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Re: Union Republic -- Impressive New Place on Newark Ave @ Third Street
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On their website they list a section for grocer and grab-and-go but both are currently blank. Can anyone who's been there give an idea of what they are selling aside from whats on the menu?
I'm hoping to stop by for lunch this weekend to try some ramen. Looking forward to it.
Posted on: 2013/11/27 13:33
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Re: PATH (pathetic attempt at transporting humans)
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Saturday night I took the PATH home from 9th St around 1:45 AM. The trains were running every 10 minutes. I was absolutely shocked! Is this some sort of new schedule or was this just due to the construction that closed down the WTC line all weekend?
I can't imagine that the Port Authority would enact a change that actually benefits their passengers. Something like that would go against all of their operating tenets. So is this just a fluke and we'll be back to the normal packed trains once WTC is open on weekends again?
Posted on: 2013/11/25 19:20
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Re: Union Republic -- Impressive New Place on Newark Ave @ Third Street
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Definitely excited to try this place. It looks like they have their menu up now. The ramen, while it certainly doesn't look traditional, does look like the highlight of the menu. Looks like they're also doing their take on the ramen burger which, if you believe the "cool" media outlets, was this summer's culinary touchstone. (Only somewhat exaggerating).
I'm hoping this place does well as it will prove to other businesses that it's "safe" to move further west down Newark. http://www.unionrepublic.com/#!menu/cihc
Posted on: 2013/11/22 15:10
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Re: Simon's parking lot construction
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The rendering looks great. The scale is reasonable, the brick and aesthetic is in line with the area. Could be a nice project in a prime area. Now we'll see if it matches reality.
I'm sure SRhia's comment below was meant at least somewhat in jest but this really would be an ideal spot for a WF, TJ's, or other yupster foodmart.
Posted on: 2013/11/21 19:04
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Re: Left Bank Burger Bar
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I'll be interested to see how crowded this place remains after the newness factor wears off. So far everyone I know who tried it agreed it was just missing a little something. The seasoning, or the aging of the beef, or the toasting of the bun.
Their problems are SO easily fixable and I'd be a regular with just a few very simple corrections. I hope they succeed and I hope someone over there checks JC List. I'll be back in another month or so in hopes they've figured that they need to season their food.
Posted on: 2013/11/14 17:47
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Re: Bright St. Redevepment Plan - Ward E Councilperson's Comments and Position
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My favorite thing about this whole battle is how people who've been railing against this development for a while will come on here and be like, "Guys this is ABSOLUTELY not about parking!!!". And then some new person will come in and be like "This is totally going to screw up our parking!!!".
Y'all need to get on message. Remeber, this is 100% definitely absolutely not about parking in any way. It's about aspiring yuppies making too much noise. Wait, that's not it...it's about out of context development. Errrr, that still might be wrong...it's about no oversight on the approval process. Hold on, let me check my notes... Oh screw it, it's about parking!
Posted on: 2013/11/6 21:27
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Re: Tax Reval...
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I'm also curious what is going on with taxes here. I just checked the Jersey City tax website and see that I have been assesed with three added bills for the final quarter of 2013 and the first two quarters of 2014 for almost $4000. Apparently others in my condo are having the same issue for a similar amount.
Has anyone else seen these new assessments or happen to know what they are for? We've done no improvements on our property. With this assessment it would mean our annual tax burden is almost $10,000 for a small condo. This is absolutely insane.
Posted on: 2013/11/4 21:40
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Re: Tailor - alterations
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Anyone have a recommendation for a tailor downtown who can do a proper repair job on jeans? Preferably someone who can do darning and match the color rather than just sewing a patch in. A good place is able to repair a hole so the threads blend and it's barely noticeable. There's great options in Manhattan that specialize in denim repair but the wait is typically 2-3 weeks.
Posted on: 2013/11/2 18:02
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Re: Bright St. Redevepment Plan - Ward E Councilperson's Comments and Position
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I didn't attend the meeting at Brightside mostly because I knew it would be oppositional to the development. I'm sure there was some good info there but, really, when was the last time there was ever a community meeting with a developer where the locals just went to pat them on their back and say "good job"?
