Fall River City Council to review Bank Street Armory sale, but not everyone is on board

Jo C. Goode, The Herald News
Updated ·4 min read

FALL RIVER — The Bank Street Armory was first home to a pair of Massachusetts volunteer militias when completed in 1897, and served with its fortress-like construction during World War II.

But after a new armory was built on Dwelly Street in the mid-1950s, the city bought the "castle on the hill" for $1 in 1976 with plans to turn it into a “civic arena.”

Nearly 40 years later, the armory on the outside looks like it could still take on a fight, but it has seen better days from rain and wind damage over the years and has been shuttered since 2015 when it was declared unsafe.

Now with a local developer the only one to answer a request for proposals to redevelop the armory, with a plan to create housing on the table, and a recent call for the administration to look for other uses, the future of the 126-year-old structure is in the hands of the City Council.

Inside the Armory proposal: The project could transform downtown Fall River.

The Bank Street Armory in Fall River.
The Bank Street Armory in Fall River.

Council’s decision to sell armory for $200,000

During a July 18 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to send the proposed housing project from Main Street Property LLC, owned by developer Alan Macomber, for review and a recommendation on whether to sell the property for $200,000.

Macomber proposed a more than $13 million investment to convert the armory into 37 market-rate apartments. He also proposed to buy the United States Post Office garage building around the corner to provide parking for tenants.

The issue will have to be reviewed by the Committee on Real Estate and sent back to the full council with a recommendation as well.

Debris litters the floor inside the lobby of the Bank Street Armory, on Bank Street in Fall River, seen during a tour of the city-owned property.
Debris litters the floor inside the lobby of the Bank Street Armory, on Bank Street in Fall River, seen during a tour of the city-owned property.

Councilors question housing plan for Bank Street Armory

But at least two city councilors, Linda Pereira and Michelle Dionne, have doubts about supporting the deal.

Pereira reiterated her desire to create an event center in the Armory, and suggested that a plan for the building be put in place and have the city look at funding sources like American Rescue Plan Act funding or grants.

“We have gotten rid of so many things in our city. It's our history,” said Pereira in a previous meeting. “You can’t be making everything into housing. There are a lot of events that could go there. And honestly, I would put a tourism center there.”

For Dionne, the sale price of $200,000 didn’t make sense when the city paid nearly $400,000 into repairs to the building.

That funding came from Community Preservation Act money, used to repair a leaking roof and disintegrating chimney that threatened the structure's integrity.

Saving history: From churches to mills, these 13 places in Fall River are at risk of losing historic value

Preservation Society member: Fall River did the 'legal bare minimum'

During last month's meeting, Fall River Preservation Society board member and City Council candidate Alex Silva, speaking for himself during citizen input, suggested that the city explore other redevelopment opportunities.

“When looking to develop an important piece of property, most municipalities seek to solicit the maximum number of bidders to improve the chances of getting the best results possible for the community,” said Silva.

Instead of “casting a wide net,” he said, the Coogan administration did the “legal bare minimum and as a result received only one bid.”

The basketball court at the Bank Street Armory, on Bank Street in Fall River, is currently being used for city storage. The property was shown Wednesday to developers and the public, as the city is attempting to sell the property.
The basketball court at the Bank Street Armory, on Bank Street in Fall River, is currently being used for city storage. The property was shown Wednesday to developers and the public, as the city is attempting to sell the property.

Could Fall River afford to redevelop the armory alone?

In a presentation to the City Council regarding the armory, City Administrator Seth Aitken said that in 2015, after the building was deemed unsafe and left organizations like Greater Fall River Re-Creation scrambling to find new space, a study determined the cost to repair the Armory.

At the time, Starck Architects estimated repairs would cost between $8 million and $9.5 million.

The price in today’s market, according to Aitken, rose to $10 million to $12 million.

“The position of the city is, this is a beautiful building. It would have been amazing if in 2015 we had the resources and the foresight to try to save this building and keep this building for the city and city events,” said Aitken.

However, said Aitken, the administration “doesn’t believe the cost is feasible and the return on that investment would be there.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River armory could become market-rate housing if council OKs plan