Local news of interest for residents of BestrentNJ.com communities.
Woodbridge residents don’t need to go far to find Jersey Fresh produce. Each Saturday from June through the end of October, residents gather in the town hall parking lot for the Woodbridge Farmers’ Market, which offers a selection of the best fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jams, meats and cheeses around.
A great way to find affordable whole foods and meet the farmers who grow them, the farmers’ market also provides a space for Woodbridge friends and neighbors to get to know one another. This Saturday marks the final Farmers’ Market of the season—complete with “Trick-or-Treat Down Main Street,” a daytime twist on the Halloween tradition. Dress up your young witches, ghosts and ghouls and watch them trick-or-treat at local shops.
An integral part of the “Greenable Woodbridge Program,” the farmers’ market is one of the many environmental initiatives currently underway in Woodbridge. Green-oriented redevelopment, a “buy-local” campaign, solar-panel planning and a revamped recycling initiative are some of the other exciting programs in development. The township was recently recognized for its innovation by Sustainable Jersey, which awarded Woodbridge its first-ever “Sustainability Champion” honor in the large population category.
BestRentNJ.com properties closest to the Woodbridge Farmers’ Market are Fox Hill Run, Woodbridge Terrace, Woodbridge Center Plaza, Cloverleaf Gardens and Evergreen Forest.
The Woodbridge Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 8am to 1pm at 1 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ, in the Town Hall Parking Lot.
On October 14th, Edison Township held a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the beginning of the Edison Riverfront Walkway Project. Set to be completed this spring, the Edison Walkway will traverse the Raritan River for about two thousand feet from the Edison Boat Basin at Meadow Road—and will bring a welcome new public space for residents of Edison Township.
In addition to a kayak and canoe launching zone and gazebo, new construction will include birding areas and a native butterfly garden, creating a space for connecting with nature and the beauty of the Garden State. Visit the walkway and watch bald eagles, osprey, and yellow-crowned night-herons soar overhead!
This project will complement the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative, reported last week. The Walkway will open to the public within the coming months, and we encourage you to take advantage of this wonderful new project by spending an afternoon strolling along the waterway.
BestRentNJ.com properties that will most benefit from the new walkway are Edison Woods, Blueberry Village, Rivendell, Rivendell Village and Edison Village.
On October 11th, kayakers and canoers floated down the Raritan River—a rare sight, indeed. They were there to mark the beginning of the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative, now underway at Rutgers. Faculty and students will be working to clean up and protect the river from environmental destruction. This means a better quality of life, and more recreational opportunities, for residents who live near the Raritan River.
The Raritan cleanup highlights the benefits of living near Rutgers University, a major institute of higher learning. Rutgers consistently ranks in the top tier of public universities. And with Rutgers’s generous grants to in-state residents, living in the heart of New Jersey puts you just steps away from quality higher education for you or your children.
BestRentNJ.com properties closest to the Raritan River and Rutgers are Rivendell, Blueberry Village, Edison Village, and North Brunswick Manor.
Located just off of Route 1, Woodbridge Center mall is the ideal shopping destination. As the second largest mall in NJ, its 180 stores include everything from fast food stands to sit-down restaurants, big discount department stores, and small chain retailers. Woodbridge Center Mall has something for everyone.
On October 9th, visit the Village Court at Woodbridge Center as Mayor John E. McCormac awards volunteers and non-profits from the community on Woodbridge Community Day. See the different ways this unique district is being served, and find out how you can meet friends and neighbors and participate in local projects. More than just a retail focal point, Woodbridge Center is community headquarters--with a childrens'' play area, a mall-walking group and other family-friendly ways to meet your Middlesex neighbors.
A true hub of community connection and affordable retail, Woodbridge Center is just another way to enjoy quality of life at reasonable prices while living in the heart of central NJ.
Conveniently located in the middle of Middlesex County, Woodbridge Center is most easily accessible from Tyler Greens, Gill Lane Apartments, Woodbridge Terrace, and Woodbridge Center Plaza. Contact us today to find out how your housing needs can be met just a walk away from this commercial hot spot.
We have had way too much rain lately, but our new trees are happy. This spring we did major plantings at Woodbridge Village, Woodbridge Center Plaza, Gill lane, Colonial Gardens, and Woodbridge Gardens. We hope you like them.
Many of our tenants come from other countries, and we are often asked to explain the meaning of the July 4th celebrations. While it was of course important that America separated from Britain in 1776, the more important part of July 4th comes from the words of the Declaration of Independence. Written by Thomas Jefferson, this magnificent document raised the sights of the entire world:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Look around the world. This is still news.
The recent extension of High Street northward to Route 440 shaves 4 minutes off the time to and from Harbortown via Route 440. The High Street extension also means less traffic near the State Fayette apartments on State Street, as many vehicles will now take High Street instead.
BestRentNJ.com is responding to the weak economy by giving 1-2 months free on many apartments, often in addition to large reductions in the rent itself. Call the rental agents to get the latest information. We understand it''s a tough time for everyone.
