The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced a tender for the development of a 20-acre waterfront site in the city of Fall River. The project aims to attract $1 billion in private investment. As part of the invitation to participate, a narrow strip of state-owned land along the Taunton River—where a highway once separated a neighboring district from the waterfront—has been allocated for redevelopment.

Main Project Parameters

The plan includes the construction of up to 1,400 new residential units and the creation of a mixed-use district with commercial spaces and access to the existing commuter rail line. The project is focused on revitalizing an area previously occupied by an elevated structure up to 600 feet wide, which had limited pedestrian and cyclist access. Already, $135 million has been invested in reconstructing the Route 79/Davol Street corridor.

Transportation Infrastructure

The site is located next to the new Fall River Depot station, which connects the South Coast of Massachusetts with Boston and Providence (Rhode Island). Transforming the Route 79 corridor into a multimodal boulevard, investing in rail infrastructure, and improving connections between neighborhoods and the waterfront have made it possible to launch this development tender.

Selection Criteria for Participants

MassDOT is seeking participants with proven financial experience, the ability to complete the transaction and deliver the project, as well as organizational competence and compliance with legal requirements. Criteria include the capacity to implement a large-scale, transit-oriented development with more than 1,400 residential units, commercial spaces, and public areas, including entertainment venues. The plan is to select between one and three developers to carry out the project.

Timeline

The application deadline is October 21. A virtual information session is scheduled for August 5.