Lafayette Township, a balance of the old and the new
In the Skylands Region of Sussex County, New Jersey, the farming community of Lafayette Township balances the old with the new, offering an outdoor shopping mall and a historic village center. Lafayette is 42 miles from Newark and 6 miles from Newton, Sussex's county seat and commercial center. While farms and farmstands dot Lafayette, the area is expanding, and development is on the rise with the approval of an apartment complex and several warehouse distribution sites. Residents can enjoy the pastoral atmosphere of a rural lifestyle without long commutes to restaurants and shopping.
Antique Mall at Lafayette Foundry
Local restaurants and retailers gather at the Lafayette Foundry and The Shoppes at Lafayette. The foundry serves as a time machine where residents can find relics from their childhoods and artifacts from the past. “The Lafayette market is a hub for antiques, and it is an old grist mill they turned into an antique mall,” says Stephanie Pizzulo, the Land Use Administrator of Lafayette Township. “You get lost in time when you walk through it. Even if you don’t like antiques, it’s a really cool place to walk through, and other shops are in buildings that are 100 or close to 100 years old." The Lafayette Mill Antiques Center hosts a vintage market in the nearby Lafayette Pond Park from April to November. "It's a pretty substantial antique center, and people come from all over to go to it," says Pizzulo. The Shoppes are newer to Lafayette and feature locally owned retailers in an outdoor mall. Lafayette House offers a reprieve from shopping in an upscale setting serving hearty American dishes. Groceries are available at ShopRite in Sparta, 3 miles away, and Weis Market in Newton, 6 miles away. Locally grown produce is available at farmstands or the Sunday farmers market from April through December at The Shoppes.
Custom Homes with large lots
Lafayette lies on the west side of Kittatinny Ridge and has a rugged terrain. Flatter areas are used for farming, and waterways snake through the township. Most homes are organized along winding local routes that branch off state Routes 15 and 94. "We have some areas in the town served by natural gas," says Pizzulo. "Most of the township is on well and septic." Most homes have larger lots and are set back from the road. Farmhouse, split-level, Colonial Revival and raised ranch-styles are common. Prices vary based on lot size. Homes with 1 to 5 acres range from $310,000 to $835,000, while 5 to 10-acre lots are usually large Colonial Revivals or custom builds ranging from $900,000 to $1.5 million. The township is expanding; apartment buildings near The Shoppes and two packaging warehouses are planned as well as another solar farm. Beaver Run Solar Farm has been operating off Beaver Run Road since 2016.
Live music at Lafayette Pond Park
"We have a park in town on Route 15," says Pizzulo. "A lot of people use that park. They can fish there; there's a playground and a baseball field. That's where they hold the vintage market." Lafayette Pond Park offers open, green spaces for picnics and a large pond with a water feature. In June, the township hosts a Music In The Park event. Attendees grab snacks or shop at the Lafayette Marquis Antique & Flea Market while listening to live music. Paulinskill Valley Trail is a popular rail trail and one of the longest in the state, spanning 27 miles through lush greenery. "You'll see hikers, people on horseback and bikes," says Pizzulo. “They're nice trails because they're relatively flat."
Business studies at High Point Regional High School
Children may attend Lafayette Township Elementary School, which receives a C-plus from Niche for prekindergarten through eighth grade. Students advance to High Point Regional High School, which receives a B-minus and offers business studies, mathematics, science, technological studies and media technology through their STEM program.
Harvest festival at The Shoppes
Every October, The Shoppes at Lafayette hosts the Garlic Festival, a celebration of the fall harvest. Garlic farmers and other vendors sell their produce and crafts at the weekend market. Religious services are held at Unity of Sussex County, Reformed Baptist of Lafayette and Lafayette Federated Church.
Commuters use state Routes 15 and 94
State Routes 15 and 94 cut through the area, leading to Sparta and Newark. Just outside the area, U.S. Route 206 branches off Route 15, leading to the strip malls of Newton. The Newton Park & Ride, 5 miles away, has weekday transportation to New York City, 60 miles away. The Newark Liberty International Airport is 50 miles away, and the Newton Medical Center is 6 miles away.
