City leaders push innovation and grassroots businesses as the way forward
Newark is New Jersey’s largest city, and while it can be considered an extension of New York City, which is only a 10-mile drive away, there’s more to the story. Speak to locals and they’ll say that Newark is deep in the process of reinvention — enough to make it appealing to Brooklynites who would trade their place for a new ZIP code. “Imagine that you’re trying to make a gourmet salad, and Newark has all of the natural ingredients,” says Realtor Ted Ihde of Exit Realty. “They just have to put all of it together. The city is big into entrepreneurs, trying to stimulate the economy from the grassroots level.”
The metro area extends to the coastal communities around Elizabeth to the west. It paints the picture of a vibrant urban lifestyle where it’s a short drive to lots of shopping, like Jersey Gardens, the largest outlet mall in New Jersey. Also, across from Newark Bay is Bayonne, an up-and-coming neighborhood that will soon bring jobs through a $1 billion television and movie studio complex. The project, on the site of a former oil refinery, is set to break ground in fall 2024 with a projected opening in 2026. The local economy, though, already has headquarters for some major companies, including Panasonic, Prudential and Audible.
There has been an ebb and flow in terms of population here, with numbers steadily dropping over the last half of the 20th century. As a result, shoring up Newark’s image is top of mind for officials — especially because the city added 38,000 residents in the past couple decades, so they’re hoping to build on momentum. The median age is 35, and with that comes expectations for the city to be a driver of culture. The mayor has called for a summit in December 2024 focused on promoting Newark as an innovation hub, with panels to discuss art centers as an economic catalyst at the neighborhood level.
The City of Newark was incorporated in 1836.
Newark is New Jersey’s largest city.
Newark is located on the west bank of the Passaic River in NJ.
Discover the warmth and traditions of Portugal Day in Newark's bustling streets.
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A push for multi-family dwellings and modern high-rises
Ihde, who works closely with the mayor’s office and economic development at City Hall, says that 70% of people who live in Newark are renters. That creates an interesting challenge for leaders who want to push for development and attracting new residents while balancing that against the risk of pricing out current residents.
Architecturally, Newark has been nicknamed “Brick City” for its rugged northeastern look. But the current trend is to move toward a modern look, with lots of glass and steel, like with the 27-story high-rise proposed for the Military Park Historic District. Ihde says Newark is aiming to focus on multi-family homes, which can be put up on city-owned vacant lots in the south and west sides. “The city is conveying these properties to developers with a vision, and making sure to hire local businesses as contractors,” he says. “It all connects back to supporting the economy with homegrown businesses.”
It’s not impossible to find detached homes around the city, especially modest styles from the 1920s. That said, change is afoot. “Everything is being renovated and revitalized,” says Thomas Mosera, a Realtor with Keller Williams. “That includes homes over 100 years old. It’s the stretches along South Newark, getting close to Orange, that still hasn’t gentrified yet.” The median price of a home in Newark matches the national median of $420,000.
Architecturally, Newark has been nicknamed “Brick City” for its rugged northeastern look.
70% of people who live in Newark are renters.
Modest architectural styles from the 1920s are common throughout Newark, NJ.
Newer multifamily homes are a growing trend in Newark, NJ.
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Magnet schools focus on STEM curriculum
Newark Public School District receives a C-plus rating from Niche. STEM students appreciate magnet schools like Technology High and Science Park High, which is also known for its use of geothermal and solar energy. North Star Academy, a charter school in downtown Newark, is an urban campus that has been mimicked by schools elsewhere, like in Trenton. The Accelerate Institute recognized the school in 2014 for having the best urban principal in the country.
Newark also features higher education options. Rutgers University has a campus here, and students gravitate toward it for studies in law, medicine and music — in particular, the Institute of Jazz Studies, which contains the largest library of jazz materials in the world, including 100,000 sound recordings. The New Jersey Institute of Technology offers cross-registration with Rutgers University-Newark.
A major airport, plus direct access to Penn Station
Interstate 78 is what most drivers rely on when making the 15-mile drive to Manhattan. It also gets them to Bayonne and Jersey City, via the Casciano Memorial Bridge. Then there’s train travel. “Getting directly to Penn Station is part of the city’s DNA,” Ihde says. It’s less than a half-hour ride to Manhattan from the Broad Street station. Soon, there will be an option to reach the city by water. “They’ve been doing a lot of development on the waterfront in Bayonne,” says Westley Page, a Realtor with Brown Harris Stevens New Jersey. “They’re working on putting in a ferry to Manhattan.”
As for reaching Downtown Elizabeth and surrounding coastal communities like Elizabethport, it’s an easy 20-minute drive south down U.S. Route 9, past the airport. Speaking of, Newark International Airport is a major amenity for the city: It’s the 13th-busiest in the country, with United Airlines and FedEx being the most frequent fliers.
