Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fall River Route79 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fall River leaders seek legislative authorization to dispose 19 waterfront acres for Route 79 redevelopment and large mixed‑use project
Summary
Mayor Paul Coogan, local officials and redevelopment authority representatives told the committee House Bill 4071 would enable disposition of 19 acres in Fall River's Duval Street corridor to the Fall River Redevelopment Authority to implement a master plan tied to the Route 79 project and unlock approximately $1 billion in private investment.
Fall River leaders and the Fall River Redevelopment Authority asked the Joint Committee to approve local legislation (H.4071) enabling the city to convey roughly 19 developable acres in the Duval Street/Route 79 corridor to the Fall River Redevelopment Authority for master‑planned redevelopment.
Mayor Paul Coogan described the $145 million public infrastructure investment (approximately $130 million in state funding and $15 million in local funding) to remove an elevated highway and create a walkable Duval Street corridor with about 19 acres of developable land in the waterfront urban renewal district. Panelists said a city master plan envisions a walkable waterfront neighborhood with up to 1,500 apartments, commercial spaces and public plazas; the redevelopment authority has completed a master plan and engaged consultants and community outreach and seeks local disposition authority so it can solicit master developer proposals. Fall River representatives projected up to $1 billion in private investment over roughly a 10‑year buildout if disposition authority and master‑developer procurement proceed.
Speakers from the redevelopment authority described past state and federal investments (more than $500 million cited for transportation and removal of physical impediments) and said the authority is ready to begin the procurement and permitting process; they asked the committee to report the bill favorably so the city can transfer the parcels into the urban renewal authority for redevelopment under the master plan.
Committee members asked about community engagement, zoning and potential timelines; witnesses said local approvals, permits and a master‑developer RFP process were planned and that construction could begin in 2026 if schedule holds. The committee did not vote at the hearing.
