Weehawken, N.J.

Weehawken is rich in history -- and amazing views

By Patrick Verel | Special to amNewYork

July 27, 2006

The view from the car window as you speed through the exit of the Lincoln Tunnel isn't very impressive, but just off the first ramp is Weehawken, a New Jersey township with views and history way more interesting than its 13,500 population might suggest.

Perched on the southern edge of the Palisades, Weehawken is a mere 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan.

Henry Hudson visited the cove here in 1609. It was also the site of the famous dueling grounds where Aaron Burr shot and mortally wounded Alexander Hamilton in 1804.

When the grounds were leveled to make room for the Lincoln Tunnel, the area became a big transportation hub.

Today the town is home to third- and fourth-generation residents who hand down their houses to their children and to New York City ex-pats looking to escape high rents.

New immigrants also are settling near the border of neighboring Union City.

The basics

-Transportation: Ferry: NY Waterway ferries run to midtown from stops at Port Imperial and Lincoln Harbor. Bus: New Jersey Transit: 155,157, 168, 165, 166 from Boulevard East to New York Port Authority; 156 from Park Avenue to New York Port Authority; 181 from Park Avenue to George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal

-Light rail: The Hudson-Bergen light rail line, which has stations at Port Imperial and Lincoln Harbor, connects to PATH trains in Hoboken and destinations in Bayonne and North Bergen.

Dollar vans also run practically 24 hours a day to 42nd Street in Manhattan.

-Crime: According to the 2004 New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Report, the township of Weehawken had 1 murder, 0 rapes and 10 robberies in 2004.

-Schools: Daniel Webster Elementary School, 2700 Palisade Ave.; Theodore Roosevelt Middle School, 1 Louisa Pl.; Weehawken High School, 53 Liberty Pl.

-Post Office: 4100 Park Ave., 301 30th St., Union City, 4535 Bergenline Ave., Union City

-Banks: Bank of New York, 1500 Harbor Boulevard, Fleet, 4100 Park Ave, TD Banknorth, 4200 Park Ave., North Fork, 4714 Park Ave., Wachovia, 3522 Park Ave.

Find it

Weehawken is bounded by Hoboken, roughly to the south of Washington Street, West New York, north of 51st Street, Union City, west of Park Avenue and Palisade Avenue on the south side of I-495 and the Hudson River to the east.

Real estate

Diane Barsa, a lifelong Weehawken resident and owner of Sky-Line Realty, noted that even though the township only covers 1.5 square miles, the housing is very diversified. The town can be divided roughly into three areas: the waterfront, where there are million-dollar townhouses; Boulevard East, which is up above on the Palisades; and The Heights, on the south side of the Lincoln Tunnel entrance.

"We've got co-ops that go for $250,000 to townhouses with waterfront views for $3 million, and everything in between," Barsa said.

On average, Barsa said one-bedroom apartments rent for $1,000 to $1,200, and two-bedroom apartments go for $1,500 to $2,200.