What better place for a recent arrival to New York City to live than overlooking the New York City skyline than from a West New York waterfront community?
The New York City Board of Education has hired a group of more than 150 international teachers to fill that city’s long-standing teacher shortage. Through a partnership with the NYC Board of Education and Roseland Property Inc., some of these new teachers will be enjoying the luxury Riverbend apartment homes on River Road in West New York’s Port Imperial development.
An orientation was held on the pool deck of the complex on Aug. 8 to provide tours of the apartments to the teachers.
According to Sharon Burkey of Roseland, by press time, about 30 apartment homes have already been leased to teachers from the New York City district.
All of the teachers are currently staying at the Brooklyn Marriott, where the NYC Board of Education will pay for their accommodations until Aug. 18.
Looking for housing
According to Burkey, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg reached out to different developers as part of his plan to reduce class size and bring in more teachers to the school system.
“There are not a lot of opportunities for bulk housing in Manhattan,” said Burkey. “Our waterfront community is both affordable and attractive. It will make [the teachers] feel like they have a great place to live.”
“The prices are amazing compared to anywhere else you would look,” said Sagit Shachar from Israel, whose husband is an American citizen. Shachar has been in the United States for one year after meeting her husband while touring the state.
According to Burkey, people renting in New York City would be paying about $50 per square foot. In New Jersey, Burkey says, the rents are equivalent to about $30 a square foot.
One-bedroom apartments at Riverbend rent for $1,800 and two-bedroom apartments rent for $2,200.
“The Board of Education has put together a wonderful program,” said Izagma Alonso of Puerto Rico about the two-week orientation program, which included the tours of different housing complexes. “They have given us information on many things that would have taken us a long time to figure out. I don’t know New York City at all.”
However, housing wasn’t the only reason that some of these teachers decided to work in New York City.
“I was encouraged by friends to take the position,” said Janet Braithwaite of Jamaica. “I prefer more of the country, but it is something different from the Caribbean.”
For Braithwaite, this move will also cut down on her travel expenses.
“My husband has lived here for 12 years,” said Braithwaite. “I used to travel back and forth.”
Shachar said that teaching is the only thing she ever wanted to do.
“I wanted to do what I loved to do,” said Shachar who has been teaching is Israel for six years before moving to the United States. “I am coming with all my heart.”
Cutting a deal
The New York City Board of Education was able to secure the package deal by becoming a member of Roseland’s Charter Club Program. This program is for large employers who bring people in for jobs. The program offers these new residents benefits such as a waiver on the application fee and security deposit and a 5 percent discount on the monthly rent.
A one-bedroom in Riverbend rents for $1,800. A two-bedroom apartment home rents $2,200. With the 5 percent break in rents, the teachers will be paying $1,710 for a one-bedroom and $2,090 for a two-bedroom.
The Riverbend apartment homes have washers and dryers in the units as well as fitness centers in each building, outdoor pools, and business centers. The teachers will also receive free passes to the New York City ferry to go to work in the morning.
Although Burkey said that any teacher who now signs up for an apartment will have to wait for the next phase of the complex to open, Burkey said that the wait will only be about two weeks.
“The timing couldn’t have been better,” said Burkey.
The new tower in the Riverbend development, Riverbend West, which includes 344 units, will be open on Sept. 1.
Burkey said that Roseland does offer programs to help with relocation costs while a tenant is waiting to move into an apartment.