Regarding whether this development is appropriate for the area: If this was a block over on York I'd say absolutely not. But zoning, especially in the NYC area, rightly varies from block to block. Bright St. is wide enough to support larger development and, not to offend, but isn't the "prettiest" street in the downtown area. Every developement on Bright or Grand doesn't need to be four stories and brick. This is the same development pattern you can see at the fringes of landmarked areas of Brooklyn (4th ave in Park Slope, Myrtle in Fort Greene, for example). I hope this new development will draw more people to this corner of downtown and think it's a good thing for the city. Not crazy about the way it all went down and hopefully the new administration does a better job handling these types of deals going forward but I also hope they don't deny permits due to parking.
Posted on: 2013/11/1 15:35
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Re: Bright St. Redevepment Plan - Ward E Councilperson's Comments and Position
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Quote:
This IS my area. I am a property owner two blocks from where this development will be going in. Bright street needs development. It's a wide street that can support larger development than other parts of VVP and this is an ugly, wire-fenced, paved lot. I'll take a new building there any day. I know you say this isn't about parking but every time someone says that the next article/press release/forum post/whatever addresses "concerns about parking" first and foremost. Last time everyone was saying this wasn't about parking there was an article with photos from the community meeting at Brightside where picketers had signs about the developer having the gall to build without parking. You can definitely make an argument about some shady dealings to get this project greenlit but I have absolutely ZERO problems with this project aside from that. Density of this type will only make JC better. Most cities clamor to attract this sort of development and the demographics it brings in. People here worry about their free parking spots.
Posted on: 2013/11/1 14:57
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Re: Korean restaurant
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I'd absolutely love a "normal", not overly highbrow, semi-authentic Korean restaurant in JC. Bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, japchae, etc at prices that are close to what you would get at a decent place in K-Town would be amazing. It's definitely one of the few types of cuisine that Downtown JC is missing.
Posted on: 2013/11/1 14:17
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Re: Bright St. Redevepment Plan - Ward E Councilperson's Comments and Position
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And there it is. Makes it pretty clear that the only real complaint about this project is that it doesn't include onsite parking.
Hopefully this puts this whole issue to rest and the parking whiners will start to realize they live in a city.
Posted on: 2013/11/1 12:59
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Re: 2 New Bars on Newark Ave.
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The construction on Hudson Camera seems like it's barely progressed in a year. Over the summer when the front was open occassionally and you could see in it looks like it's incredibly slow going. It's starting to look like the WTC might beat them to opening. Is it possible that JC permits are really this restrictive or is soemthing else (running out of money?) to blame.
I'm also curious on Word. They were originally supposed to open in July, then September, now it's almost November and nothing from them. Nothing on their Facebook page, etc. They don't even have the excuse of waiting on liquor permits and such. Like the previous poster I'm starting to wonder if either of these places are gonna happen. Meanwhile, the new burger bar was open just months from Greek to Me closing but I guess they have the advantage of that already being a restaurant space.
Posted on: 2013/10/30 17:50
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Re: Left Bank Burger Bar
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I was there last night and also have mixed reviews. They clearly have a number of kinks to work out but some of it is definitely forgivable considering it's their first week.
I'll spare the details but it took an hour for our food at around 7pm. For a burger place this is totally unacceptable. First week so I'm sure it'll be resolved. Food: Gotta say I'm a little disappointed here. I can't put my finger on it exactly but like a poster below I found everything just a bit bland. The patty was cooked well but it didn't seem lke they seasoned it at all. The fried mac and cheese on the Mac Daddy wasn't especially cheesy or flavorful but the bacon was excellent. The Tarheel was better but, again, a little seasoning on the patty or perhaps buttering and toasting the bun would have helped. The batter on the onion rings and fired pickles tasted like it needed something. More beer in the beer batter? Onions soaked in buttermilk before frying? Less dill in the ranch? Not sure since I'm not a cook but a burger bar should be nailing these staples. Atmosphere: They did a nice job with the place. Good to see them using the bar area that was used as food storage and prep at Greek To Me. The place is nothing flashy but they did a nice job. Good, clean space with lots of wood and brick. One suggestion: LOCK THE SIDE DOOR!!! For some reason customers were using that door and letting a cold breeze in every time it was opened. We had to wear coats being seated right by the door. Ultimately, I think this place has a ton of potential. If they can get the kitchen up to speed and correct a few minor things with the food it will be great. The menu is perfect, the burgers are creative, nice appetizers, nice beer selection, etc. Just need a little time to perfect things. I definitely will be back in a month or two to check it out again.
