SOUTH AMBOY, NJ – Grace Roth lives to travel. She and her husband, Dean, spend at least four months a year on the road, visiting new destinations around the world, and another four months at their condo in Mexico. Not to mention that Grace is a full-time travel consultant and founder of the New Jersey-based travel agency ABC World Vacations.
The itinerant lifestyle of a world traveler is exhilarating, but can make it difficult to keep up with the on-going maintenance of owning a home. And so recently, the Roths decided it was finally time to move from the three-bedroom home in Westfield that they’ve owned for the last 27 years. They toured apartment buildings in Hoboken, Jersey City, Harrison, and Woodbridge, before discovering a hidden gem of a coastal town, South Amboy, where developer BNE Real Estate Group recently opened a brand-new luxury rental community on the city’s waterfront.
The rental community, Station Bay, offered exactly what they were looking for: spacious residences, a walkable neighborhood, and convenient transit access to New York City. They could come and go as they pleased, without having to worry about home maintenance, security, or who would take in their packages while they strolled down Las Ramblas or marveled at the Cliffs of Moher.
They signed a lease for a two-bedroom, two-bath residence with a balcony and moved to the community in May.
“It got to the point that we travel so much we didn’t feel the need to have such a large footprint, living in a house,” Ms. Roth said. “Once we toured Station Bay, we definitely felt it was the right place for us. We love the area. I’m a walker, so having the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park right in my backyard and being able to walk to the library and all of the restaurants downtown is a big draw.”
Residences at Station Bay offer modern interiors, generously appointed living spaces and condo quality finishes, all of which helped the Roths adjust to apartment living quickly. Luxury features such as nine-foot ceiling heights, custom-outfitted modular closets, chef-inspired kitchens, and in-home washer/dryer are attractive and convenient. Their second bedroom is spacious enough to serve double duty as a guest bedroom and home office.
“I love how bright everything is,” Ms. Roth said. “Natural light streams in everywhere, not just in the apartment itself, but also in the hallways.”
“I love the large lobby and the wide variety of courtyards,” she added. “There are a lot of places to sit and mingle. I knew that wherever I was going to move, I wanted the ability to be outside easily. Once I saw Station Bay’s multiple outdoor courtyards, and the balconies in the apartments, I thought that was amazing.”
The many amenities and social spaces BNE Real Estate Group integrated into the design of Station Bay are a big part of what makes the community special. They include an elegant lobby lounge with coffee bar, multiple entertainment lounges, a Matrix fitness center with separate yoga and spin studios, a co-working lounge with private meeting rooms and a smart café, a multi-sport simulator, movie theater, arcade and game lounge, kids’ playroom, a pet spa, dog run and more.
Outside, residents enjoy access to two sprawling courtyards that include a swimming pool with private cabanas, fire pits, an outdoor bar, private BBQ and dining areas, games, and lawn and garden lounge areas. Covered parking and 24/7 maintenance are also available on-site.
Ms. Roth swims for exercise, so the pool is a big bonus for her. The Roths also make use of the gym, the massage chairs, the fireplace in the lobby lounge, and the arcade and game lounge for family game nights. Most of all, they enjoy the laid-back ambience of South Amboy, it’s tight-knit, friendly atmosphere and its location in a quiet, beautiful stretch of coastal New Jersey.
“It’s a shore town, but not the type of shore town where there are droves of people coming to use your beach,” Ms. Roth said. “I like the shore feel of it, without the potential craziness that comes along with it. The downtown is great, and we anticipate it will grow even more as Station Bay grows.”
The Roths enjoy visiting New York for its many cultural attractions. NJ TRANSIT’s South Amboy rail station is just a short walk from their front door, where trains offer a one-seat ride to and from Manhattan in under an hour. A new commuter ferry terminal under construction on the South Amboy waterfront will soon give them another option for accessing Manhattan quickly and easily, via scenic Raritan Bay and New York Harbor.
Station Bay is located at 1000 Schindler Drive in South Amboy. It is part of a $500 million multi-phase redevelopment project that encompasses a total reimagination and revitalization of South Amboy’s Raritan Bay waterfront. Residents can walk to the South Amboy Beach or the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, a 114-acre nautical-themed park with athletic fields, bocce courts, walking trails, playgrounds and a gazebo, as well as downtown South Amboy’s many shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment options. Route 9 and Route 440 are all easily accessible, and some of New Jersey’s most popular shore destinations are about a 30-minute drive away. With multiple marinas in the area, Station Bay is the ideal location for renters who desire quick access to the water.
Monthly rental rates start from $2,025/month, with limited time Grand Opening specials now offering up to two months free and more. Immediate occupancy is available.
For more information or to schedule an in-person tour of the community’s furnished model homes and amenities, visit www.StationBayNJ.com or call (732) 525-3223. For more information on ABC World Vacations, visit www.abcworldvacations.com.
Photos courtesy of Grace Roth and BNE Real Estate Group.
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