Closter Apartment Renter's Guide
Closter Apartment Renter's Guide
Overview
The name Closter comes from the Dutch word Klooster, which means "a quiet place." But don't worry about it being too quiet here, Closter, N.J., has plenty to tickle your fancy.
Lying just to the west of the famous Hudson river, Closter is just far enough out of Manhattan to get a little peace and quiet, without feeling like you are living out in the sticks
The name Closter comes from the Dutch word Klooster, which means "a quiet place." But don't worry about it being too quiet here, Closter, N.J., has plenty to tickle your fancy.
Lying just to the west of the famous Hudson river, Closter is just far enough out of Manhattan to get a little peace and quiet, without feeling like you are living out in the sticks. It's well connected, not only to New York City, but also to other surrounding cities such as Newark. This is the place to come if you want a nice compromise between city life and a more peaceful way of living.
Moving to Closter
Rental houses in Closter are in high demand, so don't expect to show up and immediately find a place to lay your head. You will need to do a bit of planning and put a bit of work into impressing your landlord-to-be. No, you don't have to go down on your knees and beg to get a decent home for rent here, but you will need to prove that you are an honest and trustworthy person by providing a credit report and proof of income.
Rental apartments here are nowhere near as short on space as those just a few miles south along the river. In fact, the majority of rental properties here are detached homes or townhouses for rent. Enjoy the extra space! There are also a few apartment communities offering you a low-stress place of your own to rent. Neighborhoods don't really show their faces around here because it's a small town, but don't let that stop you from posting up in town.
When you're considering when to move, bear in mind the typical northeastern climate: summers are darned hot, and winters carry the threat of snow. Unless you enjoy lugging furniture through the white drifts, try to avoid moving in the depths of winter.
Living in Closter
Closter has a number of great shopping and dining opportunities, including friendly Italian Buon Gusto Restaurant, located right in the heart of the borough. But your most exciting and memorable experiences are likely to take place within the Big Apple itself. Shoot down Palisades Interstate Parkway and cross over the George Washington Bridge to reach Hudson Heights, from where you can easily get to wherever you need to go in Manhattan.
Closer to Closter (try saying that three times fast!), there are a number of natural attractions that you simply can't get in the heart of the city. Enjoy fishing, bird watching or hiking along the shores of the Oradell Reservoir, which is open to the public all summer long. There's also the Closter Nature Center, where you can get up close with the fish and water birds that thrive in this 136-acre oasis of ponds, streams, woods and meadows.
One of the great advantages of living in this area is the availability of public transport. Many Closter residents ride the bus to work, doing their best to help the environment and reduce congestion on the often-crowded roads. If you want to get by without a car (perhaps you see yourself as a green superhero), then this is one of the few parts of the U.S. where you won't have too many headaches as a result of your environmentally responsible decision.