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Healthy City Fall River Action Priority Summary Page |
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| This is one of five pages that describe an Action Priority that was selected for a focus in 2004. Participants in the Healthy City Summit held on March 25th outlined specific targeted activities that will address one or more identified problems and challenges supported by data indicators. A complete report summarizing all activities specific to this priority area is currently being prepared by members of the Healthy City Fall River Design Team with the assistance of the Healthy City Coordinator. | |
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Community Planning & Housing: This last Area in order of voted priority will focus on the development of goals for 1) affordable housing; 2) waterfront access; and 3) improvements in recreation facilities for youth and adults. |
| The infrastructure of any community dictates much of the fundamental basis for the health of any community. The quality and availability of physical structures are determining factors in maintaining hygiene and preventing disease as well as providing for opportunities for recreation. Though the City has a large number of publicly funded housing units, it also has some challenges and some opportunities in this Area. | |
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Data indicators that support the
recognition of problems and challenges: |
Current activities that are
directed to improvements or problem resolution |
| A high percentage (65%) of housing units are not owner occupied. | The City will continue to expand affordable housing for working families through federal HUD funding. |
| The Massachusetts Citizens and Housing and Planning Association analysis of housing needs in Fall River indicated the need to expand public housing . | The Community Development Agency offers a number of programs that serve the low-income population. The first-time home buyer program provides low-interest loans for purchase or renovation of existing homes. |
| The Mayor's Office plans to follow through with a plan to replace the Watuppa Heights Housing project with 100 units of scattered site low-income, owner-occupied units which will offer the tenants of Watuppa Heights, and many others in our community, better housing opportunities, while allowing for the demolition and transformation of that housing project to begin before the end of this year. | |
| The Fall River Open Space Plan provides a thorough analysis of the environmental challenges for the City of Fall River and surrounding area | In July of 2001, the Mayor's Office announced plans to develop a performing arts center at the State Pier; a tree-lined boulevard to replace Davol Street and elevated Route 79; and a new hotel, train station, boardwalk and bikeway. The Chamber of Commerce Downtown/Waterfront Initiative Committee is helping to coordinate the development of and access to the waterfront area of the city. |
| Over $10 million in Community Development Agency resources are being invested to support 103 affordable apartment units in the City and over 60 additional units are in the planning stage. The HOME program also provides over $1 million for support of new construction and rehabilitation and $3.6 million for the First Time Home Buyers Program.. | |
| The Fall River Open Space Plan provides a thorough analysis of the recreation space and facilities needs for the City of Fall River and surrounding area | The city has been working on a renovation plan for some of the comfort stations in local parks. Students from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School provided the labor while the city paid for the supplies to renovate the Lafayette Park facility.. |
| The Boys and Girls Club of Fall River is currently constructing a Team Center in order to expand their program options and capacity. | |
| The Children's Museum of Greater Fall River, Inc. is seeking a building for their program operations. | |
| Green Futures and the Urban Ecology Institute have developed plans for a Quequechan Valley Bicycle Trail, Greenspace links and corridors and "daylighting" the Quequechan River Falls next to Route 195. | |
| MassHousing, the state’s affordable housing bank, recently approved a $2.5 million loan commitment to build Gage Hill Condominiums, a mixed-income 38-unit home ownership development in Fall River. | |
| Community Action for Better Housing and will be converting the former St. Anne's Priory into 18 low-income apartments for seniors at 818 Middle Street and the former Blessed Sacrament rectory int three family affordable housing units. | |
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Fall River Mayor Edward Lambert, Jr. joined Governor Mitt Romney in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 200,000 square foot state-of-the-art window production and distribution facility for Silver Line Building Products Corporation to be completed in early 2004. |
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The Fall River Office of Economic Development has designated seven areas for economic development including EOA's, a industrial park and a commerce park, waterfront district and several industrial corridors. |
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The Fall River Partnership, a broad-based group of more than 60 volunteers representing industry, education, neighborhoods, community residents and advocates, banking, labor and local and state government, works on such diverse issues as education, regionalization, land development, city management and planning, transportation and community awareness. |
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Click here to access links to web sites that provide helpful information for and about healthy community development. |
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