Engineers Warn of Fall River Parking Garages Structural Problems, $13 Million In Repairs Needed

FALL RIVER ─ Risk of fallen concrete. Hollow sounding beams. Signs of significant deterioration of ramp walls. Inadequate load transfer.

Those are just some of the determinations found in structural assessments conducted by the engineering company Tighe & Bond to completely renovate the two city-owned parking garages on Pearl and Third street, according to two studies dated Oct. 2, 2024.

And it could cost the city upwards of $13 million to completely repair the two downtown garages according to the engineering firm’s cost analysis from last year.

Another report outlining more in-depth structural concerns was issued by the engineering company in June, that include restricting even more access to areas of the Pearl Street structure.

Administration is putting plans together

Mayor Paul Coogan said last week that interim City Administrator Michael Dion is working on an analysis and recommendations that will likely be forwarded to the City Council in the coming days.

“It’s going to be done in phases. It’s such a big number,” said Coogan. “The first phase will address the more concerning problems, and they are the bigger bills.”

Phase I would include the structural issues at the Pearl Street garage and at the Third Street facility, said Coogan.

“But we’re going to hit Pearl Street first,” said Coogan.

According to data by the administration, Pearl Street garage has approximately 300 spaces, with 113 shuttered by the city over safety concerns over time.

The Third Street garage has approximately 270 parking spaces, however, like Pearl Street, the city has closed 120 spaces for public safety.

An average of 270 parking passes is sold monthly at Pearl Street, and an average 175 parking passes are sold monthly at Third Street.

Long history of poor maintenance

The pair of parking garages have been the topic of safety concerns by city officials for years, and their structural integrity has been reviewed by engineering experts and building inspectors several times over at least the last decade.

Originally owned by the city, the Fall River Redevelopment Authority (RDA) took over ownership then handed the garages back to the city in early January 2019 under former Mayor Jasiel Correia II. At the time, the administration argued that repairs could be funded by MassDevelopment grants or assistance from the city’s state delegation. Funding that was never granted for any improvement projects.

In May 2017, the city’s building inspector at the time shuttered the top two decks at the Third Street garage after a structural report cited structural damage and years of lack of maintenance.

Likewise, the top level of the Pearl Street facility has been shut down for years due to structural concerns.

At the time, engineering studies had been conducted on both structures.

Fast track to 2022, when tall, wooden Jenga-like supports appeared in the Pearl Street garage on all levels of the four-story facility.

Director of Inspectional Services Glenn Hathaway ordered them installed after he became concerned with the structural integrity of the decades-old concrete building. 

A study of the structural integrity of the two parking garages was ordered at the time.

More recently, yellow caution tape appeared at Pearl Street garage, cording off all the parking spaces on the North side wall on the second and third level. Caution tape also cordoned off spots along a shear wall on the first level.

“It is likely that portions of the concrete will separate from the wall and could fall onto vehicles parked in front of this wall,” according to the June report.

 Hathaway said he put up the barrier after receiving the memo from Tighe & Bond in June that identified the areas of concern.

The June report also noted that “during our site visit, we noticed that the current wood cribbing/shoring of the double tees at the roof level is not tight to the elements above.”

The engineers recommended that shims between the top of the shoring and the underside of the structure installed “to ensure the load is adequately transferred.”

What did the October 2024 reports say and how much each repair cost?

Included in the report for the Third Street garage, photographs show exposed rebar, once repaired cracks reopened, and a southeast stair tower blocked off by a gate and chain lock due to safety issues are a few of the concerns brought by engineers.

The findings of the report “emphasize the critical need for a comprehensive repair and maintenance strategy to restore the structural integrity of the Third Street Parking Garage,” and calling for immediate action on the recommended repairs.

The engineers estimate probable construction costs were based on high priority, medium priority and low priority at nearly $3 million, $1.42 million and $1.6 million respectively and totaling $5.18 million according

Although the engineers’ assessment of the Pearl Street garage appears to have similar but less concerning structural issues, the conclusion also emphasizes the critical need for repairs.

Again, the engineers divided costs as high, medium and low priorities at $2.29 million, $1.38 million and $1.5 respectively at a total cost of $5.17 million.