the city of West New York, NJ

[Thundertubs]

December 23rd, 2008

West New York is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, located on top of the Palisades across from Midtown Manhattan.
WNY has a population of 45,000 in 1 square mile for a population density of... any guesses?

Hudson County itself is mostly made up of a narrow peninsula of contiguous urban neighborhoods, Jersey City being the largest municipality.
The county has 608,000 people in 47 square miles, which is actually slightly more populous and denser than the city of Boston.

The town (as well as surrounding cities such as Union City, Guttenburg, North Bergen, and Weehawken) is predominantly hispanic (about 80%).
West New York and Union City make up the largest Cuban population in the US outside greater Miami, FL.

Lets check it out

To illustrate the arbitrary and ridiculous jurisdictions that govern this county, this photo shows three cities: Union City (left) West New York (back center) and Weehawken (right).




This is technically Union City, but it's right on the line...
It wouldn't be inner-city New Jersey without vinyl siding and bay windows!










These side streets are in Weehawken




50th Street, the northernmost block in Weehawken




Looking west.


View from JFK Boulevard East. The junk down below is Port Imperial, which was an industrial wasteland and is now being filled with lame condos.


57th Street


River-to-river


Hells Kitchen


Jersey City, a few miles south


Eew




Riverside Park.
For more of this, stay tuned for the Weehawken thread...


51st Street, West New York. The numbered streets go in the same direction as Manhattan's across the river, but don't exactly line up.


These have the million-dollar view




West New York towers, with Guttenburg's Galaxy Towers in rear








Lets go inland and see the neighborhoods

60th Street






Lookng east on 60th
















The WNYPD






Bergenline Avenue, the bustling spine of Nuevo Jersey


Bergenline is the longest commercial street in NJ. The type of shuttle bus seen below is very popular in New Jersey's hispanic communities.


gross exhaust






Shoppers!








































Two interesting adaptations of a rowhouse




























Union City. In the distance are new condos. The new Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has been extended through here.




Back where we started!


As I see it, Hudson County, NJ is a continuation of New York's inner neighborhoods. Part of New York City is in New Jersey, and vice-versa. The jurisdictions are quite arbitrary.

[M II A II R II K]

That was great. These neighbourhoods could be taken for places in NY proper, particularly with the skyline in the background. And plus those shots display a unique perspective of the Manhattan skyline.

[ColDayMan]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[POLA]

Killer tour! How easy is it to get to Manhattan from here?

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by POLA

Killer tour! How easy is it to get to Manhattan from here?

I am guessing not that easy because there is only two tunnels that cross into this part of Jersey. Which is weird, you would think that during the big bridge building craze back at the turn of the century, a few bridges would of been constructed to Jersey as well.


I am guessing it is quite common for people to couch as the "west" in West New York.

[TinChelseaNYC]

You've outdone yourself. That was superb!

[DubbaG]

After looking through this thread, I can't stop smelling my fingers.

[ThisSideofSteinway]

Jersey looking good? Does not compute!

Very nice.

[flar]

Awesome, gritty and urban. I love that street view from across the river.

[STLgasm]

I'm in a Garden State of Mind.

[BUFFALOVE!!]

Nasty city. I'd love to live there

[MolsonExport]

Grittastic. Love it.

[krudmonk]

Awesome. I find it strange how New Jersey is viewed as being a world apart, but it looks to be like another borough. Manhattan is right there in your face.

[10023]

So that's what's over there.

Thanks for saving me the trip.

[ChrisLA]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

Awesome. I find it strange how New Jersey is viewed as being a world apart, but it looks to be like another borough. Manhattan is right there in your face.

I too have found it strange hearing NY'ers speak of these communities as if they are far away. But after visiting NY many times, I understand. Even though its just across the river, getting there I find it quite difficult.

As someone else mentioned, there is only limited ways to access Manhattan. It can take a while to either enter or exit the city. By car is the worst as it once took us over an hour just to enter into the tunnel on Canal just to get over to N.J.

[Thundertubs]

Originally Posted by POLA

Killer tour! How easy is it to get to Manhattan from here?

It's super-close, as the crow flies, but not so much travel-wise. The new Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has stops nearby, and takes passengers to Hoboken Station, where they can catch a PATH subway into Manhattan. There are tons of buses that go through the Lincoln Tunnel, as well as the private shuttle buses seen running up and down Bergenline Ave. North Hudson (WNY, Union City, Weehawken, etc...) is relatively isolated, but still easier to get to than further-out communities.

There was a proposal floated back in the day for a bridge conecting Manhattan and New Jersey around 57th Street, but it never went through.

Originally Posted by krudmonk

Awesome. I find it strange how New Jersey is viewed as being a world apart, but it looks to be like another borough. Manhattan is right there in your face.

Originally Posted by ChrisLA

I too have found it stange hearing NY'ers speak of these communities as if they are far away. But after visiting NY many times, I understand. Even though its just across the river, getting there I find it quite difficult.

As someone else mentioned, there is only limited ways to access Manhattan. It can take a while to either enter or exit the city. By car is the worst as it once took us over an hour just to enter into the tunnel on Canal just to get over to N.J.

This is just typical Manhattan provinciality. I love the place and it's people, but anyone will admit they can be that way quite often. I hear people who live downtown (NY native or not) describe places like Park Slope or Morningside Heights as "the boonies" or "way out there". West New York is harder to get to than Williamsburg, Astoria, Long Island City, or other 1st ring outer borough hoods, but it's still very much a part of inner city New York. It can be hard to get perspective on a place so massive sometimes.

Thanks for the comments!

[stormkingfan]

Originally Posted by Thundertubs

December 23rd, 2008

Eew

Aww, whasamada? Dark smoke coming out of chimneys of old hi-rises, every now and then, is one characteristic of an old city like NY. Every time I see it, I quickly grab the camera and by the time I aim.... gone! Damn!

[Hozay]

I love it!

[stormkingfan]

Originally Posted by Thundertubs

December 23rd, 2008


Hells Kitchen

Except that its top is missing in the pic, that's a good view of the Milford Plaza Hotel's facade. The big "M", which sits on the roof, is about the only thing you can really see from a distance if you're in the city. From the waterfront (NY side)? Maybe. Haven't paid much att'n in the past.

[Kingofthehill]

That's what I'm talking about! The 6th borough in 'da house!

Great job. Awesome urbanity, pedestrian traffic, density, architecture etc...just like it's cousins across the river.

Whaaaaat?! The Bahamian flag makes a cameo! LOL