Exploring the Top Neighborhoods in Lakewood, New Jersey: A Comprehensive Guide for Homebuyers

Lakewood, New Jersey, a town blending historic charm with modern amenities, offers a range of neighborhoods for various lifestyles. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, looking to upsize, or in pursuit of an investment opportunity, Lakewood holds promising potential. Dennis Mark Interdonato, at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, is well-equipped with local expertise to guide you through the process. Let's look at some of the notable neighborhoods in Lakewood, NJ.

Lakewood grew as a resort town in the late 1800s, with grand hotels such as the Laurel House and the Lakewood Hotel, and it became its own township on March 23, 1893. (Lakewood Township history) The South Branch of the Metedeconk River runs through three of its lakes, Lake Shenandoah, Lake Carasaljo and Lake Manetta, and about a quarter of the township's land is recreation and open space. (Lakewood 2017 Master Plan) Around town you'll find two public golf courses, Lakewood Country Club and Eagle Ridge Golf Club (Lakewood Township), parks like Pine Park on Country Club Drive and Ocean County Park on Route 88 (Lakewood Township), and ShoreTown Ballpark, home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. (Wikipedia)

Lakewood's Historic Heart: Downtown Lakewood

Downtown Lakewood is the beating heart of the town, embodying cultural vibrancy with a touch of history. It's an excellent choice for those who appreciate a bustling urban environment mixed with a sense of community. The streets are lined with a variety of local businesses, charming cafés, and unique dining experiences that cater to every palate.

The core of downtown runs along Clifton Avenue, Main Street (Route 88), Lexington and Madison avenues and the numbered streets, above the east end of Lake Carasaljo. (Lakewood 2017 Master Plan) Its landmark is the Strand Theater at 400 Clifton Avenue, built in 1922 to a design by Thomas W. Lamb and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. (Wikipedia) The Lakewood Bus Terminal on 1st Street is the area's transit hub, with NJ Transit service to New York, Newark and Philadelphia. (Wikipedia) Housing downtown includes townhomes and small colonials (One Real Estate), and the township's plan considers more residential density here. One thing to know: the master plan itself says public parking downtown is in short supply. (Lakewood 2017 Master Plan)

Outdoor space is close by. Lake Carasaljo, with its 4.5-mile path, sits right beside downtown. (Lakewood 2017 Master Plan)

Lake Carasaljo

Lake Carasaljo is the centerpiece of Lakewood, bounded by North Lake Drive, South Lake Drive and U.S. Route 9. The lake was created in the mid-1700s when the South Branch of the Metedeconk was dammed for a sawmill, and it took its name in 1865 from Joseph W. Brick's daughters, Caroline, Sarah and Josephine. (Wikipedia)

The township parkland around the lake has a 4.5-mile loop for walking, running and biking, with playgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and an amphitheater (Lakewood 2017 Master Plan), and the township lists fishing, swimming, bicycling, running and picnicking there. (Lakewood Township) On the northern shore is Georgian Court University, on George Jay Gould's former estate; the 1898 mansion is a National Historic Landmark. (Wikipedia) Homes face the water along North Lake Drive and South Lake Drive. For any lakeside address, check the FEMA flood map, since the master plan maps flood hazard areas along the river branches.

South Lakewood

South Lakewood, on the southwestern side of the township, is known for large houses and lawns on quiet streets without through traffic. Homes are mostly colonial-style and new traditional designs, with smaller Cape Cods and hi-ranches in the northeastern corner. Westgate Park has a small playground, walking paths and a basketball court, and Westgate Plaza at the neighborhood's northern tip has a handful of shops. (Homes.com)

Golfers have Eagle Ridge Golf Club at 2 Augusta Boulevard, a public course with 27 holes in three nines, a driving range and a clubhouse restaurant. (GolfPass) Boundaries here are informal, so confirm which named development a listing sits in, since some streets near Augusta Boulevard are part of age-restricted communities.

Westgate

Westgate is a large planned development in the southwestern part of the township. At a 2007 Planning Board meeting, a planner described it as 993 planned units with one access point on Lakewood-New Egypt Road (County Route 528) and one on Central Avenue (Lakewood Planning Board minutes, Oct 30 2007), and in 2017 the mayor said the Westgate community had been approved about twenty years earlier. (Lakewood Township Committee minutes, Mar 2 2017) Homes are single-family, built from roughly the late 1990s onward. Westgate Plaza on Hillside Boulevard and Westgate Park are nearby; some sources treat Westgate as part of South Lakewood. If a Westgate home has a finished attic, ask whether it was permitted; the township discussed attic space in these homes in 2017.

Greenville

Greenville, in east Lakewood near the Brick line, is one of the township's old village names. Together with Herbertsville and Bethel, it supplied most of the area's governing officials before Lakewood was incorporated in 1893. (Lakewood Township history) Today it sits around the meeting of Ridge Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue and East County Line Road, and it is the closest of these areas to the Parkway, about 1.6 miles in a straight line from Exit 91.

Active Lifestyles: Leisure Village

With a nod to those who enjoy active lifestyles, Leisure Village is a gem among Lakewood's neighborhoods. It is a 55+ active adult community within Lakewood Township, locally known as "The Village of Seven Lakes." (Wikipedia) It has 2,433 attached homes built from 1960 to 1970, most with two bedrooms and a one-car garage, and amenities include two clubhouses with pools, fitness centers and libraries, a nine-hole pitch-and-putt golf course, shuffleboard and bocce courts, and walking trails. (55places) Leisure Village East is a separate community.

Dennis Mark Interdonato's extensive experience with Leisure Village properties ensures you'll find the right fit. The community is near Route 70, the Garden State Parkway and Interstate 195. (55places)

Conclusion

Lakewood, New Jersey, has a range of neighborhoods with a unique appeal suited for various tastes and life stages. Whether seated in the heart of downtown or set in a quieter residential area, each area features distinct advantages that cater to personal needs and investment goals. Dennis Mark Interdonato at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living brings a wealth of local knowledge and real estate acumen to the table, ensuring your home buying journey in Lakewood is seamless and informed.

Explore the possibilities Lakewood offers and allow Dennis Mark Interdonato to help you discover the neighborhood that suits your vision of home. With the right guidance, each step towards your new home in Lakewood will feel like a stride towards your future.