The state has officially hung a figurative "for sale" sign on a big slice of Fall River's waterfront, inviting developers to pitch projects for a new block of Davol Street parcels carved out when the elevated Route 79 came down. Officials say the land could carry a mix of housing, retail and park space, all within shouting distance of the new commuter rail stop.
Local coverage and project designers have put the newly open waterfront acreage somewhere in the high teens to mid‑20s. According to the Boston Business Journal, the state is marketing roughly 20 acres, while design consultant Shadley Associates says the corridor redesign will create about 19 acres of developable parcels plus nine acres of open space. The slightly different counts come down to how planners slice up buildable land, stormwater basins and public areas along the Taunton River.
State transportation officials treated the Route 79-Davol Street reconstruction as a marquee milestone earlier this year, saying the corridor had reached "full beneficial use" and that reusing the right of way would unlock major redevelopment. In a Jan. 22 press release, the MassDOT highlighted the new urban boulevard, shared-use paths, upgraded streetscapes and stormwater work that make the waterfront parcels viable. The agency called the project "transformational" for Fall River, which is a strong word in government-speak.
City Hall is clearly on board. Mayor Paul Coogan has told residents that the corridor master plan and completed roadwork are already drawing developer interest and serious investment potential. In his State of the City address, he said the combined projects "represent over a billion dollars in investment," an estimate that local officials and planners have continued to cite as the waterfront pieces move toward procurement and private deals. Fall River Reporter published the mayor's full remarks.
What's for sale and the catch
MassDOT's sale documents spell out a string of contiguous parcels along Davol Street and make it clear the state plans to hand over the property "as-is," while keeping drainage, utility and other easements that will trim down the truly buildable area. The procurement materials note that most of the land already has utilities stubbed to the parcels, but developers will have to design around retained easements, stormwater basins and public-realm features. For the detailed parcel descriptions, environmental fine print and site maps, see the MassDOT RFI.
Timeline and how to respond
"The Property will be made available to one or more third parties," the RFI explains, laying out a near-term schedule that points to a formal RFP. MassDOT's published timeline shows the RFI going out in January 2026, a pre-submission meeting and site tour in February, RFI responses due on Feb. 27 and a tentative RFP release penciled in for spring 2026. MassDOT RFI also directs would-be developers to the agency's submission portal for required forms and any addenda.
Why developers and neighbors are watching
The walkable parcels sit close to the MBTA's Fall River Depot station, with service that began under South Coast Rail in March 2025. Railway-News and other outlets documented the launch, which reshaped the math for both housing and commercial projects in the area.
At the same time, the city has been moving to broaden housing overlays and streamline transit-oriented rules to make larger developments pencil out, according to recent reporting. Local coverage of how Fall River bets big on housing zones has tracked those zoning shifts.
Developers are expected to comb through the eventual RFP and any state addenda with some care. The site combines transit access, new streets and stubbed utilities with environmental constraints and reserved easements that can complicate early design work and financing. For now, MassDOT and Fall River officials say they are looking for private partners who can deliver mixed-use projects, new housing and public amenities that line up with the city's Davol Street master plan. Local planners argue that the right deal could turn a long-overlooked stretch of waterfront into one of the South Coast's most visible new neighborhoods.
