Paterson Armory

The Paterson Armory, an unused armory in Paterson, New Jersey, was formerly a facility of the New Jersey National Guard and an arena. The building at 461-473 Market Street is in a state of disrepair, though studies are underway to determine viability of future use.

Architecture and history
Paterson was the first place in the state to apply for the construction of an armory under a law passed in 1889, and is built on ground which was originally 12 city lots and tranferred to the state by Passaic County. The laying of the cornerstone of the Paterson National Guard Armory took place on Memorial Day in 1894, built for the state's Second Regiment. Completed in 1896, the 53,800-square-foot crenellated three story brick and steel armory is situated on 1.2 acres in Downtown Paterson., and has been compared to a fortress or castle. Soldiers were deplyed for combat in the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II from the armory which housed a unit descended from the old Second Infantry until 1956. The arena was a site of rallies during the 1913 Paterson silk strike. It was also used as a venue for the circus, concerts, boxing matches, and basketball games. Native son Lou Costello, before beginning his career, once won a competition imitating Charlie Chaplin at the armory. The facility was last used by the military in March 1983. and the building not been in use since 1990. It was later sold to a private-owner, and then taken over by the city for non-payment of taxes.

Preservation and re-use efforts
Interest in restoring the city-owned building grew after the city council rejected a proposal to sell the building to a self-storage company. A 2008 feasibility study by Grad Associates estimates the cost of renovation to be $12 million. The roof is leaking, and many of its inside walls and floors suffer from water damage. While the building is structurally sounds repairs would necessarily include asbestos abatement and new fire stairwells and electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems. The plan calls for state-of-the-art, green recreation and community center and as seen as a way to reduce juvenile deliquency. A 2009 geologic survey found the site to be contaminate-free. A non-binding referendum to provide $1.2 million in funding for the restoration project was approved in November 2009. Julio Tavarez, city councilman, envisions, a recreation and entertainment center for the municipal property. During the flooding due to the 1903 New Jersey hurricane, 1200 people took shelter at the armory. Unvailable to house evacuees during Hurricane Irene (2011), Mayor of Paterson Jeffery Jones cited its potential in such situations as another reason to be renovated. The armory has played an important role in New Jersey's pugilist past. Louis "Lou" Duva, boxing trainer and manager who began his career in the city, when looking for locations to establish in 2011 to locate a training center cited the armory as a potential venue for a boxing club. Plans to restore the armory are under auspices of the city's parking authority. Proposals for an greatly expanded sports oriented facility are estimated to cost nearly $40, but as of December 2012 funds had still not been located to initiate basic repairs estimated at $9.8 million.