City officials are trying to renovate and revive the Ivanhoe Wheelhouse, a small 19th-century industrial building near the Great Falls that bustled as an arts hub earlier this decade.
Paterson is applying for a $175,000 grant from Passaic County’s open space program to repair the building, which had major damage several years ago when a water line burst, officials said. The flooding caused mold and other problems that have rendered the wheelhouse unsafe for public use without repairs, said Kathleen Long, the chief of staff for Mayor Andre Sayegh.
“We are focused on the falls becoming the epicenter of Paterson’s renaissance,” Sayegh said. “The Ivanhoe will play a role in our revitalization.”
Darren Boch, superintendent of the national park at the Great Falls, said rangers could include a stop inside the Ivanhoe building as part of their tours if the structure is restored, saying the mill water wheelhouse would help tell the story of Paterson’s industrial history.