Walter P. Springer

Home Search Northern New Jersey Clifton (Members Only) (edit/delete)

Only 15 miles from New York City, Clifton is perfectly situated for commuting via train or bus, and perfectly situated to access most of northern New Jersey because it is connected to five major highways - Routes 3, 19, 21, 46 and the Garden State Parkway.

Clifton is a vibrant mix of residential and commercial. Relatively low taxes and affordable housing make Clifton a magnet for young and first time home buyers. Although there are some stately homes in Clifton, it is largely a town of modest single and two family homes, town-house complexes, condos and rental apartments. Much of the housing stock is from the 1940's through the 1960's.

Shopping opportunities abound in Clifton on Routes 3 and 46, along with many thriving small businesses on Clifton Avenue, Main Avenue, and Allwood Road. A diverse population mix gives parts of Clifton a particularly international flavor, reflected in the many ethnic eateries on Clifton's commercial streets.

The city has 28 parks, the largest of which is the 36-acre Main Memorial Park, which has baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and a pond. The four-acre Morris Canal Park contains part of the 102-mile historical canal built in the early 1800's to link the Delaware River with the Hudson River at Jersey City.

The City of Clifton was established in 1917, but its existence goes back over two centuries prior. Dutch Settlers purchased a tract of land which included modern day Clifton from the Leni Lenape Indians in 1679, and this tract was incorporated as Acquackanonk Township in 1683. Primarily farmland through the 1800's, Clifton became industrialized in the 1900's when it was the northern new jersey home to numerous factories including several large silk mills.

Although much of the industry is now gone, much of the history remains. Clifton's history can be seen in many places including the Botany District (a restored Victorian era neighborhood), the Athenia section, the Hamilton House Museum, and the Clifton Municipal Complex and Clifton Arts Center housed in renovated brick barns built in the early twentieth century and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Just across the Paterson border is historic Lambert Castle, built by silk tycoon Catholina Lambert in 1892 in the style of castles he had visited in England. A museum since 1926, it is on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

Clifton also epitomizes much that is distinctive about northern New Jersey popular culture, including its share of notable diners and hot-dog joints. Many scenes from The Sopranoswere filmed in Clifton, including Main Memorial Park, and Clifton High School. The golf scenes were filmed at the Upper Montclair Country Club which is located in Clifton, and which has also been home to tournaments including the NFL Golf Classic, and most recently the LPGA Sybase® Classic presented by Shop-Rite.

For more home search information about Clifton, go to: www.homesandlandnnj.com - www.cliftonnj.org - www.cliftononline.com - www.cliftonhistory.org

Only 15 miles from New York City, Clifton is perfectly situated for commuting via train or bus, and perfectly situated to access most of northern New Jersey because it is connected to five major highways - Routes 3, 19, 21, 46 and the Garden State Parkway.

Clifton is a vibrant mix of residential and commercial. Relatively low taxes and affordable housing make Clifton a magnet for young and first time home buyers. Although there are some stately homes in Clifton, it is largely a town of modest single and two family homes, town-house complexes, condos and rental apartments. Much of the housing stock is from the 1940's through the 1960's.

Shopping opportunities abound in Clifton on Routes 3 and 46, along with many thriving small businesses on Clifton Avenue, Main Avenue, and Allwood Road. A diverse population mix gives parts of Clifton a particularly international flavor, reflected in the many ethnic eateries on Clifton's commercial streets.

The city has 28 parks, the largest of which is the 36-acre Main Memorial Park, which has baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and a pond. The four-acre Morris Canal Park contains part of the 102-mile historical canal built in the early 1800's to link the Delaware River with the Hudson River at Jersey City.

The City of Clifton was established in 1917, but its existence goes back over two centuries prior. Dutch Settlers purchased a tract of land which included modern day Clifton from the Leni Lenape Indians in 1679, and this tract was incorporated as Acquackanonk Township in 1683. Primarily farmland through the 1800's, Clifton became industrialized in the 1900's when it was the northern new jersey home to numerous factories including several large silk mills.

