Is Newark REALLY that bad???? (Edison, Bayonne: apartments, rental, condos)

[sweetz]

Hi all. I am moving from Westchester Co. in NY and I have found an apartment I looove in believe it or not.. Newark!!! It is spacious, clean, has washer/ dryer hook up-- plenty of closet space, and it is affordable!!!

I am not naive and I realize there are drugs and other crime in Newark. But it seems to be like most metro cities in the US. I felt like when I was there searching that it is an environment that if you mind your own business, stay in and be smart.... life will be ok.

My concern is I have small children (two are school age). Are there ANY good schools there? Surrounding the apartment are other families and single persons who have nice apartments and work hard.

My kids safety is #1 so are the horror stories exaggerated? Does anyone have any personal accounts?

Thanks for reading and any responses!!!

[kort677]

Originally Posted by sweetz

Hi all. I am moving from Westchester Co. in NY and I have found an apartment I looove in believe it or not.. Newark!!! It is spacious, clean, has washer/ dryer hook up-- plenty of closet space, and it is affordable!!!

I am not naive and I realize there are drugs and other crime in Newark. But it seems to be like most metro cities in the US. I felt like when I was there searching that it is an environment that if you mind your own business, stay in and be smart.... life will be ok.

My concern is I have small children (two are school age). Are there ANY good schools there? Surrounding the apartment are other families and single persons who have nice apartments and work hard.

My kids safety is #1 so are the horror stories exaggerated? Does anyone have any personal accounts?

Thanks for reading and any responses!!!

go to The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia and search for newark, they are in the midst of a multi part story about the city, this past weeks installment is quite scary, after doing the search read article 9,it ran in sunday's edition

If safety is #1 to you Newark is not a place that should be considered .
in my opinion there is very little reason to live there, but if you must there are some areas are much better than others.

[Obrero]

Yes, yes it is that bad. In fact it's worse than bad. Do yourself a favor and do not move there, especially with kids. There is no school that I would consider sending my kids to. It is not a place where you can mind your own business and be safe, it is a place to be avoided if you can.

Where are you going to be working and what is your rental budget? I'm sure someone here can point out a much safer choice for you.

[sweetz]

Thanks for the responses. Since you guys were honest and respectful-- I will give a few more details. I work for a temp agency, so I can relocate just about anywhere, but hubby is a medical resident (which equates not a lot of $$$) and need to be able to easily commute to NYC.

We are looking for a 2 bedroom ranging from 900-1200 a month. Washer /dryer hookups would be a big plus but not totally necessary. Like I said the apartment I saw had all of that, but now I am beginning to rule it out based on everything I have heard about Newark.

I found a great apartment in Bayonne. I have sent the landlord the application, and have all the monies necessary to move in, but to be honest with you I sense hesistance on her part --- I think honestly it is either b/c we have kids or we are black. I hate to judge her and say this without knowing, but I dont know what else it could be. We have great references and are a good quiet family. I dunno maybe she perceives something false about us and vice versa. I am wondering what race relations are like in Bayonne?


Any other suggested areas close to NYC are appreciated... in my budget!!

[sweetz]

Originally Posted by kort677

go to The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia and search for newark, they are in the midst of a multi part story about the city, this past weeks installment is quite scary, after doing the search read article 9,it ran in sunday's edition

If safety is #1 to you Newark is not a place that should be considered .
in my opinion there is very little reason to live there, but if you must there are some areas are much better than others.

Thanks for the link!!!

[kort677]

Originally Posted by sweetz

Thanks for the responses. Since you guys were honest and respectful-- I will give a few more details. I work for a temp agency, so I can relocate just about anywhere, but hubby is a medical resident (which equates not a lot of $$$) and need to be able to easily commute to NYC.

We are looking for a 2 bedroom ranging from 900-1200 a month. Washer /dryer hookups would be a big plus but not totally necessary. Like I said the apartment I saw had all of that, but now I am beginning to rule it out based on everything I have heard about Newark.

I found a great apartment in Bayonne. I have sent the landlord the application, and have all the monies necessary to move in, but to be honest with you I sense hesistance on her part --- I think honestly it is either b/c we have kids or we are black. I hate to judge her and say this without knowing, but I dont know what else it could be. We have great references and are a good quiet family. I dunno maybe she perceives something false about us and vice versa. I am wondering what race relations are like in Bayonne?


Any other suggested areas close to NYC are appreciated... in my budget!!

please take this with the spirit it's being offered, Bayonne is a strange town, it is very blue collar and being black may not make you welcomed in some places there, and if you are relegated to the black part of town you need to know that it isn't the best place to be. I don't know what your budget is but maplewood, montclair, bloomfield might be places that you should be looking.
Like I said earlier, newark can be a tough place but it is possible that place you found may not be in the worst place, do your homework and find out as much as you can, my methods of checking an area out is hanging out in the local coffee shop, visiting the local supermarket and in an urban area like newark, just hanging out around the local commercial area will give you a good feel for a neighborhood

[DaSkorpion]

Originally Posted by kort677

please take this with the spirit it's being offered, Bayonne is a strange town, it is very blue collar and being black may not make you welcomed in some places there, and if you are relegated to the black part of town you need to know that it isn't the best place to be. I don't know what your budget is but maplewood, montclair, bloomfield might be places that you should be looking.
Like I said earlier, newark can be a tough place but it is possible that place you found may not be in the worst place, do your homework and find out as much as you can, my methods of checking an area out is hanging out in the local coffee shop, visiting the local supermarket and in an urban area like newark, just hanging out around the local commercial area will give you a good feel for a neighborhood

=====================

Very well said......!!!

=====================

[sweetz]

Originally Posted by kort677

please take this with the spirit it's being offered, Bayonne is a strange town, it is very blue collar and being black may not make you welcomed in some places there, and if you are relegated to the black part of town you need to know that it isn't the best place to be. I don't know what your budget is but maplewood, montclair, bloomfield might be places that you should be looking.
Like I said earlier, newark can be a tough place but it is possible that place you found may not be in the worst place, do your homework and find out as much as you can, my methods of checking an area out is hanging out in the local coffee shop, visiting the local supermarket and in an urban area like newark, just hanging out around the local commercial area will give you a good feel for a neighborhood

Thanks-- I couldnt agree with you more-- I got a feeling in Bayonne!!! And we are a nice family, professional, working people and I didnt appreciate the treatment. But anywho-- I am going to go to Newark-- as a matter of fact at night!!! That will tell me all I need to know!!

But thanks for the suggestions--- I will check those out!!

[Viralmd]

The other thought that I've had is talking to the hospital's residency directory. They're usually very helpful when families need to relocate to start July 1....

[ehs]

Why not come to Edison Hollow South ? As I just checked the Community Blog for another member and saw there are 3 condos listing for rent. EHS is only 5 min walk (may be less depending on how you walk) to Edison Train Station. The schools of Edison are great for your kids as well (in fact, one available unit is bi level condo of 1800 sq ft 1804 Raspberry Ct, Edison NJ, that school bus is right in front of the unit), and there is no discrimination here. If you are interested in, give Danny, Board of Trustees, a call at 908 635-2037 (cell) a call.

By the way, I have no bad feeling about Newark and am member of Newark Museum, and visited often, as a matter of fact. And I deliver sleeping bags to homeless people in Newark at nights, so Newark is like 5th and 6th Av of NYC to me at nights, you got many homeless sleeping outdoors, outside churches ...etc.