256 Academy Street

You can stop the Zillow scroll! This gorgeous, charming 3br home is the one you have been looking for! On an amazing street, with a perfect front porch and generous rooms, this one is the winner!

With a loft-like first floor where the living, dining and kitchen flow seamlessly into one another this house is the perfect spot for the suburban resident looking for urban cool. Perched on a hill overlooking a gorgeous block, the fort porch gives you a mixture of connection and privacy. Large bedrooms tick the boxes you need for practical living, but the open concept first floor and dreamy backyard space feel super cool and modern. The newer kitchen is practical and has lovely detailing while providing easy access to a mudroom and the backyard. Perfect for entertaining.

Dear Future Homeowners

When most of our friends were moving out to Hoboken and Jersey City 14 years ago, we serendipitously happened upon this charming old house in South Orange and were immediately drawn to the warmth and walkability of the neighborhood, the vibrant community, and easy commute to the city. It turned out to be the perfect place to raise a family and grow our careers in NJ and NYC.

Over the years, our home has been a comfortable and welcoming space to host countless meals and celebrations with our friends and family. And the community of neighbors on our street feels truly special - our neighbors have become like extended family members, ready to share summertime porch drinks, host impromptu play dates in our backyards (with so many children in the neighborhood it’s easy to make friends), and help each other out whenever needed. Our street has hosted legendary annual block parties in the past, complete with an incredible potluck of homemade dishes reflecting the incredible diversity of families on our street and the laughter of children playing outside, long after dusk. This neighborhood is an easy place to love.

Outside, we’ve spent many hours as a family in our own backyard, and hiking the trails and spotting the waterfalls at South Mountain Reservation, joining the South Mountain Nature School for outdoor classes, visiting the local Turtle Back Zoo, seeing the swan shaped paddle boats go by at the Reservoir in West Orange, and spending lazy summer days swimming and eating ice pops at the South Orange Community Pool.

If you love to eat, there are too many good restaurants and cafes in the area to name, but our current favorites include Arturo’s for wood fired pizza (paired with the most perfect natural wines from Neighbors Wine Shop!), Yellow Rose Bakery and Michezo for stellar vegan treats, The Bread Stand and Liv Breads for great coffee and artisan breads, Walia for incredible Ethiopian food, and Guanaticos for their Costa Rican breakfast plates. For a special meal, everything on the menu at Lorena’s or Common Lot. And if you like to cook, we love Baker Street Market for its thoughtfully sourced and curated selection of local and international finds.

We will greatly miss both this house that we have called home for over 14 years and this neighborhood, but the opportunity to be closer to our families in Pennsylvania, has changed our plans for staying. We’ve taken care in preserving the charming old details of this house while adding improvements along the way and it’s ready for new owners to care for it and call it home. We hope you can find as much joy living here in this home and neighborhood as we have.

From the Current Homeowners of 256 Academy Street

Virtual Tour

**3-D Walkthrough**

256 Academy Street, South Orange, NJ 07079

Floor Plan

Property Overview

Entry

Living Room
This spacious loft-like living room is the perfect place for spending time with loved ones. With its bright windows and open flow to the dining area, it’s the perfect space to host a crowd of friends or just sit and enjoy the light, airy feel of this high ceilinged space.

Kitchen
With ample cabinet and counter space, this updated kitchen with decorative fireplace is quaint and lovely! From its separate, charming butler’s pantry to easy access to the mud room and backyard, meals for two or twenty are a breeze here.

Primary Bedroom

The primary bedroom is spacious and bright and has a huge walk-in closet! Lots of natural light accentuates the generous space in this room. You can consider it your future space for relaxation and serenity after a long and busy day and an ideal spot to wake up bathed in golden morning light.

Bedrooms & Additional Space
The two additional bedrooms in this home are large enough to make any child or guest feel like they have a real space to call their own. With close proximity to the newly renovated hall bath that features stylish subway tile and a deep tub, everyone who occupies one of these rooms will feel truly special.

Outdoor Space

This generous finished third floor provides endless possibilities! Whether you’d like to convert it to your own primary suite, guest space, work from home, or even a recreation room, you can utilize this space to fit your own lifestyle and needs.