What's happening with the Bank Street Armory? Here's Fall River's latest plan.
FALL RIVER — The city is taking another crack at redeveloping the long-empty Bank Street Armory, also known as the Municipal Veterans Memorial, as the building approaches its eighth year closed to the public.
Mayor Paul Coogan said last week that a new request for proposals was being drafted for the 126-year-old castle-like building, which is owned by the city. The RFP could be ready soon, he said.
“We’re going to put it out to bid and see what we get for people who are interested in tackling it,” Coogan said.
The armory, which opened to the public on Feb. 24, 1897, was once home to a volunteer militia, the National Guard, and later Greater Fall River Re-Creation and Youth Build. It has been shuttered since April 2015 when a building inspection revealed one of the building’s chimneys had loose granite blocks leaning in toward the gym. City workers later repaired the chimney, but the building has been used solely for storage since.
“It’s pretty rough. It’s got a few leaks in there,” Coogan said of the building’s condition. “There’s some warped wood in the floor of the old basketball court. ... But again, it’s not something that a developer or someone that does construction would be afraid of. They could go in there and tackle it.”
A lovely home:Fall River Preservation Society is creating low-income housing in a way you'd never expect
Developer backs out of plans
Coogan had previously suggested, as recently as his 2022 State of the City address, that the Redevelopment Authority would soon be working with a developer to transform the property into an arts and entertainment venue.
Both Coogan and former RDA Chairman Joseph Marshall said that developer backed out of the project about two months ago.
Previously, New Hampshire-based developer Brian Thibault had been connected with the armory, having also been involved with armory rehabs in Pawtucket and Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
“He told me he got a couple of big construction jobs and he was spread way too thin,” Coogan said.
How do you get there from here? Your Route 79 shutdown and construction questions answered
Bringing back the building to its 'former glory'
The armory is a sturdy “fortress,” noted the Fall River Daily Herald on the day of its opening, built of local granite quarried “in the eastern part of the city.” It was designed by the Boston architectural firm of Wait and Cutter in association with prominent local architect Louis Destremps, who also designed local landmarks including the original Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, Saint Anne’s Church and the former Jesus Marie Convent on St. Joseph Street. For years after the National Guard moved out, it was the home court of B.M.C. Durfee High School basketball. In 1976 the state sold it to the city for the token sum of $1 for civic use.
According to the Register of Deeds, the building is under a preservation restriction agreement with the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which does not allow changes to "the architectural, archaeological and historical integrity of the premises."
Coogan said though his hope was to see the armory become an arts and events center, he’s unsure if that’s "doable in this market right now,” but that a developer could still see that as a possibility.
“I’d like to click my fingers and go back to something for the arts, and restaurants, some offices — but I don’t think in this climate we’re going to be able to get that done,” Coogan said. “That being said, I’d love to see someone go in there, put in a new HVAC system, a heating system, repair the roof, get some activity in and out of that building, make it a showplace.
“We definitely want to see it back to its former glory.”
Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River issuing request for Bank Street Armory redevelopment plans
