The Great Falls Historic District in Paterson was once known as one of New Jersey’s major industrial areas, but while the community’s manufacturing presence might currently be a fraction of what it once was, many buildings from the neighborhood’s heyday remain and are used for other purposes today.
For instance, the historic Rogers Locomotive and Machine Shop includes the Paterson Museum while the old Rogers Administration Building contains the William Waldman Independence House.
Now, another previously industrial building down the street from the Great Falls could be adaptively reused.
The vacant 3.5-story brick edifice at 11 Spruce Street, which is also known as 50 Spruce Street, is the subject of a plan by the Community Asset Preservation Corporation that calls for “a complete interior and exterior restoration” in order to create 38 residential units and two retail spaces, according to a public notice.
Sales records show that this property was sold back in 2018 for $279,000 by the Passaic County Sheriff.
Few additional details have been released yet about the current plans, but the Paterson Planning Board is scheduled to discuss the developer’s application during a special virtual meeting today, Monday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m., according to the notice.
An agenda indicates that the Paterson Historic Preservation Commission conditionally approved an adaptive reuse application in August 2020 involving this “19th century industrial mill,” which is referred to in the document as the “Rogers Shop/Desire Mill.”
Back in 1977, an article published by The Record stated that the building was expected at the time to become home to a facility for Desire Mills Co. Inc. with offices, a distribution facility, and possibly retail or restaurant space. The piece noted that the building was “once a locomotive millwright’s shop.”
This is one of a number of projects to be proposed for properties located not far from the Great Falls. As Jersey Digs previously reported, a 12-unit development with commercial and office space could come to Maple Street and the old School 5 building on Totowa Avenue could be expanded into a complex with 61 apartments.
Note to readers: The dates that applications are scheduled to be heard by the Paterson Planning Board and other commissions are subject to change.
