Many of the residents now simply call it the "Village" neighborhood. There was a recent movement to rename it "Gammot Town" , but that never really stuck. For the most part, the neighborhood tends to be quiet. +1 on 2nd Street Bakery. Mmmmmmm. From an investment perspective, there is a lot of momentum there. Crescent Court will *hopefully* make living underneath the Turnpike overpass desireable. It will definately add value to the areas West of Brunswick, while the renovations and conversions on the East end of The Village will work toward closing the gap. I like it there, and believe that the neighborhood is an overall great place to buy.

Bobs Bubble always treats me nice.

Anyone know a good dry cleaners and/or tailor in the neighborhood? Carnival Cleaners is now out of the way for my walk to the path.

Thanks karindiann...Hopefully the building is already back in the hands of the bank and someone knocks it down soon. I heard a rumor that the park is soon to be rehabed...That would be fantastic!

To qualify that, its an illeagal motorcycle shop. It will never shut down as the owner knows the right wheels to grease.

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sorry robin, its a motorcycle mod shop.

I think, but don't quote me, that it's for motorcycles judging by the sign Ive' seen while scarfing down my broccoli rabe, sausage and mozzarella loaf.

What is Second Street Cycle? Has a bicyle shop opened in Jersey City?

Robin.

yesterday i, and at least one other person saw a "wolf pack" of 5 to 7 teenagers tampering with the doors at second street cycle.

please contact the authorities when you see something like this. it is important to our safety to be alert when we encounter something like this or the park harrasser.

we don't need to be street vigilantes, but a call to the non-emergency number never hurts, regardless of what you think of the JCPD.

and to anyone who thinks that "italian village" is some way to sell condos, go into pecoraro's or 2nd street deli and tell the people there that!

Second Street Deli EXCELLENT, the stuffed breads piping hot and delicious. A decadent treat but worth it.

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In all fairness, the thread "Downtown: Held in threats at playground," is about a guy who was threatening children in a park at Third and Merseles, across from P.S. 5, which is in the Italian Village.

But my child has played on the playground there a few times a month, and we've never had any problems there.

Re the building at 390 1st St, it has been comdemned for nearly two years. A year or so ago, we met a guy who claimed to be the new owner, and said he had inherited the place (and a rental building across the street) from a relative who bought it at an inflated/overvalued price. He seemed surprised that the building was in such poor shape, and expressed a desire to make improvements. As you can see, nothing has happened, so I suspect it wasn't financially viable. I am not sure what typically happens in this kind of situation ... probably the building will go (or has gone) back to the bank, and will get sold to someone else...but how long will the city let a condemned property sit there? Forever? I'm afraid it is a hazard, especially if the park next door is renovated. It truly looks like it might fall down.

I don't blame you for being unfamiliar with Italian Village because I really don't think people refer to the neighborhood by that name anymore. It's not new however. It's actually a historic term these days more than anything. The historical society runs a tour each year of this neighborhood. It runs from Columbus north and from Coles west, and it was referred to as "Italian Village" when the area was predominantly populated by Italian immigrants. I took the tour a few years ago. It includes Holy Rosary, the first Italian parish in New Jersey, Pecaro's bakery, the old sausage factory (now a 7 million dollar home), and the Italian-American museum on Monmouth. They describe Brunswick as being like the Mulberry Street of Jersey City back in its day. I got the impression that "Italian Village" was just a term used instead of "Little Italy" as in Newark or New York.

I've lived in the neighborhood for a few years now, but people seem to have shifted over to calling it Hamilton Park in the north end -- adding these western blocks to the historic neighborhood. That makes sense because it is such a small area. I'm not sure about what you'd call the area south of Newark.

Actually, "Italian Village" way predates the gentrification of Downtown. It fell out of general use, likely as the area became more Latino. I heard it a decade ago shortly after I moved to the edge of the area it covers.

Well, it is one thing to say downtown, but its another to choose the wrong neighborhood, albeit one that's a couple blocks away.

Quick question, Im a JC naitive of sorts and I gotta say whats up with all these new neighborhoods ex: Italian Village? Is this a new 2x5 area created to sounds cool to sell real estate or is there a legit community? I honestly never heard of this stuff till I read this board. Also why is when there a thread about a mugging or stick up in one neighborhood (esp downtown) people always feel the need to correct the person bringing the news. For example that thread about a mugging in Paulus Hook, everybody was so quick to say its Van Vorst Park. Honestly what the hells the difference? Its not like downtown is some gigantic metropolis if it happend in one neighborhood chances are its only about half a mile from another.

It actually has a very good neighborhood assoc. Its a great area to live with the exception of a few places that suck (see Latin Lounge) but for ther most part, everyone really cares about the neighborhood and it improves every day.

