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New York real estate: Newark, NJ

By Leah Hochbaum Rosner | Special to amNewYork

June 5, 2008

The Bistro and Theatre Square Grill offer upscale dinners to NJPAC patrons. (Katya Pronin)

Though often ignored by many, except those traveling through Newark Liberty International Airport, the city of Newark is staging a comeback. Once known as one of the most dangerous places in the U.S., Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, has seen a dramatic drop in crime in recent years.

Additionally, the October 2007 opening of the new 18,000-seat Prudential Center -- home to the New Jersey Devils -- has breathed new life into this once festering locale. And the planned construction of thousands of new housing units and more than 700,000 square feet of retail development has many people taking the time to get to know Newark.

"In the late '80s and early '90s Newark was really downtrodden," said Marc Brummer, 46, who's run Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant, an old-fashioned Jewish deli in downtown Newark, since the 1980s. "But everything is much more upbeat now--both in terms of business and emotionally."

Founded in 1666 by Captain Robert Treat and his Connecticut Puritans, Newark was once a bustling manufacturing and business center. But riots in 1967 claimed the lives of 26 people, resulted in more than $10 million in property damages, and changed the city for decades.

These days, vestiges of decay are still plentiful in certain areas of Newark --especially downtown -- but signs of renewal also abound. In 1997, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center opened its doors, attracting millions to the downtown cultural venue.

In 1999, minor league baseball team the Newark Bears christened the new Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

Located just 13 miles southwest of midtown Manhattan, easily accessible by NJ Transit, PATH and Amtrak, and with real estate that's decidedly cheaper than anything in New York City, living in Newark is a good option for those who work in NYC but simply can't afford the real estate.

Today, the city boasts towering cherry trees, an efficient subway line and a number of museums, parks, galleries and restaurants. Earlier this year, Newark even enjoyed 43 days without a homicide--its longest streak since 1961.

"You won't recognize Newark in five years," Brummer said.

FIND IT

Belleville is to the north. Elizabeth is to the south. East Orange and Irvington are to the west. The Passaic River is to the east.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Newark is divided into five wards. The North Ward contains the affluent Forest Hill area. The Central Ward contains much of the city's original history. The West Ward comprises the neighborhoods of Roseville and Vailsburg. The South Ward includes the low-income Weequahic district. And the East Ward consists of Newark's downtown commercial district, as well as the mostly Portuguese-speaking Ironbound neighborhood.

TO EAT

Restaurants run the gamut in Newark--from hole-in-the-wall lunch places to family diners to upscale bistros. The Ironbound neighborhood, known for its largely Portuguese-speaking population, is home to a number of Brazilian eateries.

Adega Grill
130 Ferry St.
973-589-8830

Boasting wrought iron gates and stone fireplaces, this quaint Ironbound eatery is known throughout Newark for its savory Spanish and Portuguese fare. Specialties at the dimly lit locale focus on seafood and organic meats.

Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant