It can be hard to hear for some, but getting older is just part of life. For many men, hitting a certain age signifies the beginning of a new chapter - where bucket list items are crossed off, and goals are accomplished. For others, however, aging is a scary prospect, filled with nagging injuries, embarrassing weight gain, and inability to perform intimately. Few things feel worse than realizing that you simply can't perform as you used to, whether on the basketball court or in the bedroom.
The reality is, as men get older and approach middle age, their testosterone levels drop. When a male's testosterone levels get lower, it can cause a slew of unwanted symptoms like:
If you have noticed any of the above symptoms and feel like you're just dragging yourself through life, don't lose hope. Many men around the country are experiencing the same feelings as you. Thankfully, you don't have to settle for the side effects of low testosterone. There are proven, easy steps that you can take to reverse the negative signs of aging. If you're ready to reclaim your youth and feel like you did in your 20s and 30s, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be the perfect solution.
TRT bridges the gap between your old life and the happier, more vibrant version of you. That's where Juventee comes in - to facilitate your transition to a more youthful, fulfilling life and a brighter future. After all, aren't YOU supposed to be in charge of your wellness and health? With the Juventee team by your side, you'll have the tools to do so - backed by a personalized plan crafted by experts with more than 20 years of experience.
At Juventee, we propose a preventive and proactive medical approach to preserve optimal body function, with the best hormonal functioning to prolong vitality and youthfulness. Our specialty is Age Management, which is based on the belief that balance is the key to wellness. We employ the most innovative science, offering treatments like TRT in North Bergen, NJ, and other clinical products with proven efficacy.
Living a younger, healthier, and longer life is a frequent commitment for Juventee's team of specialists. We are experts at designing customized programs that work synergistically with your body and brain. We love incorporating smart nutrition, hormonal balance, exercise, stress management, cognitive health, and lifestyle changes into our treatment programs. We also implement sciences such as testosterone replacement therapy to achieve verifiable, legitimate results.
Our doctors take differing approaches to care but share the single goal of prolonging your youth and vitality. With that goal in mind, Juventee was born from the hands of its partners, who want you to feel full strength, energy, joy, confidence, and wellbeing.
testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much testosterone, it results in a condition called hypogonadism. Also called "Low T," testosterone loss due to hypogonadism must be replenished, or the male suffers from difficult, even debilitating symptoms.
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What pops up in your head when you think about testosterone? Many people associate testosterone with being overly aggressive, macho, and violent. However, the truth is that testosterone is a critical hormone for men and affects the male lifespan from puberty through old age. As a sex hormone, male testosterone is produced through the testicles. It becomes most prevalent during puberty.
Testosterone production is controlled by the pituitary gland at the base of a man's brain. This gland sends signals to the testes, which in turn produce testosterone. A feedback loop helps regulate the amount of testosterone in the blood. When levels are too high, the brain orders the pituitary gland to restrict production.
Cholesterol synthesizes the testosterone in your body. However, having high cholesterol doesn't mean you have high testosterone levels, too. T levels are too carefully controlled by your pituitary gland for cholesterol to raise testosterone levels.
During puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
Testosterone replacement is exactly what its name implies. It's a therapy for men that replaces diminished testosterone levels, which helps balance your hormones and ultimately improves your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates many of the side effects that men suffer from as a result of low testosterone.
Testosterone was originally synthesized in a lab in 1935. Its popularity has grown since, and today, it is among the most promising doctor-prescribed treatments for men in the United States.
So, how does testosterone replacement therapy work? TRT essentially gives you the testosterone needed to be healthy and have a properly functioning body. As the primary androgen for males, testosterone has a role in the natural processes your body needs for overall health. This extra hormonal intake positively affects patients and their general health, preventing diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiac diseases, and more.
Though there is an abundance of testosterone in your system throughout puberty and into your 20s, it gradually depletes with age. Sometimes, serious injuries and long-term conditions like diabetes affect testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much testosterone, it results in a condition called hypogonadism. Also called "Low T," testosterone loss due to hypogonadism must be replenished, or the male suffers from difficult, even debilitating symptoms.
