Mayor Will Flanagan and Lt. Governor Tim Murray announced funding on April 15, 2010 for clean-up and redevelopment of the contaminated state pier site along Davol Street just south of Point Gloria. Approximately two million dollars will be available to clean up PCB contamination at the site to prepare development of the 4½-acre site along the Heritage State Park boardwalk. According to the Herald News, "the state grant funds would be made available to the city Redevelopment Authority, the property owner, after federal and state environmental officials approve a plan to clean up and cap the toxic concentrations identified on site." According to Fall River Office of Economic Development spokesman Kenneth Fiola, PCBs were detected after the mile-long boardwalk was built between Heritage State Park and the Point Gloria, ranging from 4-5 inches up to 1½ feet deep in some places during preliminary remediation studies. The site was once the location of marina before the city took the property by eminent domain for waterfront development. The City plan calls for the removal of the Route 79 access road and expansion of the land in cooperation with the state. Click here for the complete Herald News article. For more information, contact the Fall River Office of Economic Development at 508-324-2620. (Photos courtesy Julie Kelly)
 

(Top row) Mayor Flanagan is joined by Fall River Office of Economic Development executive vice president Kenneth Fiola, Carpenter's Union shop steward Ron Rheaume, City Councilor Ray Mitchell, Fall River Redevelopment Authority chairman Bill Kenny, Lt. Governor Tim Murray, City Corporation Counsel Steven Torres and State Representative Kevin Aguiar. (Middle and bottom row, left) Pedro Amaral, aide to State Representative Michael Rodrigues, and Dan Rapoza watch the news conference from the sidewalk that connects the boardwalk to Point Gloria. (Middle row, right) Ken Fiola describes the challenges ahead in developing the property.  (Bottom row, right) City Councilor Ray Mitchell, former property owner Tom Koolen, and Harbormaster Roland Proux pose for a photo.