Posted on: 2013/10/24 15:08
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Re: Left Bank Burger Bar
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I walked by on Friday night around 10pm and the place was packed. Some sort of pre-opening party perhaps?
That space has so much potential. Excellent corner location at a busy intersection. Greek to Me blew it with totally out of whack prices and lackadaisical service that ensured they were always empty. I'm looking forward to trying Left Bank and hope they have success here. Always nice to see new restaurants in the neighborhood.
Posted on: 2013/10/21 16:58
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Re: Today, a Downtown Jersey City parking lot; soon, 99 luxury apartments
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Fantastic news! That parking lot is an absolute eyesore in a prime location. When we were first looking around JC and considering buying that lot stood out as totally out of place in an area as dense as DTJC.
Posted on: 2013/10/10 20:44
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Re: Micro Apartment Living
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Quote:
Yup, the photo of the sign in that article pretty much sums up the NIMBY grievances here. "City Hall stands by and lets developers build an 87 unit building with NO parking". Yaaaawn. Get over it with this parking BS.
Posted on: 2013/10/9 20:00
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Re: Micro Apartment Living
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Quote:
How do you figure that small apartments are suitable only for "emergency accomodation" or that, just due to it's size, it will become a boarding house where everyone needs to be under lock and key? Have you ever lived in NYC where millions live in small apartments? I lived in a 300sf apartment in Manhattan and another in Brooklyn for 6 years and somehow managed to save for a downpayment on a condo (in JC), get married, travel, further my career, and lived life just fine. A friend has lived in a sub-300sf studio for years and the savings from living in a tiny place allows him to pay for his law degree without crippling himself with student loan debt for life. You've got blinders on if you think space is of the utmost importance to young people. As others have pointed out there is, and has been for years now, a move back into the cities by young creatives, professionals, etc. This sort of density makes neighborhoods more vibrant and gives an opportunity for young and single people to live relatively inexpensively and have some privacy. These places might be a little overpriced but the market will sort that out. I certainly don't think you have to worry about junkies and ex-cons turning a brand new, $1600 per unit building into the Kowloon Walled City. Every other city in the country is doing everything they can to lure this demographic and people here are whining about a blighted lot on a shabby corner getting a new development. What the hell?
Posted on: 2013/10/9 12:50
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Re: Micro Apartment Living
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Quote:
This is definitely something better to be concerned about and it would be nice to see an end to these sweetheart real estate deals but I'd frankly rather have a new development and sidewalk traffic in that corner of downtown over the fenced in open lot that's there now. My concern is that there's a strong case of NIMBYism going around and that they're using the real estate deal as a guise for their real reasons for not wanting it there (ie parking, added density, renters, whatever). Hopefully Fulop will put an end to these real estate giveaways going forward but this seems like a done deal and I'm all for it.
Posted on: 2013/10/7 20:51
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Re: Micro Apartment Living
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On and on with this parking stuff! Seriously, Jersey City is one of the densest cities in the US. This development would be a 10 minute walk to the PATH. The target market for this is going to be young professionals working in Manhattan. Who gives a crap about parking?
Let the market sort it out. I bet this place would be filled up in no time. Small apartments perfect for young single people at a reasonable cost. Sounds great! It's not like Bright and Varick is some glistening oasis of a street corner, either. This is exactly the kind of development this city should be encouraging! NYC has a competition encouraging creative thinking about this kind of living while JC residents are clutching their pearls over young "transients" and worrying about their precious parking spots. If you must have a car then pay the $200/mo to put it in a lot just like you would in every other dense inner city in the country.
Posted on: 2013/10/7 20:45
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Re: 400 Unit Development in Hamilton Park
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Put me in the "more the better" camp with mooby and richieveal. I couldn't care any less about parking. If that means it turns some potential buyers off, so be it. This is an incredibly dense city one mile from the largest city in the country. Surface lots and those horrible parking grarages in the bases of buildings have their place in Charlotte but not here.
