Fall River council demands definitive action plan to repair Pearl and Third Street parking garages

The City Council asked the administration to present a definitive action plan to repair the Pearl Street and Third Street downtown parking garages, citing closed sections, lost revenue and growing urgency tied to downtown redevelopment.

A resolution adopted July 8 directed the director of city operations and city administration to appear before the committee on finance with a scope of services, cost estimate and project schedule for design, procurement and execution of necessary repairs. The resolution followed council discussion in which members said repeated delays and limited information had hampered downtown planning and revenue recovery.

Councilors noted that the garages are important to private redevelopment projects that rely on nearby parking and that prolonged closures reduce parking revenue and complicate economic development. Several councilors asked the administration to provide the engineering review results and a clear timetable for repairs, and one councilor said the administration should share the review documents with the council.

Director of City Operations Al Olivera was asked to circulate the recent technical review and to coordinate a finance committee briefing. Councilors requested cost estimates, a procurement timeline and options for financing repairs — including whether proceeds from future property dispositions could be used — and asked for a plan that allows the council to hold the administration accountable to a schedule.

The council adopted the resolution and asked the administration to return with documentation and a detailed project plan.