Our Maintenence Call Center is off to a great start. Over the past year we have received thousands of service requests. We are pleased to report that over half of those calls were addressed within 2 days. We are committed to further improving upon this level of service. We continue to call you back as soon as the super tells us the work is completed to see if you agree.
There are some ways you can improve your call center experience. When calling, be prepared with your address, unit number, and a detailed description of the problem. In addition, it would be very helpful to tell us that you grant permission for the super to enter your apartment if you are not at home. This will allow us to service maintenance requests faster.
The Call Center is staffed between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. During non-business hours, please contact the Call Center and follow the voice prompts which will route you to the appropriate maintenance personnel.
We believe that our Maintenance Call Center has been crucial in helping us provide better service to you. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and if you have any suggestions on how we may improve our Call Center, please email them to customerservice@bestrentnj.com.
The tripling of oil prices in the last 2 years is causing economic disruptions, many of which we are only beginning to see. What’s the impact on tenants? If you pay your own heating bill, expect higher energy bills as natural gas prices also increase. However, moving to a similar apartment where the landlord pays the heat will likely be of no benefit, as the rent will be higher there to make up for rising costs.
A better strategy is to look at your transportation costs. Can you walk to public transportation, or does your apartment community provide a shuttle to a train? Can you walk to shopping, restaurants, or recreation? Please look at our Unique page to see which apartment communities offer these advantages.
It’s also true that renting is a smart thing to do at a time like this. Not only do you avoid the plummeting housing values that owners are suffering, but you have more flexibility to move, if you need to.
Designed to promote awareness and conservation of the Meadowlands Ecosystem, Meadowfest 2008 will be held at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus on June 14, 2008. This family oriented day-long event includes live-music, educational and cultural exhibits, food & refreshments and the Xchange sponsored pontoon boat tour.
Xchange at Secaucus Junction, which is adjacent to Laurel Hill Park, has a number of stylish 1,2, and 3 bedroom apartments that boast upscale appointments such as granite countertops, GE Clean Steel Appliances and much more. Remember to visit the Xchange table at Meadowfest or stop by the on-site leasing office for additional information.
Xchange at Secaucus Junction, a gorgeous new community on the Secaucus waterfront, will open in June 2008. Xchange will be a one minute shuttle ride to Secaucus Transfer Station, with up to 10 trains per hour to NY Penn Station, only 7 minutes from Secaucus. The community will include 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments with many amenities. Approximate first occupancy will be June 2008. Stay tuned for details!
A $47 million renovation of Metropark Station in Woodbridge has begun. Improvements include longer, wider platforms with climate-controlled shelters, an expanded waiting room with a second food vendor, and better information displays. A new pedestrian access from Route 27 to the westbound platform will also be provided. BestRentNJ communities to benefit most are Hidden Valley, Hilltop, Trafalger, Gill Lane, and Woodbridge Terrace.
BestRentNJ.com takes customer service to a whole new level with the establishment of a new Maintenance Call Center! Our central Maintenance Call Center enables us to monitor our performance to ensure prompt handling of your maintenance requests.
Contact the Maintenance Call Center Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at one of the phone numbers listed below, where a Staff Member will respond to your call by documenting the problem and then immediately relaying the matter to the appropriate Maintenance Personnel and the Building Supervisor who will respond to your maintenance concern ASAP. In order to ensure your satisfaction with the work that has been performed, you will receive a follow up call from the Maintenance Dept. within 2 business days after the work has been completed.
In the event that a maintenance issue occurs during non business hours, just call the Maintenance Call Center and leave your message which will be forwarded to the appropriate maintenance person. The phone numbers listed below are designed to save you money based upon your specific area code location. So for example, if you live within a 732 area code, you would dial the phone number beginning with that area code number and someone will respond to your call within 24 hours to assist you.
CENTRAL NJ AREA 732-596-8200
CENTRAL NJ AREA 609-374-8200
CENTRAL NJ AREA 908-929-8200
NORTHERN NJ AREA 973-413-8200
NORTHERN NJ AREA 201-416-8200
SOUTHERN NJ AREA 856-210-8200
The widening of Route 1 from 4 lanes to 6 in Middlesex County will be largely completed in 2007. The project includes several new bridges and overpasses in Rahway, Woodbridge, and Edison, in addition to new bridges in Elizabeth, and North Brunswick that were completed earlier. The new Rahway River bridge, in particular, is a vast improvement because it also straitens and levels a previously poor alignment, and shortens the length of a traffic light.
BestRentNJ communities to benefit by October 2007 are Woodbridge Village, Colonial Gardens, Woodbridge Gardens, Forest View, Evergreen Forest, Cloverleaf Gardens, Gill Lane Village, and Woodbridge Terrace. In 2008 these benefits will reach Edison Woods, Edison Village, and Blueberry Village as the remainder of the Route 1 widening will be complete. All these communities will enjoy much faster trips to Woodbridge Center Mall, Menlo Park Mall, Newark Airport, and New York City. Route 1 remains a toll-free highway.