Branch Brook Park has over 5,000 cherry trees
Branch Brook Park is an elongated green space stretching across most of the north side. It contains America’s largest collection of cherry blossom trees — more than 5,000 of them. But if residents go in the completely opposite direction, toward the far south end of Newark, they’ll find Weequahic Park. Equally as large as Branch Brook Park, this space is devoted to lots of activity, whether that’s hanging around the lake, hiking the red rubber loop trail, dancing in the splash pad on hot summer days or catching a home game with the Scarlet Raiders baseball team from Rutgers University.
Weequahic Park, south of Newark, NJ, offers a scenic and comfortable trail experience.
Branch Brook Park is an elongated green space stretching across most of the north of Newark, NJ.
Military Park in Newark, NJ, is a historic green space offering gardens and monuments.
Branch Brook Park contains America’s largest collection of cherry blossom trees.
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Portuguese cuisine is big in the Ironbound neighborhood
One feature to keep in mind with Newark’s dining scene: It doesn’t exactly have a walkable restaurant row like other nearby metro areas, like Jersey City. “Unless you’re living in the University Heights neighborhood with other professors, you’re not going to walk to a coffee shop in Newark,” Ihde says. “Broadway and Main could be getting there, but in general you’re driving to restaurants.”
Still, there is cohesion to the dining scene. “Off Harrison is the Ironbound section, a very tightknit neighborhood known for its diverse cuisine,” Mosera says. Brazilian, Portuguese and Spanish cuisine shows up in the Ironbound neighborhood, like at Fernandes Steakhouse. Nasto’s is the place for sweet treats only, especially ice cream desserts born from old world recipes. It’s been open since 1939.
One of the most popular shopping centers is Jersey Gardens, nearby in Elizabeth. It’s the largest outlet mall in the state, featuring over 200 stores and restaurants. The mall has mostly large chain eateries, but Elizabeth’s locally owned restaurants focus on Colombian, Peruvian and Portuguese cuisine.
Nasto’s, open since 1939 in Newark, serves ice cream desserts from old-world recipes.
Portugalia Bar & Restaurant offers a taste of authentic Portuguese cuisine in Newark, NJ.
The Ironbound section of Newark is a very tightknit neighborhood known for its diverse cuisine.
One of the most popular shopping centers is Jersey Gardens, nearby in Elizabeth.
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Paintings at the Newark Museum of Art, hockey at the Prudential Center
Mayor Ras Baraka is no stranger to the arts: A former English teacher known to read poetry at news conferences, he was featured on Lauryn Hill's influential 1990s rap album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” In August 2024, he announced $750,000 in available grants for local artists — the fourth round of funding since this program was launched in 2020, the first of its kind in Newark’s history.
The city’s flagship creative center is the Newark Museum of Art, which specializes in Asian art and classic American artists like John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keefe. But it’s not just the visual arts that are represented here. Science shows up, too, through the Dreyfuss Planetarium. Fans of hockey can head to the Prudential Center, which seats over 16,000 fans. The venue also hosts large musical events, including the MTV Video Music Awards, and mixed martial arts competitions through UFC. In a nod to Newark’s nickname of “Brick City,” the building’s exterior is composed of red and grey brick.
The Newark city’s flagship creative center is the Newark Museum of Art.
Fans of hockey can head to the Prudential Center in Newark, which seats over 16,000 fans.
Artists bring their visions to life with vibrant live painting at the Art Block Party in NDD.
Newark City is adorned with murals everywhere, showcasing vibrant art and community spirit.
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Police seeking to maintain the downward trend on crime
Newark gets an average of 6.7 inches of snow a year between November and April, with January being the most intense month. The city also experiences lots of cloud cover, with November through June making up the cloudy months.
In 2023, the city reported its lowest homicide rate in 60 years — a trend buffeted by decreases in almost every other crime category. But as crime sought to spike again in the middle of 2024, police instituted an 11 p.m. curfew for anyone under 18. An increase in theft from motor vehicles was largely behind the curfew. The city has set up a Re-Engagement Center for youth, which can help them find community and job opportunities.
Real Estate Specialist | Design Enthusiast | Client Advocate With a dynamic career spanning Broadway and television, I bring a unique blend of creativity, communication prowess, and design insight to the world of real estate. Alongside my partner, Anastasia, I'm dedicated to turning our clients' real estate dreams into reality with unparalleled expertise and enthusiasm. My background in the performing arts has honed my ability to connect with people, ensuring that every interaction is marked by respect, kindness, and integrity. Whether it's finding the perfect home or staging a property to highlight its full potential, I leverage my keen eye for design and attention to detail to make spaces truly shine. At the heart of our approach is a commitment to building strong, trusting relationships with our clients. We pride ourselves on our relentless advocacy, fighting for your best interests and ensuring a smooth, enjoyable experience throughout the process. Our goal is not only to meet but exceed your expectations, making every step of your real estate journey as rewarding as possible. Together, Anastasia and I understand that real estate is not just about transactions-it's about people, relationships, and creating spaces where memories are made. Let us bring our passion and expertise to work for you, and let's make your next real estate experience exceptional.
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