The Benefits of The Small City Hoboken

“Hoboken”

Some celebrate a place while others mediate on what it means to belong to a place or moment, while the place you live now can feel like home, but it may not be the only place that resonates to your heart. Hoboken is a place that resonates to my heart. I have worked there for a few years in my teens delivering pizza for a local Italian pizzeria. Even though I am from New York City working in Hoboken daily for two years help me to know every inch of the town and made it my second home. Hoboken is a small town just a few steps away from Manhattan on the other side of the Hudson River. Even though it's just a mile away from the city it has a very different demographics and lifestyle, you get a little craziness of the city but also get a toned-down quiet life.

Hoboken is a developing area which had old warehouses and construction sites that are now getting turn into luxury apartments. New Yorkers are moving into the town. There is a high demand for real estate in this area, the place is getting filled with middle class working people. Even though it falls under Jersey it feels very much like New York. Hoboken is a popular spot for young families. It’s clean, safe and quieter than Manhattan. This city is all about family. It has become a small tight community, where you are likely to encounter a newly married couple, a baby carriage or a family walking their dog on every street. You see the same people running in or out at wholes foods supermarket on Sundays. You go to the same local bars and stores, restaurants all the time and everyone pretty much knows each other by face. The town also lovestheir pet. I believe this area has the highest concentration of dogs than anywhere else. Every family or couple living here has at least one pet dog.

Many think Jersey is a step down from New York, don’t let that fool you. Hoboken isn’t cheap at all it is equal or sometimes more expensive than Manhattan. The rents and mortgages can have a high price tag. An average single bedroom apartment for a couple could run anywhere from $2,400 to $3,000 a month, that is very much Manhattan. And if you someone with good credit and income is looking to purchase a condominium, it can reach well over a million dollars at this current market, not to mention the increasing property taxes. Many believe that this small town is getting gentrified with the increasing real estate price and property taxes, but I believe that is good for the town because it was full of old factories and warehouses that are getting a remodeling. I support this gentrification in Hoboken because I believe this place carries a lot of value considering its right next to the biggest financial capital of the world.

Morning rush is crazy in Hoboken everybody. People are jumping over each other to get on the PATH train. From the hours of 7 to 10 in the morning you do not want to bump into anyone, I guess that's the New Yorker in them. Once the rush hour is over the town somewhat becomes a ghost town. It is very easy to get around in the city. I believe it has literally one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the country, while most people do have cars in town, you do not need a car to live here. And not to forget your just one click away from your destination because this place is filled with uber and lyft rides, so you will never miss an appointment.

Hoboken is a great place for foodies from restaurants to cafes to beer gardens and wine bars you'll never miss on a good treat. This town is packed with a varied range of cuisines that could leave many people with their mouthwatering. Among the great restaurants in this town, I must recommend the pizzeria that I worked for called Giovanni's Pizzeria, I believe it has the best Italian pizza around. Among the many great spots in the town, some places to check out are La Isla, a Cuban restaurant that’s been featured on the Food Network, as well as Dino & Harry’s, a famous steakhouse joint and not to forget the infamous Carlos bakery.

Nightlife in Hoboken will give Manhattan a stiff competition. South of the town there are more bars and clubs per block than anywhere else. Every weekend some streets get closed for public safety and there are cops all over. There are also small live concerts at the beer gardens. Millennials living in Hoboken often get stereotyped for being heavy partyers. But if all that is too much for you, you can always enjoy a glass of wine and catch a flick under the blue sky at the Pier.

Overall Hoboken is a place that sits very close to me with everything it has offer. Yes, it has an increasing price tag, and some believe its getting gentrified too fast but I support this gentrification because of the location and the atmosphere it provides. And whatever is happening to Hoboken has more pros than cons. While in some places gentrification hurts the place and its community I believe gentrification in Hoboken is making it shine.