Avalon Cove is located at 444 Washington Boulevard in Jersey City. The apartment complex offers 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom units in its sprawling development of 5-story buildings. While some of the units offer western views of Manhattan, most face north and south and provide views of the courtyard and parking lot. However, the property is located right on the Hudson River waterfront with easy access to the boardwalk and other neighborhoods in Jersey City via PATH train and Light Rail.

Avalon Cove, which is owned and operated by the ubiquitous Avalon Communities, offers a familiar grouping of amenities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, basketball court, racquetball court and tennis court. However, there is a $625 mandatory amenity fee per lease term to use the facilities. Also, residents are responsible to pay fees for their water and sewage bills, in addition to gas and electric. For another $50 - $85, residents can rent a storage unit, with the price depending on the size. Large storage units are 50 square feet – smaller units are about 35 square feet.

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom model apartment I viewed was well-proportioned with the bedrooms on opposite sides of the living room. Each bedroom was roughly the same size, and the apartment, I was told, was 1,200 square feet. But with the low popcorn-ceilings and small windows, it really felt much smaller. For nearly $2,500 a month plus the amenities fee, sewage fee, and utility fee, it’s expensive for what you’d be getting. There was carpeting throughout and the closets were spacious, which was a nice touch, but the unit felt outdated and old-fashioned. The kitchen was the real disappointment of my visit. The refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher looked at least 10-years-old, and the sink was tiny—not good for anyone interested in cooking. The Formica countertops and discount-looking cabinets were also in serious need of updating.

The development, as a whole, seemed like a friendly, pleasant place to live with convenient access to Manhattan and the Hudson River walkways. But considering the high prices, multiple fees, dated appliances, and bland, characterless units, Avalon Cove isn’t nearly as desirable as many other properties in the neighborhood.