Though some symptoms of low T are abundantly evident, not all men can immediately tell they may need TRT. If you're unsure, ask yourself these questions:
If you answered yes to any of those questions, it could be time to contact Juventee about a personalized TRT plan. Still unsure if you're experiencing symptoms of low T? We have compiled a more extensive list of signs below:
Low energy used to be considered a normal part of aging. Today, most doctors know better. Modern advances in medicine show that lack of energy and low T often go hand-in-hand.
If it's a huge struggle to keep up with your kids on the soccer field, or you just don't have the energy to be active, you may have low testosterone. Getting tired is normal, but if it's an ongoing problem affecting you and your family, it's time to consult a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish normal activities, TRT in North Bergen, NJ could be the solution.
You would think that lowered libido would be easy to pick up on, but when it happens gradually, it can be more difficult to diagnose. With that said, many men use TRT because they've lost that "spark" in the bedroom. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not pleasing their partner because intimacy is an important part of a relationship.
The good news? Having a low libido doesn't have to be permanent. TRT treatments can help revert hormone levels to their normal range, making for a more enjoyable sex life.
If you're like millions of other men, hair loss is an unfortunate reality you don't want to think about. Closely related to hormone imbalances and testosterone decline, hair loss is about as distressing as it gets. This common symptom is often related to DHT - a derivative of testosterone that can cause hair follicles to die.
Thankfully, a carefully monitored TRT regimen can help restore hair, especially when combined with methods like plasma-rich therapy. While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone in your body, so hair loss isn't your only reality.
Weak erections - it's an uncomfortable subject for men to talk about. It's even worse to experience the symptom in the heat of the moment. Despite being very common, men shame themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while there are many reasons for this malady, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, you don't have to live with weak erections forever when you balance your hormones with a personalized TRT treatment plan from Juventee.
You're feeling down about everything and can't figure out why you feel crummy about life. You're successful at work but feel unaccomplished. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed - and it could be stemming from low testosterone.
Studies show that men with depression and high cortisol levels also commonly have low testosterone. Because higher cortisol levels can lead to low T, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option, when used in conjunction with therapy, is TRT. When TRT is used to replenish hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more optimistic mood. That's great news for depressed men who have had little-to-no success with powerful anti-depression meds.
Experts have found that men who lose a week's worth of sleep may experience a drop in testosterone by as much as 15%. These findings are alarming and may suggest that sleep loss lowers T levels and affects wellbeing.
If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, it could be time to have your testosterone levels checked. TRT may restore your testosterone levels which can help you sleep better with proper exercise and diet.
Are you struggling to lift weights in the gym or find that you can't pick up items that used to be easy to lift? Studies show that inactive men can lose .5% of muscle strength each year after the age of 25. When you hit 60, muscle loss doubles every ten years. While muscle loss is common with age, it can also be linked to low T.
Testosterone is a crucial piece needed for building and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors are prescribing TRT for males experiencing sharp declines in strength and muscle mass. Whether your workouts are losing steam or you're having problems lifting items that aren't very heavy, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
Nobody likes to gain weight, even though our society is more accepting of overweight people than ever before. Despite diets and carb cutting, many men aren't able to get rid of excess belly and body fat, increasing the chances of heart disease and cancer.
Sometimes, male weight gain isn't caused by sweets and carbs but by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism. This phase of life is called andropause and occurs when testosterone levels are low. Combining a low metabolism with other symptoms like high cortisol levels can be a recipe for a double-chinned disaster. Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The enlargement of male breast tissue, also called "man boobs," is a fairly common condition that many men have. Though it is closely associated with diet and other life choices, increased fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances.
If you're approaching middle age and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
The human body is amazing in so many ways. Still, we have to optimize it every now and then using science, medicine, and hard work. After 40, you may notice that your body is changing, but symptoms like low libido and lack of motivation don't have to be permanent. Juventee has the team, tools, and experience to help recapture your youth and feel better than ever before.
If you're getting older and you're worried about low testosterone, give our office a call today. It would be our pleasure to care for you using the highest quality products, backed by research and applied by professionals with your best interests in mind.
Whether you need a boost to help you get through your busy work week or a natural solution to an embarrassing problem like ED, we're here for you. Our doctors will explain your treatment options in-depth and take as much time as you need to feel comfortable and confident about TRT. Remember, when you treat your body with love and care, it will reciprocate generously. Let our team teach you the techniques to prolong your sense of youth and provide you with the treatment to solidify your wellbeing as you age with grace. Contact Juventee today. By tomorrow, you'll be one step closer to meeting the best version of yourself.
