This post is adapted from a blog on Ziefert’s website.
Because it is one of the “newest” neighborhoods in South Orange, with most of the homes being built during the 1950’s as opposed to the 1880s-1930’s like most of the rest of town, Newstead is one of the few neighborhoods in South Orange where mid-century buffs can find what they are looking for.
Many large ranch homes were built in the neighborhood during that era and they feature elements not found in earlier homes, such as large finished basements, air conditioning, pools, first floor laundry rooms, larger closets and floor to ceiling windows and fireplaces.
For Kanani Brigg’s family, the more modern homes in Newstead were a big draw when they purchased in Newstead nine years ago. They liked the large spaces offered uniquely by Newstead homes. “Newstead is a community within a community because of its geography,” according to Briggs. Newstead, she says, “is great a mix of ages and ethnicities. I see a lot of kids biking on the streets here and I like that.”
Newstead is at the westernmost edge of South Orange on the top of S. Mountain so it is not within easy walking distance to South Orange Village. From the “entrance” to the neighborhood at Glenview Rd./S. Orange Ave. it’s about 1.4 miles downhill and a 25- minute walk to the station on Sloan Street. Yet its seclusion and location provide distinct advantages—quiet streets, a true sense of community and properties that back to the wooded South Mountain Reservation nature preserve or have views of the City.
Shana Teitelbaum, a Newstead resident who runs ad sales for our hyperlocal news site Village Green, has seen more and more families with young children moving to her neighborhood in the last 2-3 years. She likes what she sees and hears—the voices of kids playing in the neighborhood and lots of renovation going on. “It’s reinvigorated the neighborhood,” she says.
The Teitelbaums were targeting the town for a home purchase several years ago. They had friends in South Orange and were looking at a lot of houses in the Wyoming and Montrose areas. Newstead struck a chord with the Teitelbaums– the homes were bigger, lots larger, and neighborhood quieter. Plus they were looking for a pool, which is more commonplace in Newstead than in other parts of town.
“Newstead has a very comfortable feel,” says Teitelbaum, “because of the lack of traffic and flat topography. It’s easy to walk your dog, ride your bike or skateboard on the street.” Being away from the train and town does not affect Teitelbaum, who works from home or her husband, who works in NJ and drives to work. If they need to get into NYC they can easily take the jitney, she explained.
Patricia Canning, President of the Newstead Neighborhood Association, is proud of how active the Association is. She explained that it holds a couple of social events during the year; some aimed at families with kids and some for grown ups only. They also sponsor a food drive, picnic and welcome new neighbors with information about the town and Association.
The neighborhood association also takes on more serious issues. Beth Meyer, an association member and neighborhood resident was instrumental in successfully lobbying the town to make repaving Newstead’s streets a priority.
Here are some of the perks of Newstead living:
- The streets are quiet, flat and prime for recreation
- Easy access to other towns north and west of South Orange such as Livingston, Millburn and West Orange
- The South Mountain School is highly rated. The “Annex” is located in Newstead and the district has a shuttle for students who attend “the big school” down the hill on Wyoming Ave.
- Newstead has its own playground
- Jitney service to the South Orange station
- Excellent proximity to South Mountain reservation, which abuts some of the neighborhood’s homes
- City views from some streets
- Host to annual Newstead 5K charity run to benefit the Achieve Foundation
- Active neighborhood association
Allison Ziefert is Maplewood, NJ based realtor and the #1 individual real estate agent at Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct in Maplewood, NJ. A local market expert, Allison specializes Maplewood, NJ real estate and homes and South Orange, NJ real estate and homes as well as Millburn/Short Hills, NJ, West Orange, NJ and surrounding towns. Allison’s success as a Maplewood/S. Orange realtor is driven by earning great testimonials from sellers and buyers of homes her marketplace. You can read her testimonials at www.azhomesnj.com/testimonials
