E D I TO R’S NOTE
A
s local historians
know, Montclair
saw its greatest
building and
population boom
between 1880 and
1930, after the Greenwood Lake
train line connected it to New York.
Our town continues to draw young
families priced out of the city, as well as commuters
who value more space and greenery. In fact, this has
been a banner year for stakeholders in the local real
estate scene. “It’s as good as I’ve ever seen it,” says
longtime Montclair Realtor Brigitte van Note.
“Limited housing stock is a big reason.” We wondered:
Can the stock of single family homes be expanded? Is
there room for all-new construction in Montclair?
The answer is yes: It’s rare, but new homes are
being built, almost always on subdivided properties.
We found four of them, and reveal their sometimes
complicated stories in “All New, All the Rage.”
The rest of this issue reminds us of the many other
reasons why demand to live in Montclair is so high.
There aren’t many (admittedly urban) suburbs where
you can find a consignment sneaker boutique, or a
second location of an independent coffee shop
(“Buzzworthy”). And you can’t put a price on the
creative energy of residents such as Francisco Diaz,
a photographer whose frequent collaborator lives in
New Zealand (“Creating Across Continents”). Or
living among the fine artists of the non-profit Studio
Montclair, three of whom share, in “Art for Art’s
Sake,” what painting does for their souls. Read on,
get inspired, and share your own great ideas at
[email protected]. ■
CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER
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If you know about a new business, notable person or just have your own story you’d like to share,
please reach out to us at [email protected].
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FALL is here!
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973-744-5900
8
MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE FALL 2016
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