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Fall River Historical Commission approves continued letters of support for multiple tax-credit projects and backs CPA match for Bank Street Armory
Summary
At its April 15 meeting the Fall River Historical Commission voted to supply continued letters of support for several historic tax-credit projects and approved a Community Preservation Act (CPA) match request for the Bank Street Armory feasibility and structural assessment.
The Fall River Historical Commission on April 15 approved continued letters of support for multiple historic-tax-credit projects and voted to provide a CPA match letter for the Bank Street Armory feasibility and structural assessment.
The approvals were procedural and carried with unanimous roll-call votes. The projects receiving continued letters include three applications presented by Ryan LLC (529 Eastern Avenue, 66 Troy Street, and 206 Globe Mills Avenue) and three projects represented by Heritage Consulting Group (80–84 North Main Street; 110 Chase Street; and 135 Alden Street). The commission also approved a continued letter for Saint Catherine’s Convent/Dominican Academy at 37 Park Street and agreed to send a support letter for the city’s CPA match request for the Bank Street Armory feasibility/structural assessment (a $27,500 match on a $55,000 project total).
Why it matters: continued letters of support keep projects in the state historic-tax-credit queue and help applicants demonstrate local backing when they apply for funding and tax credits. The CPA match endorsement is required by state guidelines when municipal CPA funds are used as a local match for the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund.
Details on the projects and discussion Emily Domeniani, who identified herself as “the historic consultant for those 3 projects,” told the commission that Ryan LLC’s Notre Dame Rectory project at 529 Eastern Avenue had secured financing with construction expected to begin in June, and that other design plans remained unchanged. Nate Kerwin, representing Heritage Consulting Group, said the 80–84 North Main Street (BMC Durfee Trust) project had received Community Preservation Committee funding for window work and that demolition and stabilization activity was underway. Jeff Karam of First Bridal Corporation said work on the St. Catherine’s Convent project was at the schematic/programming stage, with plans for roughly 70–90 apartment units still being refined.
The commission treated the letters as “continued” support—a procedural action intended to hold each project’s place in the state tax-credit process rather than to authorize funding. Commissioners asked for updates where relevant (for example, Emily confirmed loan/financing deliberations had been resolved for the rectory project after a reported auction notice).
Votes at a glance - Approve minutes for Jan. 28, 2025 — Motion: Rick Mancini; Second: Jonathan Lima; Outcome: approved (roll call: John/Jonathan Lima yes; Rick Mancini yes; Joyce Rodricks yes; Ashley DeCunha yes; Jason Bouchard yes; Rocky yes). (Motion recorded on the transcript.) - Approve minutes for March 5, 2025 — Motion: (recorded as moved/seconded); Outcome: approved (roll call recorded in transcript). - Table approval of minutes for March 18, 2025 — Motion: Jonathan Lima; Second: Rick Mancini; Outcome: approved (tabled) (roll call recorded). - Approve continued letters of support for Ryan LLC projects (529 Eastern Ave; 66 Troy St; 206 Globe Mills) — Motion: Rick Mancini; Second: Ashley DeCunha; Outcome: approved (roll call: unanimous yes). - Approve continued letters of support for Heritage Consulting Group projects (80–84 North Main St; 110 Chase St; 135 Alden St) — Motion: Rick Mancini; Second: Jonathan Lima; Outcome: approved (roll call: unanimous yes). - Approve continued letter of support for 37 Park Street (St. Catherine’s Convent/Dominican Academy) — Motion: Rick Mancini; Second: Ashley DeCunha; Outcome: approved (roll call: unanimous yes). - Approve letter of support for CPA grant match for Bank Street Armory feasibility/structural assessment ($27,500 match; total project cost $55,000) — Motion: Ashley DeCunha; Second: Jonathan Lima; Outcome: approved (roll call: unanimous yes). - Adjourn — Motion: Rick Mancini; Second: Ashley DeCunha; Outcome: approved (roll call: unanimous yes).
What the votes do and do not do All of the commission’s actions were limited to providing letters of support, approving or tabling minutes, and endorsing the CPA match request. The letters do not commit commission funds; they document local backing that applicants may submit with state and federal historic-tax-credit applications. The CPA letter is an endorsement of a municipal match submission and does not itself allocate CPA funds — fiscal approvals and disbursement follow separate municipal processes.
Next steps and deadlines Commission staff told applicants they would have continued letters to them by the end of the week; Emily Domeniani confirmed the state filing deadline for the tax-credit queue is April 30.