Has anyone seen 390 First Street (I think that's the building's address) it's next to the run-down, decrepit park on First Street between Merseles & Colgate. It appears the building is "being monitored" so in other words, condemned. How long has it been like that?? Anyone know what's going on with the building??

Nickie,

The "Italian Village" is very safe especially your area at 1st and colgate. Carmine's Pizza on 1st & Brunswick attracts the East District patrol officers there for dinner and there is usually a police presence is the neighborhood 24/7. With that said it is a City so always be aware of your surroundings. The Village does have an association the "Village Neighborhood Association" they meet the last Thursday every month at 7pm at the Dr. Conte school P.S. #5 alley entrance on 3rd St. If you're interested in joining or have any questions you can e-mail the President , Rob at info@jcvillage.org. This months meeting is being held Thursday May 1st. Aslo the Village area boundries are from Christopher Columbus on the North side to 6th St on the South side but includes Holy Rosary Church and from Coles St. on the west side to the turnpike. Hope this helps. Welcome to the Village.

Jim

West downtown Jersey City. People seem to think it cuts off around Newark. Someone told me awhile ago that it stretches up to Pavonia.

I think it goes up to Pavonia to include St. Anthony's.

How come i've never heard of this italian Village in Jersey City? Is there another name for this area. I feel as though a secret has been kept from me

Thanks everyone! I'm really looking forward to my move now! I figure the walk from the new place on first street imight actually be a little closer than my walk now to the Grove Street Path...which is ok by me. I did see the construction for Crescent Court and the park, which despearately needs to be rehabbed and I hope that you're right and it's in the works. It has so much potential! That (hopefully) will be our block.

As it stands now, if I'm alone and getting home really late past 12am I usually take a cab anyway, so this wouldn't be much of a change...I was more curious about 10:45/11:00pm on a weeknight (when I get out of class). Sometimes at that hour things are quiet since people have work the next day.

Lastly is their a neighborhood association for the area?

Nickie,

My husband and I have lived in the Italian Village for 2 years now and love it. We bought our place and are thrilled we did. We've got a great little neighborhood back here and its only getting better.

I takes me about 10 mins to walk to the PATH from here. I have done the walk at all times of day/night and find it to be safe. If its late at night and I'm alone, I do tend to take a cab though.

We've got some great restaurants, little deli's, bars, etc. too. But, let's face it, its not like we're off the map back here - its easy to get anywhere in downtown.

We just moved from that block ... a great neighborhood. Very quiet and inhabited by many families that have been in JC for years.
The walk to the PATH takes about 15 min, but you can hop one of the little jitney busses on Newark and get there faster. I did not feel comfortable walking home from the PATH late at night by myself, but I did it with my husband on several occasions and never had a problem.
The little park that's currently chained up is supposed to be rehabbed soon -- I heard the developer of Crescent Court was going to help out with the renovation.

I live in the area now and it is relatively quiet. Things are looking up with the start of the construction of Crescent Court.

I lived Colgate St. near second about eight years ago. I loved it down there. It was nice and quiet and the parking was great. I would buy there in a second.

i have lived around here for about two years and i love it.

pretty quiet but not too far from good food, good bars and my good friends.

my fiance leaves pretty early in the morning for the PATH and i he has never complained of anything odd. coming home late at night is another thing. i havent walked home alone since i moved up here particularly late at night (past 1 am) so i couldn't vouch for it personally.

when we are ready to buy a place, and if we decide to stay in jersey city, i hope i can afford to live in this nabe, and i will leave it at that :D

hey alb, is that your brightly colored child who likes to wave at my cat in the warmer months?? oh, it could be another kid :D

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Oh. I think that, officially, you're actually in the Italian Village area. I've been trying to make an advertising map as a fundraiser thing for P.S. 5, and I think the Italian Village area extends up to Pavonia.

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If you're comparing First Street and the Jordan's Catfish Shack area, I think that First Street would be a lot calmer, but that, because it's a lot calmer, if someone horrible does decide to do something horrible, the risk that no white knights will ride by is greater.

Thanks alb...Right now we live on Coles between Sixth and Seventh Streets - so I'm assuming based on what you have said that they are comprable neighborhoods - I mean same long walk to the PATH...and same sketchy people hanging out about 3-4 blocks away (3rd and Coles...) The feeling that I got from the First Street block, when we went at like noon on a Saturday, was that it was really, really quiet. With lots of older people strolling around or sitting on their front stoops....

I've allways viewed this section of DT as the last frontier with regards to the whole developement/boom thats been going on DTJC.

Give it about 10 years and this section of town is going to be priceless..


CK