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. -- There were frayed nerves and an expensive clean-up at a luxury apartment building in North Bergen on Tuesday.It appears heavy rain triggered a large rockslide.Work crews lifted sections of wall that could not withstand Tuesday morning's rockslide.Chopper 2 was over the area at the rear of the Dutchess Luxury Tower on River Road, where the rain-soaked cli...
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. -- There were frayed nerves and an expensive clean-up at a luxury apartment building in North Bergen on Tuesday.
It appears heavy rain triggered a large rockslide.
Work crews lifted sections of wall that could not withstand Tuesday morning's rockslide.
Chopper 2 was over the area at the rear of the Dutchess Luxury Tower on River Road, where the rain-soaked cliff gave way. It rolled down with enough force to obliterate fences and pelt cars with rocks, mud and debris.
Eighth-floor tenant Joshua Hay said he noticed something wrong late Monday night, with a few rocks littering the parking lot. There was a much larger slide after 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
"All of a sudden, the building starts shaking," Hay said.
With his cellphone camera, he recorded video of damage to the inside of the parking garage and inside the building.
"A lot of the rocks splintered in the form of a fragmentation," Hay said. "The hallways on the third and fourth floor were messed up. The rocks came in, glass was broken."
There were no injuries.
Hay's car was untouched, with rocks landing a few feet away from it. Many other cars, however, were dented and had glass shattered.
One car belongs to tenant Wei Zhang.
"I only found out when I woke up in the morning. I got the email from management, and then we ran down to see how's our car," Zhang said. "The whole front got smashed. The front window is cracked."
She said she won't be able to drive it while it's damaged, so she'll have to take the bus to work.
Engineers were on the scene as tenants asked ask the question why this keeps happening. There was also a rockslide in September.
"It wasn't this bad. It was a lot less. I know some cars got previously, got kind of destroyed," a tenant named Joshua said.
New, stronger walls and perhaps netting are likely to be on a list of demands from tenants who eagerly wait for results of the investigation.
Residents said the previous rockslide at the property also took place during a rainstorm.
Dave Carlin serves as a reporter for CBS2 News and covers breaking news stories and major events in the Tri-State Area.
NORTH BERGEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- The rock slide that occurred in North Bergen on Monday was caused by this past weekend's heavy rain, according to the conclusion reached by engineers.Multiple cars were crushed during the chaotic scene that unfolded Monday, leaving a cloud of concern among residents who live above the site.Residents living above the site believe increasing traffic is playi...
NORTH BERGEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- The rock slide that occurred in North Bergen on Monday was caused by this past weekend's heavy rain, according to the conclusion reached by engineers.
Multiple cars were crushed during the chaotic scene that unfolded Monday, leaving a cloud of concern among residents who live above the site.
Residents living above the site believe increasing traffic is playing a part in the cause the ground the shift.
"There's been a large amount of heavy truck traffic in the area, cutting through all these streets to avoid traffic in other areas," said North Bergen resident Antonio Quinlan. "And there's an increase in amount of vibrations, which is easy enough to feel."
Photos taken inside the Dutchess apartment complex over on River Road show just how dangerous this could have been with rocks landing in the building.
Mud and rocks also covered vehicles parked in the back of the building.
Residents called authorities after the slide and engineers have been accessing this incident ever since.
The disaster has led to the closure of John F. Kennedy Boulevard between 74th and 78th streets, as engineers take time to fully address the problem.
The boulevard is a major thoroughfare for buses heading to and from the Lincoln Tunnel.
For now, they are being diverted through residential streets.
Meanwhile, the cliffs are covered with overgrown vegetation and loose rocks underneath.
While weather is a big factor in causing the ground to give way, some believe heavy traffic in the area is intensifying the problem.
"Just as the bus passes by and hits their brakes and the loud engines, tractor trailers, heavy trucks constantly coming through the neighborhood in the past few years," said Quinlan.
The Hudson County Sheriff's Office continued to patrol the area to make sure nobody goes down the impacted area.
There's no word on when it will reopen.
