Best areas to live if need to be central to Jersey City, Hoboken, and Bayonne

Submitted by dreamcicle11 t3_11vxo55 in jerseycity

Hi everyone! My husband is moving to Jersey City for residency at CarePoint and will be going between hospitals in Bayonne, Jersey City, and Hoboken. We plan for him to live in Jersey City. He wants to be able to bike some to work and will have a car. I will be visiting him every month from Texas and so would like somewhere we can get a bit more space/ nicer. Just wondering about things like safety especially given he will have a car and commute very early in the mornings typically. Would like to be closer to PATH as well. Areas near Waterfront are definitely not on our budget so would love to hear other options!! Thanks in advance!

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kittyglitther t1_jcveg7c wrote

Replying to dreamcicle11 (#2,273,366)

What's your budget? "Budget" + Nice + Space + Room for car + closer to PATH + Bike into JC is a hard list of requirements. What are the need to haves vs the nice to haves?

Jersey City Heights might be a fit. It's not super close to the PATH, parking is a pain in the ass, but it is more reasonable than downtown, it's safe, and you can find a place with a yard if that's what you mean by space.

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lastinglovehandles t1_jcveu98 wrote

I’d stay away downtown because fuck street parking. Nobody needs that stress in their life. Bergen-Lafayette probably since you can still find houses with parking or newly built luxury apartments. Then you got access to light rail that can take you to Bayonne and Hoboken.

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dreamcicle11 OP t1_jcvevwk wrote

Replying to kittyglitther (#2,273,405)

I just listed some nice to have things. The main thing is being central to those three locations and safe enough to have a car to park/ bike in mornings. Budget is probably around $2000-2400 if it has laundry in building or unit. PATH is not necessary. I have lived in New Haven, CT for two years and briefly lived in Washington Heights so am definitely familiar with how things are different.

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STMIHA t1_jcvgcu5 wrote

I think living in the heights would be ideal tbh

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dreamcicle11 OP t1_jcvgdbr wrote

Replying to lastinglovehandles (#2,273,488)

I’ve read a bit about Bergen-Lafayette and wasn’t sure about safety. Seems like it’d probably be fine. We live in Houston. I’ve lived in New Haven. Just don’t want to have to get a window fixed all the time lol!

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dreamcicle11 OP t1_jcvhfxf wrote

Replying to lastinglovehandles (#2,273,553)

Haha oh perfect! See that’s what I don’t know! I’m like people say it’s a bit sketchier but like what is the comparison!? Thanks so much! I know people on NYC area always roll their eyes at us from the south but I understand that expectations and living situations are vastly different!

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NJ_Bus_Nut t1_jcvhsf6 wrote

West Side around Lincoln Park/Journal Square

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JCwhatimsayin t1_jcvjkcb wrote

I guess I wouldn't totally rule out Bayonne if you really love having access to a car. He'll hate dealing with parking unless you budget for paid. But maybe you can afford to live in the Enclave just down the hill from Carepoint? He can probably get by with just a CitiBike membership and can light rail to Bayonne as needed.

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dreamcicle11 OP t1_jcvju17 wrote

Replying to JCwhatimsayin (#2,273,727)

Thank you! He will have his bike from here so that’s really helpful to know. He will need a car for rotations at other hospitals and when he’s on call so that’s definitely something we have to factor in. Thanks again!

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dreamcicle11 OP t1_jcvok3u wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,274,008)

Thank you so much! This is super helpful! Have you happened to come across anyone living at 134 Baldwin Avenue? I just found that building and know it’s more corporate but seems like it would be really perfect for him. It does seem that the area you’re talking about would be ideal because it’s so close to CarePoint. Your comment also makes me feel so much better about the move! Thank you so much!

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Direct_Ad18 t1_jcvwx8y wrote

How often will he be going to each hospital, or will it be pretty much even? I'm asking because even though these cities are a few miles away from one another traffic can be brutal. I personally would want to be near the turnpike (sounds like he's driving?) or the light rail if not driving, though I don't think the hospital in Bayonne is near the light rail. Assume he is working non traditional hours?

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dreamcicle11 OP t1_jcvxoz5 wrote

Replying to Direct_Ad18 (#2,274,552)

He will be at Hoboken and Jersey a city about 2/3 of the year and Bayonne 1/3 of the year. He will probably be going though when traffic is a bit less bad because it’s surgery residency but that’s a great point!

