$100M project breaks ground

With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, the city of Paterson officially broke ground Friday on the long-awaited, $100 million Center City redevelopment project.

"Today we are planting a seed," Mayor Joey Torres told a crowd of supporters and politicians at a late-afternoon ceremony at the Center City site off Ward Street, which for decades has been a tattered parking lot serving state Superior Court. "And this seed represents the rebirth of Paterson."

Torres, entering the final stages of his reelection campaign, stood at the podium flanked by three generations of Paterson mayors -- Lawrence "Pat" Kramer, Councilman Thomas Rooney, and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.

Behind them was a lone backhoe that had torn up a corner of the parking lot -- a symbol that after decades of promises and failed business deals, Center City was finally being built.

"A fabulous investment is taking place in the oldest industrial city in America," Kramer told the crowd. "Our Paterson."

Pascrell added that Center City's prospects got a boost after Route 19 was completed, giving commuters easy access to downtown Paterson.

The project, which is being developed by Center City Partners, LLC. calls for an underground parking deck to be topped by 320,000 square feet of retail space.

When the project is completed in 2008, there will be a movie theater, food court, pharmacy, cafes and plenty of clothing stores.

Developer Nick Tsapatsaris said Center City will serve the 30,000 people a day who come into the courthouse complex as well as the city's 150,000 residents.

Tsapatsaris said the complex will provide a mixture of eateries, entertainment and shopping.

Rooney, who as a Paterson city councilman has been listening to false promises about Center City for more than 20 years, was certain that this time, the plan was for real.

"And the good news is that it is all private money and this is not being done with a tax abatement," he said. "The property will pay full taxes to the city of Paterson.

Torres, who is being challenged by former Police Chief Lawrence Spagnola and the Rev. James A. Kuykendall in the May 9 election, made Center City a top priority when he took office.

Torres thanked the Paterson Parking Authority for making the land available and promised to solve any parking problems that arise when the city closes the lot for good on May 30.

"The next 15 months may be a little uncomfortable," Torres said. "But if you want to make an omelet, you've got to break a few eggs. We promise that everyone will have a place to park."

Already, the city has moved a portable parking lift into the lot across the street from Center City.

Torres said the city will set up a hot line to inform motorists about parking alternatives when the Center City lot closes May 30.

E-mail: cowen@northjersey.com

Reproduced with permission of North Jersey Media Group