Settlers from the Hudson River Valley began farming the Stone House Plains section of Bloomfield, in what is now Brookdale, as early as the start of the eighteenth century.
Located in the northeast corner of Essex County, New Jersey, Brookdale is a census designated place, or CDP, within Bloomfield which is the wider township
Settlers from the Hudson River Valley began farming the Stone House Plains section of Bloomfield, in what is now Brookdale, as early as the start of the eighteenth century.
Located in the northeast corner of Essex County, New Jersey, Brookdale is a census designated place, or CDP, within Bloomfield which is the wider township. Clifton is situated to the northeast and Montclair to the south and west. The CDP is well served by the Garden State Parkway which provides easy access to the rest of the state and to New York City. On a good journey, you can drive to Manhattan Island via the Lincoln Tunnel in about 25 minutes. As of the 2010 Census, Brookdale had well in excess of 9,200 inhabitants. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total area covered by the CDP is only a little over one and a half square miles. Into this space, several thousand housing units are squeezed, so the population density is high even by the standards of New Jersey. But, this close to the Big Apple, you knew that already, right?
The majority of housing units in Brookdale are owner occupied but that does not mean that you cannot find apartments for rent in the vicinity. Some newcomers to the area get confused with Brookdale Community College, which, while it is based in New Jersey, is about an hour's drive away to the south. If you are new to the area, then don't fall into that trap before you begin your apartment search in Brookdale. The CDP is handily located for access to Newark Liberty International Airport and, as such, makes for a good place to consider relocating to if your work means that you have to travel across the country and overseas.
Most of the housing units in Brookdale have three bedrooms. Nevertheless, you can find 1 bedroom apartments for rent as well. You simply need to be prepared to keep looking if no single bedroom or studio apartments are available at the time of your search. With most houses in the area offering two or more bedrooms, rental apartments that fall into this category are subsequently easier to track down. In fact, the proportion of three bedroom residences in the CDP is considerably higher than the average for the country as well as exceeding that of New Jersey.
Landlords are able to charge more for rent than in much of the rest of the U.S. This will come as no surprise to New Yorkers, but if you are relocating from the Midwest or the South, then the cost of living can come as quite a shock. Early fall and spring are generally regarded as the best times of the year to move to Brookdale, simply because that way you avoid high humidity in the summer and potential snowfall in the winter. Since competition for rental housing can be intense at these times, it is a good idea to start your search before Easter, or even as early as the mid-winter period. If you do, then moving becomes subsequently harder, but you do stand a much better chance of finding the sort of accommodation that you are looking for.
A good tip is to have some proof of your I.D. on you when viewing an apartment. Along with this, take a recent pay slip, or a copy of a bank statement, to show that you can afford the month to month rental fees. This may mean you can close a deal with a landlord or their agent and freeze out another potential renter. New Jersey state law makes sure that rental leases are written in a plain and easy to understand way, which is designed to protect the interests of renters. If you find that your lease agreement is too legally phrased or that it is unclear in any sections, then ask for those parts to be re-worded in clear language before signing.
There are no very clearly defined neighborhoods within Brookdale, which is really just one big neighborhood in its own right. Having said that, there are a couple of things that are worth remembering when looking around the CDP.
Western Brookdale: The areas closest to Montclair, around the western part of Watchung Avenue for example, are best if you want to access the railroad. The line connects to Hoboken Terminal along the Montclair Branch and is popular with commuters. There is a butcher's shop and a bagel emporium that are both handily placed, near to the station.
Eastern Brookdale: Most of the commercial outlets and eateries in Brookdale itself are situated in the northeast section of the CDP. Head to the corner of Broad Street where it connects with West Passaic Avenue. Here you will find plenty of housing with neatly kept front lawns and off-street parking on driveways. There is also a convenient ShopRite close to where Broad Street meets Bellevue Avenue.
Brookdale possesses an average annual temperature of just over 50, which is not so bad unless you are relocating from somewhere like New Mexico, for example. Nevertheless, the temperature plummets during the winter months, so you need to consider how much you will spend on heating costs -- and a good coat for when you head out for that matter. The dollars spent on heating homes in Brookdale exceed both the U.S. average and those in New Jersey, so bear that in mind. However, Brookdale's air quality is better than that of both the state and the country as a whole, so it certainly isn't all bad news, is it?
Newcomers to the CDP are often struck by how well maintained Brookdale Park is. The park was designed in the late 1920s and is sandwiched between Bellevue Avenue to the north, and Watchung Avenue to the south. It is the third-largest park in Essex County and contains no less than 121 acres of greenery. Brookdale Park has many functions for the community and is occasionally used as an outdoor music venue in the summer. If you like to stay fit, there is a gym in Brookdale -- at the southern edge of Broad Street -- and another close by in Montclair. And if you head westwards from the park on Bellevue Avenue into Montclair, then it isn't long before you come across a few bars, including Trumpets, a jazz club which is well worth a visit.
