Should I buy a home in this area of Jersey City? (Lincoln Park: daycare, how much)

[youngfamily814]

I'm considering buying a house in the neighborhood just west of Lincoln Park in Jersey City -- there are several streets lined with old Victorians there priced around $500,000-$600,000. Gifford and Belmont are two of the streets there. Is Duncan Ave. OK? It's a little further toward Journal Square. I'll be working in mid-town Manhattan. We've got a baby and are hoping for more down the road.

This seems like a nice neighborhood, but tell me if you think otherwise. I don't want to move my family there if it's not safe. I realize Downtown New Jersey is nicer, but we can't afford a three-bedroom there. Are there any other places I should consider?

Thanks for any advice you may have.

[tahiti]

take my perspective with a grain of salt - i grew up right near JC and was there constantly - but haven't been up on the pulse and revitilization that's been going on recently.

that area, while it looks nice with the older housing, tree lined streets, etc. is NOT an area I'd live in. it's better than greenville (actually, is that section considered greenville? it seems a bit too north, but it could be for all i know), but i think it's still iffy. if you decide to live there, by all means send your kids to catholic/private school.

[bay]

We live in society hill community which located a little further down from the location you are talking about. Community itself is nice, but the whole JC education environment is not. Basically, I don't think JC is a good place to raise a kid. If you have budget like that, you should consider somewhere else. We plan to move when my baby is ready for school.
JC has a good high school, but no one can guarantee your kid can get in. For quality daycare, it usually will cost you $1400-1600 per month (that's what I paid for right now). For a good private school will cost you $17000 per year. I think I can use those money to pay for the property tax in good school district already.

[kort677]

Originally Posted by youngfamily814

I'm considering buying a house in the neighborhood just west of Lincoln Park in Jersey City -- there are several streets lined with old Victorians there priced around $500,000-$600,000. Gifford and Belmont are two of the streets there. Is Duncan Ave. OK? It's a little further toward Journal Square. I'll be working in mid-town Manhattan. We've got a baby and are hoping for more down the road.

This seems like a nice neighborhood, but tell me if you think otherwise. I don't want to move my family there if it's not safe. I realize Downtown New Jersey is nicer, but we can't afford a three-bedroom there. Are there any other places I should consider?

Thanks for any advice you may have.

if you don't mind an urbanized place with all the problems that are inherent in such a place, go for it. Most people with young children look for more suburban settings to bring their family up.

[youngfamily814]

Thanks for all the replies. I've been told by others that JC elementary schools are not good, so we would plan on Catholic schools, I think. One more question: do people actually use Lincoln Park? Seems like such a nice area, but when we drove through, there was no one there.

Thanks again to those who have offered their opinions.

[bay]

Our community has a small playground, but I do bring me kid to the playground in the park sometime during summer period.

[kort677]

Originally Posted by youngfamily814

Thanks for all the replies. I've been told by others that JC elementary schools are not good, so we would plan on Catholic schools, I think. One more question: do people actually use Lincoln Park? Seems like such a nice area, but when we drove through, there was no one there.

Thanks again to those who have offered their opinions.

the majority of the residents are in the lower income brackets, much of the town is a ghetto, how much more of a picture do you need? If that is the environment that you think is conducive to raising a family then buy that house you like, there is a reason nobody is in lincoln park and it isn't because the weather isn't nice.

[downtownjc]

That area of Victorians near Lincoln Park is indeed nice (at least aesthetically). A fair number of people have bought and renovated many of those homes, and the streets right around that area aren't too bad

That said, that general area (and much of JC) is still so-so as far as safety goes. It's not in the worst part of town (that would be Greenville, followed closely by part of Bergen-Lafayette). But you do need street smarts in that area.

And Jersey City tends to vary block by block (even downtown). It's the by-product of the relatively rapid gentrification of the area; some blocks have newcomers who've improved the neighborhood (and the majority of civilized old-time residents) but others have troublemakers.

Lincoln Park itself seems pretty safe during the day (haven't heard of anything happening there more serious than some kid getting his bike stolen by some older kids). But I wouldn't want to hang out in the park at night.

You might want to go to Jersey City List and ask about the specific street/intersection you are looking at. There are people on the message boards there from all over JC and they can let you know about the area.