We should be striving to be an alternative to Brooklyn, not an alternative to the suburbs or just to become a bedroom community for Manhattan workers. To get there and to get all the amenities that come with it means we need more density and to become more pedestrian friendly. The PATH still has plenty of capacity. I take the WTC line at 8am every morning and it isn't even near as crowded as even the least crowded NYC subway lines. I know the trains in the evening back from 33rd can be a little rough and weekends are abysmal but thats on the PA to schedule more weekend service. Bring on the development! With our location it's inevitable anyways.
Posted on: 2013/10/4 13:05
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Re: Dixon Mills in downtown Jersey City - concerns
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Quote:
I guess it depends what you are looking for and what your budget is. Sure, there are lots of condos in downtown JC that are "better" in some way, whether that means finish quality, location, views, whatever. Most of them are also significantly more expensive than DM. The ones you mentioned are at least 30% more on a square foot basis than Dixon. We looked at many places and felt DM was a very good value. Otherwise, I can't argue with your points that there are "better" condos in JC.
Posted on: 2013/9/20 13:55
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Re: Dixon Mills in downtown Jersey City - concerns
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Quote:
My wife and I own in Dixon Mills as of last year. If you read through the comments in this thread you'll see that DM is a fairly divisive subject (for reasons I can't understand) so all I can offer is my view on it. We personally have never seen a rodent in our unit. We're in the 'A' building on the top floor so I can't speak for other buildings or floors. There's a vocal minority who, if they're to be believed, are having their lives ruined by rodents. It seems like hyperbole to me but nonetheless the condo board has formed a pest control committee and are actively working to aleviate any concerns on the matter both in common areas and in individual units. There's been complex-wide surveys of who is having issues and of what nature and exterminators and building management are very much involved in remedying the few complaints. Not to slight any of my neighbors but the impression I get in general as that there are some people who are not used to living in cities and like to complain about what, in my mind, are nitpicky issues. Example: Shuttle bus should have GPS so they can track it and know when to wait outside instead of just walking the three measly blocks to the PATH. Cigarette butts after a party in the courtyard (which are cleaned up by the next morning). You get the idea... Again, it's a VERY small minority (a handful of owners in a 450+ unit building) that are the most vocal. The vast majority of people you'll meet are very happy at DM. I'd say this is especially true of those who have moved here from NYC (myself included) and can compare their quality of life and living space to other places we've lived in "the city". Regarding the walls and sound travel: If your neighbor is having a party you'll hear muffled voices. If you're nextdoor to someone with a staircase and they're walking up and down it in heels you'll hear that muffled. If a baby is crying you'll barely hear it if you can hear it at all. If your neighbor is going about their normal business, watching TV, talking, or listening to music at a normal level you won't hear anything. The walls are on par with any prewar building I've lived in in NYC and VASTLY better than any slap-and-dash 70's suburban apartment complex. Keep in mind you live in a condo bulding and your expectations will be perfectly reasonable. My personal view is that Dixon is great. The management company is extremely responsive, the facilities are very well maintained (grounds, common areas, and waste rooms are all cleaned daily), the board is very attentive, the amenities are fanatstic, and so on. The avg demographic I'd say is late 20's to 40-something couples and young families and are all quite friendly. I regularly chat up my neighbors when we're out grilling, etc. I believe DM is a very good value. Take reviews with a grain of salt (mine included) since everyone obviously has their own perogative. Keep in mind that many people lost some good deals on their rental apartments here when the developer did the conversion and starting kicking people out. There's understandably some hard feelings about that. Now the building is almost fully sold and the owners seem happy there. Hope that helps!
Posted on: 2013/9/19 15:43
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Re: NY TIMES: Have New Yorkers finally discovered Jersey City?
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Quote:
It's a NY Times fluff/trend piece. Their real estate section isn't exactly known for hard hitting journalism and I hardly think any casual reader cares about the intricacies of a property tax reval for a place they don't live. Lastly, the very people that might be attracted to JC by an article like this are probably not going to be as affected by a reval as those long time residents whose homes are valued at a quarter of the market rate.
Posted on: 2013/8/16 16:54
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Re: NY TIMES: Have New Yorkers finally discovered Jersey City?
