Luxury Rental Building on Montclair-Glen Ridge Border Attracts Renters with “Newer, Nicer, Cleaner, and More Upscale” Living Spaces
Brad and Marisa Burton
GLEN RIDGE, NJ – When Brad and Marisa Burton decided to sell their waterfront condo in downtown Jersey City last year and move somewhere with more space, they set their sights on the coveted commuter towns of Princeton, South Orange and Montclair. They visited nearly half a dozen new rental communities before finding one that clearly stood out above all the others: Clarus Glen Ridge.
Clarus Glen Ridge, right on the border of downtown Montclair, was just steps from the Bay Street train station, offered the type of spacious two-bedroom layouts they were looking for, and featured impeccable design. It was a breath of fresh air. They signed a lease and moved to the community in September.
“When we first came to see Clarus Glen Ridge, the difference from the other apartment communities we visited was unbelievable,” Ms. Burton said. “It was newer, nicer, cleaner and more upscale. Literally everything was better. You could tell they didn’t rush anything. They took their time finishing it.”
“With a train station you can walk to just down the street, and just over a half hour commute to Manhattan, we knew this was the right place for us.”
The Burtons selected a spacious two-bedroom residence at Clarus Glen Ridge. It has a balcony, open-concept living area, in-unit washer/dryer, tall ceilings, large windows that allow plenty of natural sunlight, and a giant walk-in closet that is the size of a small room. Their gourmet kitchen features details such as a gas range with Faber® Cristal Collection vented hood, quartz countertops with undermount stainless-steel sinks, European-style, two-tone cabinetry, and stainless-steel appliances.
“If I were designing a home myself I would choose some of the same things,” Ms. Burton said. “They really did a great job with the design, finishes and materials.”
Mr. Burton, a Vice President at Morgan Stanley, and Ms. Burton, a marketing director for NBC Sports, both commute to midtown Manhattan, but also work from home a couple of days per week. The extra space in their apartment gives them plenty of room to spread out when they are both working from home, which was often a challenge in their one-bedroom condo. The extra space is also particularly welcome because their family recently expanded with the birth of their daughter, Brooke. They also have a five-year-old shiba inu, Wally, who is enjoying the new digs.
“We love the area,” Ms. Burton said. “I go to a different park with my daughter almost every day. We love the walkability to restaurants and shops. Montclair and the surrounding towns also have a ton of daycare options which is really helpful for us.”
As part of the acclaimed “Clarus” brand of luxury residences created by developer JMF Properties, Clarus Glen Ridge was designed to offer residents a complete lifestyle package, one that emphasizes luxury, comfort, convenience, health and well-being. The community’s cutting-edge wellness center delivers on all of those points and the Burtons use it regularly. It features state-of-the-art exercise equipment, touch consoles, cycling, TRX® suspension training, a heavy bag, kettlebells and more, as well as a separate personal training studio with Echelon® Reflect Touch touchscreens with both live streaming and on-demand training classes.
Additional amenities available to residents include a central lobby and lounge with hospitality-inspired finishes and a two-sided fireplace, reading lounge, parlor with gas fireplace and wet bar, business center, theatre room, and billiards room with vintage billiards table. Outside, residents enjoy a courtyard with seating areas, outdoor dining, a firepit and grills. An expansive dog park that spans more than 300 feet in length gives the community’s four-legged friends plenty of space to frolic.
On-site covered parking, storage lockers, bike storage, and 24/7 maintenance round out the services and conveniences available to residents. Up to two parking spaces per unit are available and the parking garage offers residents direct access to their floor, without the need to take an elevator.
“The way the parking garage is designed, where you can just walk right onto your floor, I’ve never seen that before,” Ms. Burton said. “That is super helpful when you have a stroller, or groceries, or anything else really, but especially with a stroller it is great. In other buildings we lived in that had onsite parking, you had to take the elevator down, and then take another elevator back up to your floor. The way the parking is set up here is much more convenient.”
After living in both New York City and Jersey City for several years, the Burtons feel right at home in their new environment.
“We have double the space now. It’s amazing,” Ms. Burton said. “The staff is extremely friendly and always available if you need anything. We’re really happy that we found this place.”
Clarus Glen Ridge is located at 277 Baldwin Street in Glen Ridge, a charming borough of about 7,000 residents in western Essex County, known for its tree-lined suburban streets, elegant gas lit lamps and highly rated public schools. It is home to a number of neighborhood businesses and distinctive local landmarks like Glen Gazebo, overlooking the lush green park at Toney’s Brook. Neighboring Montclair boasts a vibrant atmosphere, offering excellent shopping, dining and cultural attractions, as well as popular annual events such as the Montclair Film Festival and the Montclair Jazz Festival.
For more information on Clarus Glen Ridge, visit www.ClarusGlenRidge.com, or call 973-354-5555 to schedule a private tour.
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