Paterson to sell former school board HQ
Plans for homeless shelter fell through
By: Joe Mallinconico
Paterson Press
PATERSON - The city school district has decided to sell its 33-35 Church Street in downtown Paterson.
.....
The Board of Education voted on March 11 [2026] to start the sale process. spokesperson Aida Rosario said the district has not decided when or where the sale will be held, or whether it will be done as a public auction.
..... About a year ago, school officials had preliminary talked with Passaic County government about converting the building into a homeless shelter. But the county lost interest in that proposal and broke off the discussions, according to minutes from the school board's facilities committee.
..... The former school district headquarters is located about a block away from city Hall, about half a block form Passaic County Community college, and two blocks from Paterson's police complex.
..... School board member Kenneth Simmons said the district looked into the possibility of returning to the downtown location but determined it would cost tens of millions of dollars to get the building in condition for use again.
.....
Officials said the district must assign a fire marshal to the vacant building for safety reasons.
..... Simmons noted that during recent years tow large housing developments have been under construction in Paterson's downtown - one at the former Greenbaum's furniture building and another at the corner of Main state and Broadway.
.....
"I can't imagine with all the recent projects going up that the infrastructure in that area can handle it all," Simmons said.