Kearny

While the northern part of Arlington has a storied past as the original site of steam engine use, Arlington proper too has an industrial heritage as a former transportation hub. Today, this gridded neighborhood of long streets is full of plenty of places to eat, as well as diverse housing styles. “It’s a busy, growing area with an urban look comparable to Jersey City,” says Rosmena DeSa, a broker for RE/MAX New Millennium Group. Arlington is right outside Downtown Newark, too, which affects this trend. “In south Newark, close to East Orange, you’ll still see a lot of blue collar areas, but closer to downtown it seems like everything is revitalizing and being renovated,” says Thomas Mosera, a real estate agent with Keller Williams. There’s a stable base of houses of worship, too, including Cavalry United Methodist, Gospel Light Baptist and Saint Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church. With several small parks dotting the landscape, and Kearny High anchoring the south side, Arlington quickly stacks up the kinds of amenities that round out an urban residential experience. Many of Arlington’s homes have a low-slung style that’s reminiscent of minimalist ranches. Usually fronted by a sharp gabled roof and a few ornamental hedges, these homes are entered by an off-center door perched above steps. Outfitted with a yard, a basement and two or three bedrooms, these properties sell around $500,000. Two-story homes with driveways begin to appear around the $600,000 mark, and these present colonial and Victorian features for a decisively ornate look. House facades are bolder colors, too: instead of creams and tans, there are yellows and slate blues. “There’s also a lot of new construction for two-family homes or three-family homes,” DeSa says. “These can go anywhere from $900,000 to over a million.” The neighborhood scores a 3 out of 10 on the CAP crime index. “There are a lot of Latin American restaurants in Arlington,” says DeSa. The diversity continues on Midland Avenue, which presents Japanese, Italian, Chinese and American eateries. There are also classic, casual options like delis and bars. Peppino’s Pizza & Pasta is placed next to a cocktail lounge and laundromat, giving it the feel of being integrated with the neighborhood’s fabric. Nest Café brings a hip environment, speaking to the Arlington’s revitalization: customers can sip specialty drinks next to plants, while children amuse themselves on an indoor playground. Groceries can be picked up on the north end, at Super Foodtown. Students can begin their education at Schuyler Elementary, which earns a B-plus rating from Niche. Lincoln Middle has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio and earns a C-plus. Kearny High is famed for producing several professional soccer players, and receives a B-minus rating. The Hudson Arts & Science Charter School also earns a B-minus, and opened in 2016 as part of an initiative to expand the network of charter schools. Bell Park is a little retreat packed with several playground structures, neatly bordering a residential street of colonial homes. Hickory Park has a playground too as well as basketball courts, and it sits in front of Gunnell Oval, a sports complex with baseball diamonds and soccer fields. Town Hall Circle is intended for rest and reflection, decked out with pergolas, flower beds and statues. Arlington is walkable, with many homes fronted by sidewalks, making it easy to reach the several parks and eateries that fill out the neighborhood. But public transportation is a widely available option, too, like on Elm Street for north-south travel and intersecting Quincy Avenue for east-west traveling. Kearny Avenue on the west side also features several bus stops, and this is one of the key commercial corridors separating Arlington from neighboring Manor Section.

Manor Section is an increasingly sought-after neighborhood, much like Arlington next door, because it’s feeding on the growth emerging from Downtown Newark. “Rutgers University started revitalizing everything around it, and now you’re seeing all sorts of homes being renovated,” says Thomas Mosera, a real estate agent with Keller Williams. Part of the charm of Manor Section – as one might imagine from the neighborhood’s stately name – is the ability to walk past ornate classic homes with impeccably maintained facades. Plus, with the Passaic River on the west end offering plenty of outdoor recreation and Kearny Avenue on the east end offering lots of retail, this slender neighborhood aims to offer an engaging urban experience that nevertheless feels a bit historic, especially with monumental brick landmarks like the Sacred Heart Chapel overlooking the Passaic. Some properties in Manor Section can lean toward a ranch or minimal traditional style with a sidewalk out front and a small stretch of yard out back. Modest in appearance and containing two bedrooms, these 1,000-square-foot homes are priced from about $300,000 to $400,000. But two-story homes are more representative of the Manor Section experience, and these stand out not only for their front yards but also the vivid colors they appear in, like earthy tans and grassy greens. Homes with colonial stylings and three or four bedrooms range from $550,000 to $600,000. In the upper $700,000s there are five-bedroom colonials with Craftsman-esque renovations, such as stone and steel accents. The neighborhood scores a 3 out of 10 on the CAP crime index. The national average is 4. Kearny Avenue is the main commercial corridor of Manor Section, and it’s lined with a variety of Latin American eateries like Brasas Grill, a polished Brazilian restaurant. Places to grab coffee and baked goods also populate the avenue, such as Vicentes Bread Kitchen & Cafe, which is known for its fruit tart pastries. Other conveniences, like Walgreens, are also located along this strip. The Kearny Plaza Shopping Center on the south side provides big box amenities like Target, but residents can also grab fresh produce at the Passaic Avenue Farmers Market, open daily in front of the shopping center. Students can begin their education at Garfield Elementary, which has a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a C-plus rating from Niche. Roosevelt Elementary is also in the neighborhood, and it receives a B-minus. Lincoln Middle has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio and earns a C-plus. Kearny High earns a B-minus, and its athletic programs have been consistently popular, with many of the school’s soccer players going on to become professionals. The Hudson Arts & Science Charter School also receives a B-minus, and is a more recent addition to the area, having opened in 2016. Kearny Riverbank Park is the most scenic outdoor recreation space in Manor Section. Visitors can enjoy the walking trails, a marina and a sports complex. Kearny Archery Park adds a quirky spin to the neighborhood and even features a football field, while Manor Park offers a playground and basketball courts. Belgrove Drive Playground and Windsor Grove Playground ensure that there are ample sites throughout the neighborhood where children can blow off steam. “There’s a PATH train station a few blocks south, in Harrison, that you could walk to,” says Rosmena DeSa, a realtor with RE/MAX NEW Millennium. “That gives you a sense of how busy this overall area can be, too.” Other transportation amenities include buses along Kearny Avenue and Bergen Avenue, which can be essential for exploring the neighborhood’s dining and retail options. New York City is about 10 miles away and Newark Liberty International Airport is about 7 miles away.