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Direct_Ad18 t1_jcw27mk wrote

Replying to dreamcicle11 (#2,274,613)

Saw in another post you said Christ hospital... Definitely good to clarify and I bet most people suggesting Bergen Lafayette think he will be in the hospital in downtown JC. Would not recommend Bergen Lafayette if he will be at Christ and Hoboken 2/3 of the year. I would not want to commute from Bergen Lafayette to Christ hospital and I definitely would not want to do it to Hoboken. It would be a fast ride to Bayonne but that's where he will be the least.

I would recommend being in the heights, ideally near the 2nd street light rail. And you should be able to find something within your budget. Street parking would be the only downside, it's difficult in the heights. But can walk to Christ hospital, and can even walk to Hoboken hospital on a nice day. Only problem would be when driving to Hoboken you would be dealing with Holland tunnel traffic into NYC but sounds like he may be earlier than that? Bayonne would be a quick ride down the turnpike or across 440.

It's not near the PATH, which I know you said you wanted to be near, but on a nice day it's a doable walk (albeit a long one) to journal square PATH or a light rail stop away from the Newport PATH station. You also have the bus in the heights to NYC, if that's why you're looking for PATH access. None of these hospitals are near PATH.

Journal square would be next best, especially if PATH access is non-negotiable, but it takes you further away from Christ and Hoboken to be essentially the same distance from Bayonne. Also I personally would prefer the heights. More low rise, feels more like a neighborhood to me.

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Direct_Ad18 t1_jcw5k2h wrote

Replying to dreamcicle11 (#2,275,081)

Downtown is the nicest/safest area but the traffic driving to and from Christ and Hoboken via local roads would turn me off. Also, It still puts you further away from two hospitals to be barely any closer to Bayonne. The heights is also incredibly safe. A lot of it just isn't shiny and new because it's been a well established neighborhood for a long time.

I have lived downtown for a decade and have watched the traffic slowly get worse and worse and I just cannot deal with it. Luckily I only drive on weekends if I'm leaving town. I avoid it otherwise. It's not AS bad as I'm making it sound, at most it will take a half hour to drive to Hoboken. It just gets tiring after a while since it's so damn close and you can practically walk there in the same amount of time.

Since you're coming from Texas I really cannot stress how bad the traffic is around here. In the past decade jersey city has added 10,000 new apartments and it is no where near as big as the other cities on this list.

https://jerseydigs.com/downtown-jersey-city-growth-study/

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cheetah-21 t1_jcwbe73 wrote

There are so many care points. Which one will he be at the most? I’d get as close to it as possible so you can walk those days.

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whatever4545 t1_jcwghfk wrote

Replying to dreamcicle11 (#2,273,574)

The only area where i would be concerned about safety would be greenville, other than that if you have common sense u will not have any problems in bergen lafayette or the heights, that being said it is still a city so there is always a small risk of getting ur car broken into etc but its not that common

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cheetah-21 t1_jcwgrjl wrote

Walk to Christ, Bike to Hoboken, Drive to Bayonne.

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Knobbies4Ever t1_jcwkq4p wrote

Replying to dreamcicle11 (#2,273,426)

For your budget & other requirements, best neighborhoods are likely the Heights, McGinley Square, Westside, Bergen Lafayette.

Parking is notoriously difficult in the Heights, so you might consider budgeting $150-200/mo for an off-street spot if that's the neighborhood you choose.

ETA: just saw some of OP's responses to other posts. Heights would definitely be the most convenient option.

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Maleficent-Baby-1926 t1_jcwqew1 wrote

Bergen Lafayette would be good . people think its sketchy but i find it okay and more bang for buck in terms of space and parking

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yourapuppet t1_jcwvnzl wrote

Bergen-Lafayette near Light rail/Liberty State Park. Side streets near LSP, totally gentrified. High rise buildings and lofts. Drove to this neighborhood last weekend to pick up food order from Cafe Lafayette. LSP Light Rail is central to Jersey City Heights, Hoboken and Bayonne. The only downside... on street parking tight. Most new bldg’s in JC have parking garages, $$. We were looking at The Hazel.in this area. In JC it’s square footage/amenities.

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driftwoodnyc t1_jdbar79 wrote

McGinley Square (Area between Journal Square and Communipaw Ave) - up and coming and relatively safe neighborhood. Lots of new construction too!

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dreamcicle11 OP t1_jdbyuue wrote

Replying to driftwoodnyc (#2,313,277)

Have you heard anything about 295J? We are highly considering it. Trying to go to a complex the first year since he will be on his own and have little time to go somewhere for gym access/ laundry if needed. Thanks again!

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