Main Street is the center of activity in the dense South Paterson neighborhood, with dozens of stores, Middle Eastern restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores lining this busy street in Passaic County’s largest city. The block is served by jitney buses to Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey Transit buses to places like Downtown Paterson, Newark, Weehawken, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and there are a public library and community center opposite the corner of Thomas Street.
Just steps from the library in the heart of this bustling business district, a new mixed-use development could be constructed should a new proposal be granted the necessary approvals. The Paterson Planning Board was scheduled to hear plans for Site Plan approval with bulk variances on Jan. 17 by 941 Main Street, LLC to develop a four-story building at 941-945 Main Street, between Thomas and George Streets. If approved by the city and county, the project would consist of 18 residential units on the top three floors with retail space on the ground floor, according to a legal notice from the board. In addition, a parking lot with 13 spaces would be provided on an adjacent lot at 10 Thomas Street.
Currently, the 10,000 sq. ft. property contains two buildings with a driveway in between. Each of the structures is two stories tall, and both would have to be demolished in order to allow for the new mixed-use development to be constructed. The existing structures were previously occupied by the Saray Bakery, the Yayla Bakery and Pastry Shop, Julian’s Hardware Store, and a check cashing business. 941 Main Street, LLC bought all three properties in 2016 and 2017 for a combined $1.1 million, according to NJ Parcels records. The company is registered out of the Montclair offices of Dr. Fadi El-Atat.