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Let me settle the debate once and for all.Yes, there is a North Jersey and a South Jersey. Yes, they are very different.When North Jersey folks go to "the city," they are headed into Manhattan.When South Jersey goes to "the city," it's Philadelphia, and most just say they're headed to "Philly."The question has always been, where do you draw the line?Conventional wisdom has the line at Route 195. The problem, of course, is using that line, that puts Allentown, New Jersey, and Vi...
Let me settle the debate once and for all.
Yes, there is a North Jersey and a South Jersey. Yes, they are very different.
When North Jersey folks go to "the city," they are headed into Manhattan.
When South Jersey goes to "the city," it's Philadelphia, and most just say they're headed to "Philly."
The question has always been, where do you draw the line?
Conventional wisdom has the line at Route 195. The problem, of course, is using that line, that puts Allentown, New Jersey, and Vineland in the same South Jersey region.
It also puts Asbury Park and Ridgewood in the same North Jersey region. Ridiculous.
Let me clear up the confusion.
The Northern part of the state does start north of 195 and the southern portion south of 195. But true South Jerseyans know that real South Jersey starts if you draw a line East to West from Burlington to Plumsted.
Of course, once that line hits Lake Hurst in the Manchester/Toms River area, you're no longer in South Jersey, nor are you in Central Jersey.
That's the start of the "Jersey Shore" region.
I would put Lakewood, Holmdel, and Howell as border towns with most identifying as part of the "Shore region".
A caller weighed in to say that according to the NJ DOT, Central Jersey goes as far north as Phillipsburg. I think that's certainly a stretch.
What's interesting is New Jersey has always been divided into regions.
If we go back a couple of hundred years, NJ was divided between east and west from 1676 until the province was united in 1702 under one governor as a royal colony in the British Empire.
So which section of the Garden State do you call home? And do you agree with my assessment?
The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. Any opinions expressed are Bill's own. Bill Spadea is on the air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., talkin’ Jersey, taking your calls at 1-800-283-1015.
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
Dozens of vehicles parked behind a North Bergen high-rise at the foot of the Palisades were badly damaged in a rockslide, the second in the past three months.The rockslide occurred overnight Sunday, apparently caused by the heavy daylong rain, and woke some residents at The Duchess at 7601 River Rd. The falling rock smashed through a chain link fence and over a retaining wall, cascading over vehicles in the parking lot and even causing some damage to the parking garage.No injuries were reported. Tuesday morning construction veh...
Dozens of vehicles parked behind a North Bergen high-rise at the foot of the Palisades were badly damaged in a rockslide, the second in the past three months.
The rockslide occurred overnight Sunday, apparently caused by the heavy daylong rain, and woke some residents at The Duchess at 7601 River Rd. The falling rock smashed through a chain link fence and over a retaining wall, cascading over vehicles in the parking lot and even causing some damage to the parking garage.
No injuries were reported. Tuesday morning construction vehicles were on the scene, removing the dirt and rocks from the property.
One resident noted that there is a mesh netting on the cliffs behind the pharmacy next door, but none behind The Duchess, even after a minor rockslide occurred in September.
“I don’t feel too safe,” said Ruth Tejano, who has lived in the building for five months. “I wish they did something to remedy this before, after the first time it happened. At least these rocks would have been held in place.”
A spokesman for North Bergen said the township’s planning board requires all development projects that impact the cliff to install protective netting and fencing, but since the Duchess developers did not touch the cliff in any way, the netting was not required.
An ordinance requiring protective netting for all projects below the cliff is expected to be introduced at a future commissioners’ meeting, said spokesman Nick Bond. Calls to the building’s management went unanswered.
“Our focus now is addressing the aftermath and taking proactive measures to ensure that this does not happen again, because the amount of rain we received that night was not a one time event,” Mayor Nick Sacco said.
As a result of the rockslide, Boulevard East right above the Duchess is closed from 74th to 78th streets for a stability assessment.
Bond said a group of engineers for the township, county and the property owner met on-site Monday and Tuesday and determined the incident was unrelated to any development or construction on River Road, although it’s not known how the engineers could make a determination so quickly.
The first developments under those cliffs on the west side of River Road in North Bergen more than 10 years ago were staunchly opposed by groups like the Coalition to Preserve the Palisades Cliffs because construction involved cutting into the cliff.
