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Fall River officials seek appraisal and phased repairs for Pearl Street and 3rd Street garages
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Summary
City officials presented design documents and preliminary cost estimates for phased repairs to the Pearl Street and 3rd Street parking garages and said an appraisal and a structural re‑inspection will be finished within two weeks to guide whether to repair, sell or bond for work.
City officials told the City Council and the Committee on Finance that both the Pearl Street and 3rd Street parking garages need multi‑phase repairs and that the city will have an appraisal and a structural re‑inspection within two weeks to inform next steps.
The administration’s point person, Al Olivera, director of city operations, said designers and structural engineers are preparing specifications and that "this appraisal will assist the city with the potential repairs" and with assessing options that include repair, procurement, and potential future sale of real property. Olivera said the appraisal will cover the Pearl Street garage, the 3rd Street garage and the adjacent lots so the city can evaluate whether to proceed with repairs or pursue other options.
Why it matters: the two garages are currently operating below capacity and have cordoned areas where concrete has spalled. Restoring capacity would increase revenue and parking availability downtown. Stephanie McArthur, director of traffic and parking, told councilors that the two garages together currently bring in about $50,000–$60,000 a month and that full occupancy would add roughly 270 rentable spaces (about 150 at Pearl Street and 120 at 3rd Street).
What officials said: Olivera described a three‑phase approach: (1) immediate repairs to make spaces occupiable and safe; (2) structural repairs for chipping/spalled concrete and any embedded rebar issues; and (3) a preventative‑maintenance program. He told the council the Pearl Street procurement is ready to go and that the city intends to seek funding for initial work in the next fiscal year. When asked for numbers, the administration said Pearl Street’s three‑phase scope is approximately $4.2 million; it described the initial combined work to occupy spaces across both garages as "just under $6,000,000." Olivera said the full scope and funding schedule will be detailed in the appraisal, structural report and the five‑year capital plan.
Council reaction and next steps: councilors pressed for clarity about the structural findings and for a checklist of annual preventative‑maintenance tasks that would keep repairs from reoccurring. Several members favored phasing work to reduce mobilization costs; others asked for the construction documents and structural reports to be provided with any financial order. The Committee on Finance voted to refer the item to the full council so the Real Estate and Facilities committee can review the appraisal, the construction documents, and procurement strategy before the council votes on funding.
The administration said it will provide the appraisal and the structural report within two weeks and intends to return with a financial order to fund the initial phase once those documents are complete.
