Plans for Great Falls visor center stalls as group seeks funding
By Joe Malinconico
Paterson Press
PATERSON - The century-old seam plant that Mayor Andre Sayegh wants to convert into a new Great Falls visitor center remains vacant this summer [2026] - as it has been for decades.
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There were ambitious $23 million design 'dynamic and interactive exhibitions, integrated indoor/outdoor space, hands-on activities, and digital multi-media."
..... But about five years ago, the groups working on the project couldn't get the funding they needed form the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
..... For a while, Sayegh's visitor center dream remained in limbo, until the group was joined by a new partner, Montclair State University.
..... By serving as "operator" of the visitor center, Montclair State made the project eligible for a different state tax credit, funding source, New Jersey's cultural and Arts Facilities Expansion, known as CAFE.
..... the partners submitted their CAFE funding application in early August 2025.
..... "since then, the project partners have responded to several requests from NJEDA for clarification and additional information," said Andrew Meees, an assistant voice president at Montclair State. "We submitted our most recent response last month [07/2026] and are currently awaiting NJEDA's decision.
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Of course, it's also possible that the DEA will have more questions. The process fro tax credit application tends to be far from transparent. Only after projects get approved does the state authority release details.
..... Sayegh did not respond to an email seeking his comment for this story.
.... Stephanie Cullins, of the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson, said that with the potential changes, the visitor center will "virtually be the same size but with modifications to the design that will reduce overall constriction costs."
..... "these projects take time, but we're proud of the progress that's been made behind the scenes," Culins said. "Every partnership strengthened and every planning milestone rings us one step closer to certainer a visitor center that will serve as a hub for history, education, and community engagement for genealogists to come."
.... Darren Boch, the National Park Service's superintendent for the Great Falls said, "we hope the partnership culminates in a new visitor center that provides amenities and anchors the park's interpretive and educational programming."