For the last 20 years since moving into our headquarters at 32 Spruce Street, NJCDC has embraced the Great Falls Neighborhood and has been working hand-in-hand with local residents to improve conditions. Throughout our history, we've worked with community residents and stakeholders to develop housing, community facilities, parks, schools, workforce programs, and—most importantly—community leaders.

Since 1994, NJCDC has taken a lead in rebuilding and strengthening our neighborhood through the empowerment of—and in partnership with—those who live and work here. Throughout our history, we’ve worked with community residents and stakeholders to develop housing, community facilities, parks, schools, workforce programs, and—most importantly—community leaders. In 2008, we adopted a place-based approach to our work through the Greater Spruce Street Neighborhood Plan. Created with extensive input from neighborhood residents and community stakeholders, the plan focused on revitalizing the neighborhood, including Paterson's historic heart.

Much has changed since 2008—the majestic Great Falls is now a national park, there are new schools, we've created new housing, and we've built new parks and playgrounds, among many other improvements. We’re proud of our accomplishments guided by that plan, and the new Great Falls Neighborhood Plan—developed with input from over 600 neighborhood residents—will guide our work going forward. As a result of these substantial changes, we were awarded planning grants from the State and the Regional Foundation to create a new 10-year plan of initiatives to further improve this area of Paterson.

Over the past two years, we’ve facilitated the creation of this new resident-led and resident-driven plan for the neighborhood we serve—Paterson, New Jersey’s Great Falls Neighborhood. The Great Falls Neighborhood Plan is the product of significant input from neighborhood residents, business owners, other nonprofits, elected officials, and additional stakeholders, including New Jersey Community Capital. In October 2021, we released a draft of the plan for public comment, to make sure our strategies are truly community-driven.

The official Great Falls Neighborhood Plan was released in March 2023, and will guide our work over the next ten years. The plan includes six goals to inform sustainable and community-led revitalization efforts in Paterson:

Goal 1: An Empowered Community

Goal 2: Neighborhood Revitalization

Goal 3: Education and Youth Development

Goal 4: Quality, Affordable Housing

Goal 5: Vibrant Arts, Culture, and Recreation

Goal 6: Promote Health and Wellbeing

“Our new plan comes down to two concepts: unity and partnership,” NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci remarked,  “If you would have come to this neighborhood 10 or 12 years ago, it would look very different from how it looks today. And I can assure you, when you come back in 10 years, you will look at the neighborhood as a result of not only the work of NJCDC, but of the so many who are invested in the future of this neighborhood. It will look much different and much better than it even does today!”

Watch the recording of our Great Falls Neighborhood Plan Unveiling here!

For more information: Please contact Eddie Gonzalez, NJCDC’s Director of Community Outreach, at egonzalez@njcdc.org