Condo Development in Weehawken/Union City, NJ (Jersey City, Paterson: low income, apartments)

[ericka178]

Hello,

Would like to inquire about an area in Union City/Weehawken NJ:

4300 Park Avenue near Clinton Terrace and 43rd Street.

How is this area – residential, safe, clean, any nice views?
Any supermarkets, delis, retail stores nearby?
Walking distance to public transportation (to NYC)?
Are there any parks, waterfront close by?

Any information/comment is greatly appreciated.

[pretorius]

This area is fit for people who want 1) a less expensive alternative to Hoboken and gentrified parts of Brooklyn, 2) an urban neighborhood that is safe, walkable, and ethnically diverse, and 3) a convenient commute to midtown Manhattan.

How is this area – residential, safe, clean, any nice views?

Park Avenue in the 30s and 40s is dominated by mixed use buildings with retail shops at street level and apartments above. The blocks on the Union City side of Park Avenue are mostly residential with some retail and industrial uses mixed in. Most of the homes are occupied by renters with low incomes who speak Spanish. English is the second language on Park Avenue. The blocks on the Weehawken side are residential with a mix of housing types and income levels. This part of Weehawken has a suburban feel with tree-lined streets and large, owner-occupied homes.

The neighborhood is safer than it looks at first glance. Youths hang out on stoops which can feel intimidating before you realize people are behaving themselves, evidenced by the fact that women feel comfortable walking alone after dark. According to the crime stats, Weehawken’s crime rates are extremely low while Union City’s are slightly above national averages. I know stats don’t create a complete picture of the security situation, but these stats are a reasonably objective measurement and a more reliable indicator than comments and feelings based on anecdotes and stereotypes. New Jersey crime maps by zip code (Jersey City, Paterson: crime rate, homes) - (NJ) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum (http://tinyurl.com/yj3m8to - broken link) (see the crime maps in the 08-26-2009, 08:10 AM post). In the past, a lot of the crimes in the neighborhood emanated from a welfare hotel, but this hotel has been condemned and demolished.

Littering and graffiti exist at similar levels as New York City, but the streets are cleaned regularly by workers manually sweeping up the garbage. Street-sweeper trucks still haven’t arrived in Weehawken and Union City.

Boulevard East has great views of the Hudson River and Manhattan. Boulevard East runs parallel to Park Avenue, 2 blocks to the east.

Any supermarkets, delis, retail stores nearby?

A 24-hour Pathmark is located at Park Avenue and 41st Street. The area is saturated with convenience retail such as inexpensive restaurants, liquor stores, flower shops, and bodegas.

Walking distance to public transportation (to NYC)?

The NJ Transit 156 bus runs along Park Avenue. The 156 runs roughly every 20 minutes during the morning and evening rush hours. It rarely runs according to the schedule. Buses run more frequently (1-5 minutes) along Boulevard East, and the Boulevard East buses run 24 hours. All of these buses go to Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown. The bus ride takes 10-25 minutes. To get downtown, take the subway from Port Authority, or walk down the staircase at Boulevard East and 47th street to the light rail and ferry terminals (10-15 minute walk). The light rail connects to the PATH at Hoboken. The ferry goes directly downtown.

Are there any parks, waterfront close by?

Several children’s playgrounds exist within a few blocks. A park along Boulevard East in the 50s has basketball courts, a playground, grass areas, and benches offering a great view of Manhattan. That is the closest thing to a large park within walking distance. The waterfront appears close but it is difficult to access because it is separated by a cliff, busy road, and parking lots.