Hudson County District 2 Commissioner Bill O’Dea, who was the only commissioner to vote against those developments in 2008, said Tuesday the safety concerns will be discussed at the commissioners’ next public resources committee meeting.
Karen Samiec, an Edgewater resident who stopped to take a look at the rockslide, said she saw this coming.
“With all the over-building that has been going on down here it was bound to happen,” Samiec said. “These cliffs run all the way down River Road. It’s just dangerous. There’s just too much construction. ... They have to put in pilings so they are banging the pilings in and of course its disrupting everything.”
The Duchess, 11 stories high with 320 units, was developed by Fred Daibes and opened in 2018 to much fanfare. Daibes is accused of bribing Sen. Bob Menendez and authorities say his DNA was found on cash in Menendez’s home. Also, the gold bars found in Menendez’s home have been linked to Daibes.
The Edgewater-based developer also owns the parcel next to The Duchess and has local approvals to build another high-rise there under the name 7711-7815 River Road Associates.
In 2012, Union City Mayor and state Sen. Brian Stack said North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco “obviously destroyed the Palisades. North Bergen is the poster child for the destruction of the cliffs.” Stack had proposed a bill that would limit development under the cliff, the “Save The Palisades Act” that year, but it never was posted for a full vote.
North Bergen is asking the county to conduct an independent engineering and geological review of the cliffs along Boulevard East and River Road from Weehawken to North Bergen to identify potential risks and allow for measures to be implemented to ensure the safety of residents and properties below.
As national mortgage rates continue to level off, homebuyer demand in several North Jersey towns is anticipated to heat up in 2024.Towns like Ridgewood, Wayne and Denville proved to be North Jersey's hottest homebuying markets in 2023, but real estate agents from our region have their own predictions for towns that might have a chance to see an in...
As national mortgage rates continue to level off, homebuyer demand in several North Jersey towns is anticipated to heat up in 2024.
Towns like Ridgewood, Wayne and Denville proved to be North Jersey's hottest homebuying markets in 2023, but real estate agents from our region have their own predictions for towns that might have a chance to see an influx of homebuyers.
Here are seven towns that could be popular with homebuyers in the new year, according to agents:
The "Hub of the Pascack Valley" is expected to be a popular candidate for homebuyers in 2024. With a historic downtown, a booming shopping district and a train station settled in the center of town for easy access to New York City, Westwood gives residents a convenient lifestyle with local charm.
"I think Westwood is a great up-and-coming town. It has a robust downtown, and I think a lot of buyers definitely value that," said Max Stokes, a partner of the Fox & Stokes team at Compass Real Estate. "It's relatively still affordable compared to the surrounding towns, and it has excellent commutability to Manhattan as well, so it's centrally located in the county. So I think if I had to place one bet, Westwood is where it would be." The town is 20 miles from Manhattan.
Westwood's median home value was $621,034 in November. The town offers places like Five Dimes Brewery, Trader Joe's, several parks and Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center.
Along the border between Bergen and Passaic counties is Glen Rock, a smaller suburban community with family-friendly attractions, a popular downtown area and two train stations.
Roi Klipper, an agent with Concoran Infinity Properties, said the town's proximity to New York City and its highly rated school system make it attractive for homebuyers. He said updates to Glen Rock's downtown area will also make it increasingly popular in the new year.
"I know the downtown is getting revitalized a little bit, so you have a lot of new restaurants coming in. So there's a lot more trajectory for the town," he said. "If you do the math, given the proximity to the city and downtown Glen Rock, it's the perfect storm for bidding wars and for inventory to fly off the shelf pretty quickly."
Glen Rock is 21 miles from Manhattan and had a median home value of $862,213, as of November. The town offers places like Starbucks, the Glen Rock Duck Pond and a variety of local businesses.
With more of a city environment and room for various types of lifestyles, from high-rise and apartment living to traditional single-family homes, Hackensack gives homebuyers, and even renters, a variety of options. Betti Russo, a broker sales associate with Keller Williams Prosperity Realty in Wayne and Oakland, said Hackensack is also undergoing a lot of upgrades, adding to its appeal.
