The three-story Argus Mill, a brick and wood-frame structure erected in the mid-1870s, will serve as the gateway to a new development and house six apartments. Built as a warehouse for a nearby textile mill, it was later used to manufacture mosquito netting and, in the 1940s, became the Argus Yarn Mill. The New Jersey site was added to the National Historic Register in 1986 but has been vacant for many years.
Coppa Montalbano Architects The three-story Argus Mill, a brick and wood-frame structure erected in the mid-1870s, will serve as the gateway to a new development and house six apartments. Built as a warehouse for a nearby textile mill, it was later used to manufacture mosquito netting and, in the 1940s, became the Argus Yarn Mill. The New Jersey site was added to the National Historic Register in 1986 but has been vacant for many years.


Officials recently celebrated the start of construction on a development that will bring 74 affordable housing units centered on the site of the 19th century Argus Mill in Paterson, New Jersey.

Located in the city’s Great Falls Historic District, the project will revitalize the historic mill building to create six affordable two-bedroom apartments and construct a new four-story apartment building nearby for 68 low- to moderate-income households. In addition, there will be programming space for the Grandparents Relatives Care Resource Center (GRCRC), a Paterson nonprofit that will provide supportive services to residents, and a new parking deck in coordination with the Paterson Parking Authority.

The $26 million project is being developed by leading affordable housing firm WinnDevelopment and the Argus Ellison team of Owen Tonkins and Daryll Tyson.

“With the support of city and state officials, the development will showcase that it is possible through strong public-private partnership, historic adaptive reuse, and catalytic state financing to meet Paterson’s pressing need for affordable housing,” said WinnDevelopment vice president David Ginsberg, noting that the project has been a priority for the city.

All 74 apartments will be low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC)-eligible affordable and moderate-income housing, with 52 units targeted to families earning less than 50% of the area median income (AMI) who hold vouchers from the Paterson Housing Authority. The remaining 22 units will be moderate-income apartments for families earning less than 80% of the AMI. Fifty-four of the new apartments will be two- and three-bedroom units, creating needed space and flexibility for larger families.

In addition, the development will set aside units for multigenerational households.

“Grandparents raising grandchildren is a growing portion of the Paterson population, so I am particularly pleased they are being targeted as future tenants,” said mayor Andre Sayegh. “Also, the fact that the development team involves local Patersonians makes this project a win-win.”

The development will be financed through construction and permanent financing from Citi Community Capital; tax-exempt bonds and 4% LIHTCs issued by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) as well as Economic Redevelopment and Growth (ERG) tax credits from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority; a construction loan from Bank of America; LIHTC and federal historic tax credit equity from Bank of America; an ERG bridge loan from New Jersey Community Capital and BlueHub Capital; ERG credit equity syndicated by Fallbrook Financial Services Co.; project-based vouchers administered by the Paterson Housing Authority; and HOME and regional contribution funding from the city.

“Argus Mill’s comprehensive redevelopment will preserve and honor the historic and cultural significance of the properties while ensuring the site remains an integral part of the community for years to come,” said NJHMFA executive director Melanie Walter. “As families make their home in this new intergenerational housing, the historic structures, location, and proximity to transportation and Paterson’s Great Falls National Historical Park will create a new generation of memories for residents and ensure the continued cultural relevance of this unique corner of Paterson.”

WinnDevelopment senior project director Laura Manville is leading the effort as a partnership with Tonkins, Tyson, and the GRCRC. Born and raised in Paterson, Tonkins and Tyson also have led successful development efforts in Maryland and Georgia, in addition to creating opportunities for high-quality affordable housing and economic development in their hometown.

O.A. Peterson of Montclair, New Jersey, serves as general contractor. Other partners include architect Coppa Montalbano Architects of Totowa, New Jersey; civil engineer Paulus Sokolowski and Sartor Engineering of Warren, New Jersey; historic consultant Public Archaeology Laboratory; local legal counsel Friend and Wenzel of Clifton, New Jersey; transactional counsel Berman Indictor of Philadelphia; and Renaissance Groups, which is monitoring hiring and MWBE goals.

Once completed, the property will be operated by WinnResidential, the leading manager of affordable housing in the United States. The company manages 13 multifamily properties throughout New Jersey, encompassing 1,955 apartments and 13,700 square feet of commercial space.