Although much of the industry is now gone, much of the history remains. Clifton's history can be seen in many places including the Botany District (a restored Victorian era neighborhood), the Athenia section, the Hamilton House Museum, and the Clifton Municipal Complex and Clifton Arts Center housed in renovated brick barns built in the early twentieth century and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Just across the Paterson border is historic Lambert Castle, built by silk tycoon Catholina Lambert in 1892 in the style of castles he had visited in England. A museum since 1926, it is on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

Clifton also epitomizes much that is distinctive about northern New Jersey popular culture, including its share of notable diners and hot-dog joints. Many scenes from The Sopranoswere filmed in Clifton, including Main Memorial Park, and Clifton High School. The golf scenes were filmed at the Upper Montclair Country Club which is located in Clifton, and which has also been home to tournaments including the NFL Golf Classic, and most recently the LPGA Sybase® Classic presented by Shop-Rite.

For more home search information about Clifton, go to: www.homesandlandnnj.com - www.cliftonnj.org - www.cliftononline.com - www.cliftonhistory.org

Located just 13 miles from mid-town Manhattan, Montclair began as a mountain retreat and artists' community in the 1900's. Today, numerous eclectic restaurants, theatres, and shops make this a ‘destination town' for surrounding communities throughout northern New Jersey. Sophisticated young urbanites reaching child-rearing years, many from Manhattan and Brooklyn, move here drawn by the town's gracious tree-lined streets, diversity of population and lifestyles, and cultural opportunities.

Numerous well known public figures live in Montclair, and many residents are members of national media and entertainment industries. The town has an excellent public schools system along with several private and parochial schools. Montclair is home to Montclair State University, as well as an excellent Art Museum, a baseball field where the Jackals play home games, and the Yogi Berra Museum.

Montclair's largest commercial area is Bloomfield Ave, which includes a movie theater, many shops, banks and other services, and a large variety of both affordable and upscale eateries. Bloomfield Avenue is also home to the recently renovated Wellmont Theater (circa 1922), which has hosted renown musicians and entertainers including BB King and Tony Bennett. Other smaller commercial centers along Bellevue Avenue, Watchung Avenue, and Walnut Street also offer shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues frequented by the community.

There has been some new condo development here recently, but homes are for the most party single-family detached, circa 1880's through 1930's. Most lots are about a quarter acre but grander homes can occupy a half acre or more. Many splendid turn of the century houses are designated historic landmarks.

Commuter transportation is superb, with extensive bus routes, as well as six train stations along the Montclair Boonton Line, plus the newly completed NJ Transit commuter rail hub, Montclair Connection, which goes directly into Manhattan.

Although Montclair is almost completely developed, various town and county parks and gardens dot the landscape. These include the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, dedicated to cultivating and displaying a rich variety of irises, as well as Brookdale Park, the second largest park in Essex County, and reputedly designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect who created NYC's Central Park. Learn more about Montclair, its neighborhoods and homes at http://www.homesandlandnnj.com/flippy

Walter Springer

wspringer@homesandland.com

If you are conducting a home search in Northern New Jersey you have found the right place. Thanks for visiting my web site. I am Walter Springer, Managing Publisher for Homes & Land of Essex, Morris and Passaic Counties. Homes & Land is a new free, high quality, glossy magazine dedicated to home search in the northern New Jersey region.

The successful Homes and Land nationwide franchise has been in business since 1973. We are pleased to let you know that Homes & Land of Essex, Morris and Passaic is the eighth regional edition of Homes & Land to be launched in the great state of New Jersey. Our magazine operates in tandem with a superior electronic and direct mail marketing package that reaches out to neighbors in our dedicated communities.

Our three part-marketing package includes:

•1) The Homes & Land signature high quality magazine

•2) An industry leading web site presence, delivered via our national website at http://www.homesandland.com, a regional web presence with http://www.homesandlandnnj.com and for contracted advertisers an individual client website created to fit our advertisers' needs.

•3) A targeted direct mail program that helps our advertisers focus their advertising based on selected demographics.

This three part marketing approach is based on the development and enhancement of our advertisers personal brand.

Homes & Land was the first real estate marketing firm to utilize the internet for home search and property listings. In 1993, Homes & Land developed the first real estate website with a searchable database for property listings. Today, the Homes & Land franchise continues to lead the way in home search and marketing innovation. With that spirit we at Homes & Land of Essex, Morris and Passaic are offering our products and advertisers here on the Active Rain blog site. In addition to home search tips and tools we will also dedicate blog space to promote our coverage communities.

Each posted entry is designed to engage the real estate community and deliver informative news you can use. We look forward to sharing our news and views on our website http://www.homesandlandnnj.com. I can be reached at wspringer@homesandland.com and at (917) 881-2379.

Thank you.

Walter