Hillside

Westminster is uniquely located between the placid suburban setting of Hillside Township and the more active Downtown Elizabeth. But even though it’s separated from Hillside by a set of train tracks, it still shares local baseball lore: the Hillside Historical Society on Conant Street contains the Phil Rizzuto and All Sports Museum, which honors the Hall of Fame shortstop who lived in the area. On the neighborhood’s west end, Kean University and Elizabeth River Park create a bit of a college town vibe, but this neighborhood is still primarily a suburb. “Westminster is largely a residential area,” says Rosmena DeSa, realtor with RE/MAX New Millennium. “It also contains a lot of synagogues, so it’s often been a popular choice for the Jewish community.” While nods to the neighborhood’s Colonial-era heritage are observable in traditional housing styles, the Newark Liberty International Airport is about four miles east, giving a modern appeal to Westminster. “There’s a historic look to the homes in Westminster,” says Sagrario Javier, a realtor with EXP Realty. Colonial style homes from the 1910s and 1920s are prevalent – reminders of when Westminster began to boom as a suburb. These tend to have three bedrooms and hover around the $500,000 mark. Light blue vinyl siding is popular, but one might also encounter cedar shingle siding for a more rustic look. Landscaping focuses on the ornamental, with small shrubs, hedges and bushes. While these single-owner properties are detached, there can be a row home quality to many streets, as the homes are placed close together without a side yard. “Some of the houses in Westminster can be on the more expensive side, compared to nearby neighborhoods,” DeSa says. For example, in the $600,000 to $700,000 range there are homes that have driveways, detached garages and a front lawn. Westminster’s crime score is 4 out of 10 on the CAP index. Kids can attend pre-k to 1st grade at Saybrook Elementary, rated B-minus by Niche. George Washington Elementary earns a C and covers 2nd through 6th grade. Krumbiegel Middle, which is for 7th and 8th grade students, receives as C-minus. Hillside High has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio and is rated C-plus. Kean University fills out the neighborhood’s west end, so select high school students can earn college credits and participate in internships through the Kean Scholar Academy. Elizabeth River Park is not only the largest outdoor recreation spot in Westminster, but a defining feature of the surrounding area, stretching up into Hillside Township. Realtor Corey Jones with Coldwell Banker says the park is filled with amenities. “Beside the basketball court is an open field, and there’s also a baseball field just beyond that, and a playground with a cushiony surface,” he says. “Likewise, a portion of the walking trail has that same material so that it doesn’t have the same impact on your knees and joints.” As the park’s name suggests, there are also scenic views of the river. There’s an international flair to Westminster’s dining scene. Hillside Kitchen feels like a cozy neighborhood institution, located on a corner in front of colonial homes. This is a popular spot chosen for its broad menu of Chinese American classics. For sweet and savory baked goods, including ham and cheese sandwiches, the Del Uruguay Bakery offers a taste of South American cuisine. For an upscale dining experience, there’s Hollywood Blue Ribbon, where steak and seafood are served in a ballroom setting. Casual eateries get attention, too, like Comet Pizza: everything from specialty slices to cold sandwiches are available, and long booths are amenable to large parties. Many homes in Westminster are fronted by sidewalks, so there’s a pedestrian friendly aspect to the neighborhood. North Avenue is one of the main thoroughfares, especially as it connects with Kean University, and residents can travel along it by bus if preferred. Morris Avenue intersects with North Avenue, and it too offers bus lines as well as quick way to reach Union Township. Westminster is less than a fifteen-minute drive away from Newark Liberty International Airport and the 22-mile trek to Manhattan can be completed in around an hour.