"The location is phenomenal. It's in a great location and so close to everything. You really can't want for anything while you're there, except maybe the mountains," she said. "I feel like Hackensack is really up-and-coming for all different age groups, but especially millennials, entrepreneurs, people that are really in the midst of their career, looking to grow and looking for the action."
Russo said downtown Hackensack is being revitalized, and there are a lot of new amenities and stores popping up around the city.
Hackensack is about 13 miles from Manhattan and had a median home value of $398,369 as of November. In the city, you can find a Target store, The Shops at Riverside, a ShopRite, Hackensack University Medical Center and a variety of restaurants.
Russo also said she foresees Oakland being a hot real estate market in the new year. Another town along the Bergen-Passaic border, Oakland is a quiet suburban community that offers a mix between upscale living and a quiet lifestyle in nature.
"You have the taste of Bergen County but you also have the taste of Ringwood, which is all mountains. Oakland is surrounded by the Ramapo Mountains, so when you're here, there's lots of hiking and there's a lot of nature that people will usually go further away from," she said. "Before you hit Oakland, you hit towns like Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes that are much more expensive. While home values are growing everywhere, including Oakland, it's still less expensive to live here than it is to live in Franklin Lakes or Wyckoff. So you get the beauty of the town and also a more affordable price point."
Russo said Oakland offers a variety of housing opportunities and home styles, so potential homebuyers are bound to find something to fit their needs.
"You can buy a ranch or a Cape Cod or a colonial. There's also a community here that is called the Ramapo River Reserve where you get more of that HOA community, but there's single-family homes and townhouses here, too," she said. "So there's a really wide range of different lifestyles that you can have right within this really pretty town."
Oakland is about 30 miles from Manhattan and had a median home value of $628,379 in November. You can find a variety of local businesses and access to nature trails, such as those around Ramapo Lake, in Oakland.
The most woodsy and spacious town included on this list, Ringwood is a family-oriented community for homebuyers looking for larger properties and more green spaces. Russo said Ringwood could be a hot spot in the new year because it offers more property and living space for less money than surrounding areas.
"I've done a lot of real estate in Ringwood for people that are coming in, with a lot of them coming in from the city and other areas because they want to get away from the busyness," she said. "You can get so much more for your money in Ringwood in terms of the size of the house and the property. It is unbelievable what you can get in Ringwood versus even coming down to Oakland, never mind Franklin Lakes. You can pay half the price for a house that you're paying in a town like Franklin Lakes, so it's very attractive for that reason."
Ringwood, which is about 35 miles from Manhattan, had a median home value of $504,629 as of November. In Ringwood, you can find places like the New Jersey Botanical Gardens with Ringwood Manor, Skylands Manor, a variety of lakes and many local businesses.
In Morris County, Will Alfaro, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker, said he believes Morris Township will be a hot spot for homebuyers in the new year. This is due to the fact that the area, which surrounds Morristown, has a bustling downtown but also offers more bang for your buck.
"Morris Township is getting a lot of action. You get a lot of money for square footage on the property and the lot, and taxes are still very reasonable," he said. "And, of course, there's easy access to public transportation and the downtown area, restaurants, shopping, all of those things."
Morris Township, about 40 miles from Manhattan, has a median home value of $775,000. It offers places like the Morris Museum, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum and public parks and has easy access to Morristown.
Alfaro also suggested that Bloomfield will be in high demand in the new year. This is because of its location next to Montclair, which tends to be a more competitive and pricier area.
"A lot of people are getting priced out of Montclair, so they'll go with the next-best option," he said. "It's also very accessible to public transportation, access to New York City, as well as easy access to places like restaurants, specialty shops, a nice downtown area, things like that."
Bloomfield is less than 18 miles from Manhattan and has a median home value of $516,573. The town has a ShopRite, several public parks and easy access to cultural hubs including downtown Montclair.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at [email protected].
3-minute readFor several of the dignitaries gathered at the concrete desert off Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen on Thursday to announce the start of construction on the New Jersey side of the Gateway rail tunnel entrance, there was a feeling of déjà vu.Some had been here before — when the same project launched in 2009.Back then, there was a $13.6 million contract to move the utilities, demolish a McDonald's on the future track path, and build an overpass so Tonnelle Avenue vehicle traffic could...