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I know the NY Times gives the occassional nod to JC such as the recent bit about the Fulop election and a "The Hunt" column here and there but I don't believe I've seen a Sunday Real Estate section feature piece on JC yet. As an owner who recently made the same Manhattan to JC move that some of those in the article did I like the coverage. When we were looking in palces like Bushwick, PLG, and Sunset Park in Brooklyn we knew it was time to cross the Hudson. So much more on offer for less.
As an aside, there's this BIG piece in NY Mag from 2007 about JC (which I'm sure many have already seen) that is amusing/interesting. "Where to live to be cool right now": http://nymag.com/news/features/25014/
Posted on: 2013/8/16 15:00
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Re: Orale Mexican Kitchen
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I finally had a chance to check out Orale last night and I must say I'm impressed. The space is HUGE and was crowded even on a Weds night at 8:30pm. They really did a nice job with the decor. They definitely tried something different for the area and I think they pulled it off very well.
We had guacamole, enchiladas, and tacos. They were all very good but I think I'll just go to Taqueria if I want tacos and guac going forward since it's much less expensive and I think Taqueria does a better job of those things. I'd absolutely return for things like the ceviches and empanadas (foie gras empanadas!), and some of the more adventurous tacos (bone marrow). Orale is definitely on the pricey side but I understand that you're paying for more than just the food at this place. The ambience is great, the space is awesome and totally different than anywhere else in JC, and the service is absolutely impreccable. Really....the service, WOW, my compliments to the staff there. Some of the best I've had in a while. Judging by the crowd it looks like this place is absolutely going to succeed and I love that places like this are opening up Downtown. I hope we can see more places that are willing to take a risk and do something different in the area. Good stuff!
Posted on: 2013/6/20 13:46
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Re: Greenpoint's WORD Bookstore coming to Jersey City
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Anyone know when Word is planning on opening? On their Facebook account they have a Chuck Klosterman reading scheduled for July 9th so it would seem that the opening is imminent. Really looking forward to frequenting this place. I'll be ditching the Kindle to support them.
Posted on: 2013/6/10 13:35
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Re: Maxwells in Hoboken Closing end of July
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Quote:
Judging by the owner's tone in the articles I've read, somewhere like Exchange Place and it's highrises is exactly the reason he's looking to get out of Hoboken. Sounds like he misses some of the grit and artistic atmosphere of the "old Hoboken". Since he's already attached to the Bell House in Brooklyn it seems logical that he'd move his own venue to the other side of the East River but I'd be thrilled to have a place like Maxwells in JC and it seems likely that Newark or the area around Grove would be ideal for such a place if you're looking in JC. The fact that he mentioned Barcade in JC and this quote: "The new hot spots are in Brooklyn and Jersey City, he observed." gives me hope that Maxwells JC is a possibility.
Posted on: 2013/6/7 19:49
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Re: New PATH train schedule
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Quote:
Yes! I have the exact same problem. We regularly have guests on the weekend and when we try to give them a good time to leave so they have a minimal wait to get back into the city the times are WAY out of whack. Like many hour off. Not sure who to contact about this (or if they'll care). On a side note, anyone know what happened to NYNJ.net? That used to be my go to for the PATH schedule.
Posted on: 2013/6/6 13:54
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Re: This old factory: Buying in Downtown Jersey City's Dixon Mills
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user1111 wrote:
Quote: I left in 2010, I spent 4.5 years there and for the most part I liked it, did not love it, but it was what it was. The rat and mice problem is serious and its not as light as some here may say. I think the only thing that may work is to get a cat or be prepared to live with Mickey and Minnie. Good Luck! I think you're painting the complex with too broad of a brush. There are a small minority of owners who complain of rodent problems like they're ruining their lives but the majority seem to have few if any problems. I personally have not seen a single rodent or roach in the year I've been there. I'm in a top floor unit so maybe that's why. Anyways, I don't mean to discount anyone's complaints but in speaking to other owners who've been there for years it seems the situation has vastly improved. There have been multiple extermination efforts and a new committee of owners is working to eliminate the issue once and for all (at least as much as can be done in a city). As for the potential buyer who is asking: I don't think it's possible to say the problem -- or lack thereof -- is located in a specific building, floor, etc.
Posted on: 2013/6/4 17:02
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