Downtown Paterson
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Downtown Paterson is the main commercial district of Paterson, New Jersey and was once a shopping mecca for the northern part of the state. After a devastating fire in 1902, the city rebuilt the downtown with massive Beaux-Arts-style buildings, many of which remain to this day. These buildings are usually four to seven stories tall. Downtown Paterson is home to City Hall and the Passaic County Courthouse Annex, two of the city's architectural landmarks. City Hall was designed by the New York firm Carrere and Hastings in 1894 and is modeled after the Hôtel de Ville (city hall) in Lyon, France, capital of the silk industry in Europe.
Located on Van Houten Street you will find a massive Mosque, Masjid Jalalabad, which can accommodate 1,500 worshippers. Next to the mosque is a bengali ethnic store where one can find Halal meat, fish, Bengali Groceries and more.
As with many other old downtown districts in the United States, Downtown Paterson suffered as shoppers and retailers moved to the suburban shopping malls of the region. Many historic buildings are in disrepair or are abandoned after years of neglect. In addition, Downtown Paterson is an Urban Enterprise Zone. Today, Downtown Paterson is a mishmash of a variety of discount shops that hum on the congested streets. The city has, in recent years, begun initiatives in hopes of reviving the downtown area. A project called the Center City project will convert a downtown parking lot into a commercial and entertainment center with office space. Downtown Paterson is located in the city's 1st Ward.
Downtown Paterson is bounded by Straight Street on the east, I-80, NJ 19, Oliver Street and Spruce Street on the south, the Passaic River, West Broadway, Cliff Street, North 3rd Street, Haledon Avenue and the border with Prospect Park on the west and the Passaic River to the north.
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[edit] CBD
The Central Business District of Paterson is the area between the Dublin area and Wrigley Park, closest to the Passaic River. The areas along Market Street and Main Street are some of the busiest and largest commercial districts in Paterson and have a diverse ethnic makeup with a large Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Mexican population.
[edit] Dublin Area
Dublin, considered the first neighborhood of Paterson, was built up around the mills near Great Falls. The area, which is responsible for the early growth of Paterson, has a rich history and has had a diverse and changing ethnic makeup. Originally settled by Irish immigrants, the neighborhood has seen waves of English, Italian and more recently Hispanic immigrants. The Dublin area today incorporates parts of Great Falls Historic District and the area on Market Street, which has a large Peruvian and Argentinian population today.
[edit] Wrigley Park
Wrigley Park is the northern section of downtown, north of Broadway and to the east of the Passaic River. Wrigley Park is a predominately African-American community and is mostly residential. The area is considered to be one of the more dangerous sections of Paterson along with areas of The Northside, although the crime-rate has declined gradual in recent years.
[edit] The Northside
Northside is a mostly residential neighborhood on the north bank of the Passaic River. The neighborhood stretches back to Paterson's borders with Haledon and Prospect Park. The neighborhoods on this side of the river are up a steep hill that gives many of the houses and streets in the northside great views of Manhattan.
[edit] Great Falls Historic District
The area near the u-shape Spruce Street and McBridge Avenue is part of a redevelopment area of the Great Falls Historic District. The northern section of Elliston and Mill Streets, which are downriver from the falls are also part of this area and are usually considered part of Downtown.
