Thanks to all, this is great info -- and I will
pass along the link to this thread so my friend can read it all :))

There are a ton of places to choose from around Montgomery St., especially right around the post office. I have looked into many of the new construction condos in the area and I have found that Liberty Harbor has some of the nicest Jersey City condo available. They have really good amenities and are def. within walking distance from the P.O. (less than a mile).

The NY Times is a good source for 07302 condos.

This is one block from the post office:

http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/2152-DP709097

Considering the quality of service from the JC post office you'd be better off getting a condo near a UPS or a Fed Ex Store

My wife and I looked at both Montgomery Greene and 99 Montgomery and preferred 99 Mont., hands down.

MG has better amenities like a gym and valet parking, but you pay for those in your common charges, taxes are higher (even w/the abatement), and the overall price per sf is higher. I believe MG's monthly CC for a 1BR was over $500 while 99M's was $170.

With regard to 99 Montgomery St., there are units for sale there, but in my opinion, way overpriced. Mont-Greene is expensive as well, but the ammenities are very nice.

You might also want to check out 99 Montgomery, it's a condo building w/about 16 units, located a block from the post office (next to Komegashi). No doorman and no gym = very low common charges. The building's construction is great (it's a gut rehab), w/9 inches of concrete between you, your neighbors, and the outdoors. I believe there's a single unit available as there was an open house sign on the entrance over the weekend when I walked by.

My wife and I looked extensively in this area and the pickings for 1BRs below $500k are a wee bit slim, but unless she's in a hurry to move she has options.

If she's willing to walk a few more blocks:

Montgomery Towers is probably the most reasonably priced option, but the building is aging and the units are small. Taxes and maintenance are very low.

From time to time you'll see condos in the row houses on Morris and Sussex Sts. around Van Vorst St. will pop up on the market, also older units along Grand St. The renovated brownstones are pricey ($575k and up for 1BR) but there are plenty in the $350 range.

I believe Sunblossom Condos on Washington between Sussex & Morris still have available units. They're reasonable at $350k for 1BR and newly renovated, but very small.

One thing she should know is that if she's intent on getting really close to the PO, beware of noise from the York St. Tavern as it can get pretty loud in the evening when they set up tables outside.

I've lived in the area for 8 years and use the PO regularly. I have no problem with the PO's staff, they are a lot more friendly than staffs in NYC post offices. I do, however, hate the mail carriers with a passion.

How about Montgomery Towers? Those are older buildings but still close to the Path and PO.

I think Washington Commons still has condos available and that's only 2 or 3 blocks from the Paulus Hook Post Office. http://www.washingtoncommonscondos.com/

This is the place that had the really low maintenance and then had to jack it up (at least that's what I heard) because their budget didn't call for a doorman and i think a building that size is required by law to have one - so now they have a makeshift doorman desk in their front lobby. No laundry in the individual units but they have free laundry machines on each floor.

In anycase, my wife and I went to see a few of their units and the work was nice, the sizes of the units were large, and the prices were OK, not incredibly cheap though... If my memory serves me, prices were about $400-450/sq ft. So for instance I think they had a 1300sq ft 2br/2ba for about $569,000 which works out to about $437/sq ft.

Granted, that *IS* cheap compared to InsideA, Trump, or Waldo Lofts, but if i'm going to pay $570k for a place, i want laundry in my unit. Also I hear parking is an issue there...

In any case, that's an option that's about 3 blocks away (and even closer to FatBurger!).

There are a ton of condos available in Paulus Hook. Example: on Craigslist.org, I see a 2 bedroom at Grand and Washington (a few blocks from the post office) available for about $399,000.

I see a 2 bedroom available at Fulton's Landing, which is a little farther away, available for $500,000, and another 2-bedroom unit, which I think is right by Fulton's Landing, available for $575,000.

Montgomery Greene is very close to the post office and PATH but I think the only apartments left through the sales office are the penthouses, or resales (might want to check with local realtors and/or Craigslist).

If she doesn't mind living in a up and coming Journal Square area in Jersey City, there is a post office there. Its on Kennedy, the neighborhood is changing so quickly and its the best time to buy there.

Thanks Snapple,
Am now wondering if our P.O. is
really as bad as the replies on Kannekt
site suggest! IF so, maybe she will
be very unhappy moving her mail-based
biz to JC at all...???

There are a few condo buildings being planned now near the post office in Paulus Hook. She could probably buy pre-construction soon. As far as existing condo buildings very close to that area, I'd say the Grandview or Montgomery Greene. They're both very close. Expensive neighborhood though.

Hi all,
A friend of mine is considering a move
to JC -- she wants a 2-3 bedroom condo.

The thing is, she wants to be very close to the Path AND her main requirement (due to her business which means picking up heavy packages from P.O. on a daily basis at times) is that she has to be VERY close to the main post office, like within a few blocks...

Any suggestions from people who live around there for the best buildings to check out right near the P.O.? As in a place with good management, something that was built with decent systems, etc?

I'm in Hamilton Park and just have no idea what is good value in that area...
Thanks for any info,
Tess1