Paterson Celebrates Groundbreaking of The Great Falls Center
Based on reporting by Gabriella Dragone for TAPinto Paterson.
PATERSON, NJ — Under skies that cleared just in time, the City of Paterson celebrated the groundbreaking of The Great Falls Center on Tuesday, November 26. Mayor Andre Sayegh joined Servant’s Heart Ministry and a host of community leaders to mark the start of Phase 2 renovations at the historic building at 39 McBride Avenue Extension.
“Paterson is no longer a city of stagnation but a city of solutions and synergy.”
— Mayor Andre Sayegh
The project is the culmination of efforts by Servant’s Heart Ministry, which acquired the 1920s structure in 2021 through a generous donation. The Ministry has already raised more than $2 million to overhaul the building’s interior and is now embarking on a $6 million effort to create a food hall featuring local culinary businesses, an auditorium, and a rooftop restaurant with views of the Great Falls. Phase 2 will restore the building’s historic character, enhance its exterior, and prepare it for future community programs.
“The journey to this day has been humbling and inspiring. This building will be a hub for mentorship, education, and opportunity. It’s about giving young people purpose, teaching trades, and bringing life back to this historic structure.”
— John Oostdyk, Executive Director, Servant’s Heart Ministry
Lead architect Matt Wolfe spoke to the significance of adaptive reuse. “This is a one-of-a-kind building,” Wolfe said. “It’s an honor to breathe new life into this historic structure while preserving its original beauty. This project will have a lasting impact on the Paterson community for generations to come.”
Christina Mendez, Director of Operations for Servant’s Heart Ministry, reflected on the project’s progress since her first meeting with the team five years earlier. “What makes this project special is that the sense of community it aims to foster has already started,” she said. “This building will not only reflect Paterson’s history but will also serve as a home for everyone in the community.”
The center is already home to Servant’s Heart Ministry’s Workmanship Trades Training & Mentoring Program and a premier event space overlooking the Great Falls. Fittingly, Tuesday’s groundbreaking coincided with a graduation ceremony for 50 students who completed trades training — 26 of them from Paterson.
State Senator Nellie Pou called the project transformative. “The Great Falls Center will be a magnet for visitors and a source of pride for Patersonians,” she said. “It embodies what this city stands for: resilience, opportunity, and community.” The ceremony closed with gratitude for the late Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr., who played a pivotal role in establishing the Great Falls National Historical Park.
The project timeline estimates completion of the building’s facade by the end of 2025, with interior renovations and a new parking deck slated for 2026. Once finished, The Great Falls Center will offer a mix of trades and culinary programs, event spaces, and dining — paying homage to Paterson’s silk-industry legacy while becoming a modern destination in the heart of the city.
This recap is based on reporting by Gabriella Dragone for TAPinto Paterson, published November 27, 2024.
Get involved: To volunteer, donate, or help build The Great Falls Center, contact Servant’s Heart Ministry or make a donation.
