The Difference Between Prewar and Postwar Apartment Buildings

The 2010 Census data tells us there are roughly 60,000 people living in North Bergen. With the influx of people residents have seen new construction all over town. Apartments like Avalon North Bergen, The Duchess, Grand27, Plaza 53 and more have sprung up all over town and are nestled right into the community. But what North Bergen also has is a long standing example of Prewar apartment buildings with architectural detail not often seen in today's construction.

So what's the difference? Well Prewar apartments are buildings that were built before the Second World War. These are characterized by unique floor plans, high ceilings, crown molding, sturdy construction, and more. They often have real wood flooring, large doorways, and heavy wooden doors. They are built very well and most have stood the test of time. While these might not have the new and up to date amenities that many newer apartments might have, they are still a very popular and desirable option. There is a ton of demand for these apartments and people seem to really love them for their charm and character.

A postwar apartment is one that was built after the Second World War but before the 1990s. These apartments tend to show characteristics based off of the decade they were built. Design and architecture changed a lot from the 50s to the 90s, and that is reflected in the style of postwar apartments. So there is a ton of variety in terms of how these can look. Older postwar places might be made of brick and have parquet floors, while newer ones might have things like modern amenities, and be a little bit more “cookie-cutter” in their appearance. These postwar apartments are also quite a bit easier to renovate and things can often be swapped out with ease, requiring little work.

Some examples of Prewar building that can be found in North Bergen are as follows. 

Park View - First Avenue between 83rd and 82nd Streets

The Park Plaza - 79th Street and Bergenline Avenue

Rialto Court (County Park Condo)- 79th Street between Palisade and Hudson Avenue

Rivoli Court- 79th Street between Palisade and Hudson Avenue

Parkview Court- 79th Street between Palisade and Hudson Avenue

Park View Court (The 311 Condominium)- 79th Street between Palisade and Hudson Avenue

Plaza Court (Parc 79 Condominium) - 79th and Hudson Avenue

South Gate - Hudson Avenue between 79th and 78th Street

Lindo View - 78th Street and Hudson Avenue

Adele (Park Ave Condo) - 77th Street and Park Avenue

River View Court - 76th Street and Park Avenue

Lincoln - 76th Street and Park Avenue

DeWitt (Park Place Condo) - Park Avenue between 76th and 75th Street

Maria - 75th Street and Park Avenue

Chelsea Gables (Melrose Hall) - 74th Street and Boulevard East

The Mayfair - 74th Street and Boulevard East

Buena Vista Court - 74th Street and Boulevard East

The Hudson - 74th Street and Boulevard East

The Bedford - 74th Street and Park Avenue

Hudson Towers - 74th Street and Park Avenue

Archimedean Court (Park View Condo) Park Avenue between 74th and 73rd Street

The Alpine (Mayfair) - 73rd Street and Park Avenue

Woodcliff Court - 72nd Street and Park Avenue

The Bright - 72nd Street and Palisade Avenue

Rose - 72nd Street and Palisade Avenue

Hilltop Apartments - 72nd Street and Palisade Avenue

Easter - 72nd Street and Bergenline Avenue

Ye Saruthe - Kennedy Boulevard between 73rd and 74th Street

Summit View - Kennedy Boulevard between 73rd and 74th Street

The Charles - 16th Street 

The Clara - Grand Avenue between 9th and 10th Street

Martha - 6th Street and Kennedy Boulevard

The Grand Gables - Grand Avenue between 6th Street and Secaucus Road

Just remember, history is everywhere, you might even be living in it.

Sources:

Atlas of Hudson County New Jersey. 1934.

"What's the difference between a prewar and postwar apartment?" renthop.com, 2018