Blue Onyx Launches NJ Adaptive Reuse Project
The company has revealed its five-year master plan to transform the former Paterson Mill Site into an urban living hub.
PATERSON, NJ – Fully-integrated real estate development, construction and management firm, Blue Onyx Companies has commenced site work on its adaptive reuse project, 24+Half, in Paterson, NJ.
The more than two-acre site is located at 24-1/2 Van Houten St., along the Passaic River within the Old Great Falls Historic District. The property is listed on the National Historic Register.
The project’s five-year master plan consists of transforming the property’s seven former mills and warehouses into an updated work/live/play environment and community hub. The redevelopment will feature 19,000 square feet of residential, commercial, dining and other space.
The project will feature co-working spaces and shared infrastructure designed to support entrepreneurs, creatives and start-ups, a range of new residential spaces, a distillery/beer garden and a riverwalk linking the Great Falls to the Memorial Drive bridge crossing. The project’s on-site amenities include a fitness center, food hall, community theater/event space, public gathering spaces and spaces for private and corporate events.
Phase One of the project includes the 12,230-square-foot beach environment, Paterson Beach, which features sand, furniture, food trucks and activities. Blue Onyx is launching Paterson Beach on September 10.
Blue Onyx acquired the site in December 2019 and the company’s plans are currently undergoing the necessary approval channels across city planners, preservation committees and National Park Service.
“Blue Onyx is committed to bringing strong, positive impact to today’s urban landscape by investing in and developing transformative real estate projects. As soon as we saw this property, we saw its potential as a vibrant mixed-use community,” states Blue Onyx CEO, Levi Kelman. “We’re excited about creating a catalyst for renewal within this historic neighborhood in a way that celebrates Paterson’s entrepreneurial past while looking forward to a sustainable future.”
To design the commercial, residential and public spaces of the project, the company has partnered with global architecture firm, HWKN.
“I believe that 24+Half will spur much interest from businesses, investors and developers alike about what’s possible in Paterson, with many incentives available to businesses to locate there through the Urban Enterprise Zone, opportunity zone and Smart Growth Coalition programs,” says Kelman.
“I believe 24 ½ Van Houten is a strategic site for unbridled potential,” said Mayor Andre Sayegh. “The 24+Half project will help us to move forward with the progression of Paterson, improving quality of life for residents, as we continue to develop and revitalize the area around the Great Falls National Park.”
Located two blocks from Paterson’s downtown district, near Passaic County Community College, Berkeley College and William Paterson University, the property is additionally situated in close proximity to Routes 1-80, 95 and 19.
