Lafayette, situated south and west of Downtown Jersey City and considered by many to be its hipper sister, has an art-school-cool vibe that belies its industrial past and its booming future. With an enviable mix of restaurants, bars, parks, and proximity to New York City, the neighborhood is experiencing a wave of new residential construction, including luxe developments like Solaris Lofts with amenities and retail to match.
Bergen-Lafayette’s borders — the larger area inclusive of its namesake neighborhoods Lafayette and Bergen Hill — generally speaking are McGinley Square to the north, Liberty State Park to the east, Greenville to the south, and West Bergen/Lincoln Park to the west with the historic Morris Canal bisecting the neighborhood, flowing into the Hudson River alongside the long-ago-decommissioned Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal. Shipping and railroads are major industries of the past, but what does remain from the 19th and 20th centuries is stunning historical architecture.
Communipaw Avenue is the main east-to-west artery of Lafayette, passing through the heart of the nabe at a tangle of streets otherwise known as The Junction — the intersection of Communipaw, Summit, and Garfield Avenues with Grand Street; Pacific Avenue also cuts a grand line from north to south, and the vibrant scene radiates from there.
The Grind Shop is your first stop for La Colombe coffee in a light and bright space, but Lafayette is really on the map as a distinct and exciting dining, drinking destination. From authentic Israeli street food at Mordi’s Sandwich Shop to seasonal American fare with some southern charm at The Oak on Pine; from Hooked, the best seafood shack this side of anywhere, to the elegant Caribbean gastro pub Harry’s Daughter and Corgi — Jersey City’s first and only distillery — the neighborhood’s landscape is both on fire and just getting started.
Plenty of green space is also a big perk in Lafayette with Liberty State Park hugging the neighborhood’s eastern edge and Berry Lane Park creating a significant swath of leisure space as Jersey City’s largest municipal park with basketball courts, tennis courts, a baseball field, a soccer field, and playgrounds. And in between buildings, on red brick facades, is a dynamic street art scene, rivaling any cool urban enclave.
Downtown Jersey City is a fast and easy ride away on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail with transfers available to the PATH and ferry to New York City, or hop on a Citi Bike and ride along the entire length of the Jersey City Hudson River waterfront.
New residential development is booming in Lafayette, bringing new apartments with luxury finishes and extensive amenities once only found in Downtown Jersey City, and Solaris Lofts at 65 Maple Street is a great example. The warehouse-inspired building features a luxury loft aesthetic, environmentally sustainable design with one of New Jersey’s largest residential solar installations, unique amenities like yoga classes and a circuit training fitness center, as well as a gourmet market in the ground floor retail space.
Slated to commence leasing in May, Solaris Lofts is sure to be a brilliant new addition to the neighborhood. For more information, visit solarislofts.com.
