Three Firms Bid on Fall River Route 79 Project
The state received three development proposals for a 20-acre site near the Route 79 and Davol Street corridor.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Commercial
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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation opened three bids for the redevelopment of a 20-acre site in Fall River. The project aims to anchor nearly $1 billion in local investment near the city's commuter rail station.
Why it matters
The redevelopment is designed to support significant housing growth and commercial activity in the area. It aligns with master plans for 1,480 rental units and 61,000 square feet of commercial space.
The three submitted bids range from $10.34 million to $15.2 million for the 20-acre parcel. The master plan for the corridor targets 1,480 rental units and 2,200 parking spaces.
The players
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
This is the state agency responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of transportation infrastructure in Massachusetts.
The Michaels Organization
This company is a national private sector real estate firm that specializes in housing development and management.
Anthony Cordeiro Properties
This is a local real estate developer with a multi-decade history of projects within the city of Fall River.
The details
Anthony Cordeiro Properties, a joint venture between Mark Development and Wood Partners, and The Michaels Organization submitted the three formal proposals to MassDOT. The project seeks to leverage the infrastructure established by the Fall River commuter rail station that opened in 2025.
Timeline
1994: Anthony Cordeiro Properties began developing properties in Fall River.
2025: The Fall River commuter rail station opened to the public.
July 24, 2026: MassDOT announced the official bidding process.
October 21, 2026: MassDOT opened the three bid proposals at noon.
Culture Shift
The project follows the pattern set by the Massachusetts transit-oriented development master plan to integrate housing and commerce near newly opened transit hubs. This reflects a broader societal shift toward prioritizing density and connectivity in urban planning.
Residents can expect future construction activity along the Route 79 and Davol Street corridor as the state moves forward with the site redevelopment. The eventual addition of 1,000 homes will significantly increase housing capacity within the city.
The takeaway
The competitive bidding process highlights the significant developer interest in revitalizing underutilized land near new public infrastructure. Local observers should monitor upcoming announcements from state officials to see which proposal is selected for the multi-year construction project.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest Commercial trends affecting the local real estate market.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fall River Reporter.
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