Picturesque homes in a booming business community
Some people say that Roseland is the jam – literally. The well-known jam company Polaner has kept roots here since the mid-20th century, making Roseland part of the original American Dream. Other manufacturers that are household names make their home in Roseland, like B&G foods, producer of the popular Pirate’s Booty popcorn snack. Add this to picturesque housing styles and a well-regarded public schools, and it’s easy to see why people say this area has a small-town feel. “I find homebuyers are attracted to Roseland due to the comparatively lower property taxes,” says Realtor Katherine Adcock with Weichert Realtors. Turns out, having all these brand names in their backyard is a boon for local residents. “The reason for lower rates here is because there’s a lot of office space in town, so those buildings pay a good amount of tax, which offsets the rate for the residential homes,” says Daniel Buschbaum, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway who has family in the neighborhood.
Midcentury styles starting at $600,000
Well-kept midcentury homes boost the sense that you’re in a neighborhood based on stability. But with sidewalks, fenced yards, mature shade trees and attached garages, this is certainly a comfortable version of suburbia. Prices for split-level homes start at $600,000. Renovated midcentury homes pop up, once homebuyers expand their search into the low $700,000s. For example, they can look for Cape Cods from the 1950s with remodeled kitchens and modern amenities like heated floors. At more than a quarter acre, lot sizes tend to be relatively large. All residential streets in Roseland are interwoven with parks, schools and small businesses, giving a tight-knit feel to the neighborhood. “Roseland is all over the map in the kinds of housing that it offers,” says Adcock. “Small homes, big homes, luxury homes.” Those luxury properties do tip the scale, in some respects. “You will see million-dollar homes here, and a good chunk of people choose to live in townhouses, some of which are upscale,” says Buschbaum. “There’s a new townhouse complex being built on Harrison Avenue, and people know Roseland Green as the premier complex in Roseland.” But generally, prices range from $600,000 to $800,000.
Clubs, activities at West Essex High
Lester C. Noecker School enrolls over 450 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, a small enough student population to keep it focused on an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The school receives an A-plus in the teachers category and an A overall from Niche. West Essex Middle, which has a student-teacher ratio of 10-to-1, scores an A-minus in the academics category and an A-minus overall. West Essex High has over 1,000 students on its sprawling campus and earns an A and is noted for its clubs and activities, including a wrestling team and marching band known for winning championships. Residents also have close access to the Roseland Free Public Library, which is touted by locals for staying open until 8 p.m. most days of the week.
Riker Hill Art Park
The sheer diversity of parks is what ties a lot of Roseland together. The size of each varies, and they’re spread across the neighborhood. Riker Hill Art Park on the west end is one of the most memorable: eclectic modern sculptures dot a space that was once occupied by a former army base. Attached is Becker Park, a rambling 150-acre space that’s still largely undeveloped from its dairy farm days. In contrast, the east end’s Harrison Field and Complex, situated next to the public library, is a bright and open space devoted to athletic facilities.
Shopping and dining in Roseland
Thanks to Interstate 280, which runs through the middle of Roseland, it’s convenient to reach any of the local parks or other destinations, like the Essex Green Shopping Center, which has a Shop Rite grocery store. Residents can merge onto the Eisenhower Parkway to find conveniences like Walgreens and prime dining spots like the Greek-inspired Lithos, and Stella, a classic Italian restaurant. “Fairchilds Marketplace is a neighborhood institution,” says Buschbaum, speaking of the prominent brick building on Eagle Rock Avenue, with rustic décor inside. “It’s a deli, it sells sandwiches and it’s been here since 1928. So people can go there and have a nice family dinner, or pick up meats, cheeses and wines. It’s kind of like a general store.” Besides that, there’s not really a town center in Roseland for a lot of walking around town for shopping and dining. “People will go to Bloomfield Avenue in neighboring Caldwell for that kind of environment,” Buschbaum continues. “In fact, despite that strip along Bloomfield, people will probably find a lot of similarities between Caldwell and Roseland.”
Commuting to Newark, NYC on I-280
Interstate 280 runs east-west through the neighborhood, helping people to make the 12-mile drive to downtown Newark in about 20 minutes, while it’s more of a 50-minute drive to Manhattan. But while there are many residents who work in the city, Buschbaum describes Roseland as being more rooted, and not strictly a commuter community. Buses along Roseland Avenue, Eagle Rock Avenue and Livingston Avenue assist in getting around locally.
Photography Contributed By
Brendan Rogers
