rd as it's main street and it runs through Kearny, North Arlington and into Lyndhurst - these towns are about 1mile long each.

Harrison is Essex county and the others are Bergen County. Harrison is closer to Ironbound section where I grew up and you are close to the Path station and Penn Station is in newark - as someone had mentioned, there are a lot of good restaurants; they are mostly Portuguese, Spanish and Brasilian. Lyndhurst also has a Amtrak station on Ridge Rd.

Harrison has a hospital and stores such as Shop-rite, Pathmark, Mandees, Marshalls, K-Mart and Models...If you need to get to a mall then you need a car.

These areas are congested and traffic is horrible. As to crime...well, not very safe at night for someone to be out alone. There's usually police officers patrolling up and down Ridge Rd.

The homes ar mostly duplexes, 3 family and 4 family homes. There are some condominiums. My in-laws own a 4 family in North Arlington. If they have an apartment available I'll e-mail you.

If you watch Sopranos and the scenes shot at the pork store Satrialles, that is Harrison and the sign for Pizzaland is a pizzaria on the North Arlington/Kearny line on Belleville Turnpike.

There are places other than Harrison...Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken...these places also have train stations and you can get a ferry out of Liberty State Park into lower manhattan (a bit out of the way from Times Square).

Hope this helps.

[mead]

All of the towns in that area are pretty good, Harrison, Kearny, North Arlington, Lyndhurst, Rutherford.

Harrison is a bit more "gritty" than the others though. It has an industrial area and is right next door to Newark (albeit the nice section of Newark, Ironbound). I personally like the town. Its fairly nice.

The place isn't nearly a white as it used to be though. Lots of Hispanics and Chinese have moved into the town. There is also a large Portuguese/Brazilian spill-over population from the Ironbound.

I'd say the town is very safe. The police basically keep the place on lockdown. They generally have cop cars posted at the bridges from Newark at night who pull over any undesireables. (be careful about speeding around the bridges though, as they might pull you over as well).

So on the whole its a nice place, but I'd go for Kearny, North Arlington, Lyndhurst, or Rutherford over Harrison if I had to pick.

This assesment might change in a couple of years though as some big development is going to be put up in Harrison across the street from the PATH station. I believe the name is Metrocentre. A lot of more wealthy people are certainly going to flock to the town when this opens up. The opening date of this complex also coincides with the PATH introducing a brand new rail fleet in a couple of years and also the refurbishment of the PATH station in Harrison.

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by Antonia

Hi! I'm a 25 year old starting a job in Times Square. I want to live close to the city without having to live in the city. I know Hoboken and Jersey City are the closest to Manhattan, but I was wondering about Harrison. Is it safe to walk around at night? I really like the fact that it is right on the PATH line so commuting into NYC would be really easy for me.

I appreciate any input you guys may have!

I was up there 2 weeks ago doing an Inventory job for people that had a fire I thought the area was really very nice but cannot tell you how it is at night.


Good luck with your search

[lammius]

Originally Posted by mama4mia

Harrison is Essex county and the others are Bergen County.

No big deal, but actually Harrison is in Hudson County.

[mama4mia]

Originally Posted by lammius

No big deal, but actually Harrison is in Hudson County.

Sorry, your right haven't actually lived there for a while bur visit regularly...but is there a difference in taxes?

[Antonia]

Thanks for the input....I appreciate everyone's help! I actually took a ride around Jersey City/Hoboken/Harrison/Kearny today. Kearny was definitely nice. Harrison had nice parts, too.

Does anyone have any secret tips for finding a good apartment?

[mama4mia]

Does anyone have any secret tips for finding a good apartment? [/quote]

Antonia, if you can try to pick up the Portuguese newspaper called LusoAmericano alot of the 2,3 and 4 family houses are owned by portuguese. You can get this paper at any little grocery store or bakery/cafe on Ridge Rd.