At the Nov. 20 meeting, Fall River Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Sarah Page updated the board on the Pleasant Street urban renewal effort and a related Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) district application.

Page said the Authority worked with statewide partners and its network of economic development organizations to submit comments on proposed regulatory changes aimed at minimizing environmental review for affordable housing and urban renewal plans. She said the proposed NEPA "special review procedure" could be an option for the Authority when amending its urban renewal plan, but noted that plans already in process may face extra procedural steps; a final decision on the regulations is expected in December.

On the TDI district application, Page said the Authority assembled a broad set of partners — including Family First Health Center, local schools and churches — and proposed that staff commit 30–40 hours per month of in-kind time to implement the plan. "We're committing and investing significant staff time in this effort," she told the board, describing the time as an in-kind match for the grant proposal. Board members discussed whether to quantify the in-kind commitment as a dollar value and suggested including fringe and other costs in proposal materials.

Page also recapped a successful recent holiday pop-up on Purchase Street that featured tents, food trucks and new retail activity; she highlighted new businesses and noted merchants were optimistic about holiday sales and possible retail licenses. The steering committee is scheduled to meet Dec. 8 and the next full district meeting is set for Jan. 14; Page said she had invited the chief of police to discuss safety in the district.

Board members did not vote on the TDI application or formalize the in-kind dollar valuation at the meeting. Staff will continue partner coordination and return with any updates and recommended budget language for the grant application.