A Tour of River Plaza, Middletown NJ
By andrew on September 10th, 2010There is a barb of land where the sisterly smells of Shadow Lake and the Navesink River rise and descend upon the hamlet called River Plaza, where the brackish blow of brine floats up from Chris’ Marina boat launch on the grassy slope of West Front Street to mingle with the honeysuckle breeze of the freshwater lily pads.
The lake runs to the river, the river to Hubbards Bridge.
Surrounded by water to the west and south and the railroad tracks of the New Jersey commuter line to the east, River Plaza invites folks to pass through on their way to Red Bank or Lincroft.
Some stop and the stopping leads to knowing: There’s something familiar here.
Streets like Alexander meander in a curl while Park, Carpenter and Foster align in orderly precision.
River Plaza is an eclectic enclave. The prices and styles of homes are just as hodged-podged across the real estate spectrum; a Ranch for $250,000 and a custom waterfront for $810,000.
The Capes on Campbell were built in the 1950’s, while a buyer can find Colonials built in the 1980’s on Munch and Michael.
To an outsider the intrigue of River Plaza is its subtle resistance to be characterized or to be labeled, a sense of pride that it will not be defined by newfangled ways.
So if you too possess an identity that changes with the seasons but whose feel remains as knowing as an old suburban soul, you may stop in River Plaza — instead of passing through — and mark the passing of days by the direction of the wind and the bellow of a train. 
Andrew J. Lenza
Branch Vice President & Broker Sales Associate with Coldwell Banker, Middletown