For several of the dignitaries gathered at the concrete desert off Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen on Thursday to announce the start of construction on the New Jersey side of the Gateway rail tunnel entrance, there was a feeling of déjà vu.
Some had been here before — when the same project launched in 2009.
Back then, there was a $13.6 million contract to move the utilities, demolish a McDonald's on the future track path, and build an overpass so Tonnelle Avenue vehicle traffic could flow over the new rail tunnel entrance.
But when Gov. Chris Christie in 2010 canceled the rail tunnel project — known then as ARC — the Tonnelle overpass portion of the work had been underway for 13 months and was nearly a third of the way done. The newly constructed overpass and support beams were visible, along with piles of materials stacked and ready for installation.
Story continues below photo gallery.
After Christie's decision, the contractor was told to put back utilities, demolish some of the overpass structure and fill in the space where the construction took place.
Some 14-year-old aging concrete support beams remain stacked in rows on the site, just feet from where shovelfuls of dirt were tossed Thursday to mark the newest version of the Tonnelle Avenue overpass project.
Now, Edison-based Conti Civil LLC will do the project all over again, this time for $28.6 million.
New York-based Naik Consulting Group will be paid $12.5 million to oversee the construction of the new overpass and utility relocation to kick off what is now called the Gateway program. Some $25 million of those costs will be covered with a federal grant.
More:This NJ-NY agency can now get federal money for Gateway rail tunnel. Why that matters
This and the $649 million concrete casing construction that began earlier this year on the Manhattan side of the tunnel are the starting pieces to the $16.1 billion Gateway tunnels project that will build a new two-track tube and rehabilitate the existing, 113-year-old tunnel.
A $2.3 billion project already underway to replace the aging and cantankerous Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus with a new Portal North Bridge is also part of the first phase of Gateway.
Portal Bridge, a swing span, carries 450 Amtrak and NJ Transit trains per day. They are often delayed at the Portal Bridge because the aging components sometimes malfunction while opening and closing, causing a cascade of delays.
The improvements will make rail service more reliable for hundreds of thousands of daily NJ Transit and Amtrak riders traveling between New Jersey and Manhattan.
More:Feds add $4 billion to Gateway tunnel project, which will cut NJ's share of the cost
Though the Tonnelle Avenue project is virtually a redo, much has changed in 14 years.
Polly Trottenberg, deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, was working there in 2010 as the assistant secretary for transportation policy and vividly remembers the day the project was canceled. But what sticks out to her now is what happened afterward.
"After that, I remember very much Amtrak coming back and saying, 'We have a fresh vision, and one thing we’re going to do this go-around is we’re going to have everyone at the table,'" Trottenberg said.
On Thursday, that was one of the messages trumpeted by the speakers.
"It really does matter that we are all in it together to make sure we are all putting funding forward, because otherwise we can’t get it done," said Kathryn Garcia, director of state operations in New York.
"But we know it’s not just about building a shiny thing," Garcia said. "We know we need to meet the needs of the next century. Commuters deserve to have plenty of space to get on and off trains safely and efficiently, and the governor has a responsibility to meet those needs creatively and in the most cost-effective way."
In addition to the federal grants for Tonnelle and the concrete casing project, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced that Gateway would receive nearly $3.9 billion from the federal-state partnership grant program, on top of $6.88 billion in federal Capital Investment Grant funds that is expected to be solidified next year.
The significant federal investment lowers the costs that will be owed by New York and New Jersey.
Kris Kolluri, CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, the bistate agency that is overseeing the tunnels project, remembers being at Tonnelle in 2009 to kick off that groundbreaking. He noted that in 2009 there was just $3.8 billion of federal funding for a project estimated then to cost $8.7 billion.
"This is the right moment and it’s the right project alignment, and I think this time there is construction on both sides of the river and we are not stopping," Kolluri said.
But in order to feel the full effects of having four rail lines under the Hudson River, more money and projects will be needed to increase the capacity in New York Penn Station so more trains can come and go, plus projects to give direct access to NJ Transit rail lines whose riders are currently forced to switch trains before reaching midtown Manhattan.
"We’re going to bring new improvements and opportunities to New Jersey with every milestone we reach, because with every step we take we’re moving closer to our larger goal, building safer, healthier and happier communities," said Gov. Phil Murphy.