Fall River City Council approve sale of former Davol school, set to become market rate housing

FALL RIVER ─ At Tuesday’s meeting, the Fall River City Council approved the sale of the former Davol School to a local development company.

In a unanimous vote, with Linda Periera not present, the $150,000 sale to Contractors Landing was given the go-ahead.

The proposal was the lone response to purchase and renovate the 133-year-old historic structure which will become market rate housing.

The project plans on converting the building to at least sixteen units.

The minimum bid for the property was set at $355,000, however, Contractors Landing manager John Ferreira issued a letter as to why the bid was under the minimum.

“Contractors Landing, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “Contractors Landing”) is cognizant that its Price Proposal of $150,000.00 is below the Suggested Minimum Bid Price of $355,000.00. However, Contractors Landing submits that there are significant known and unknown factors that support its proposed price of $150,000.00. 

“First and foremost, the property was previously utilized as a school. The conversion of the existing structure to a multifamily, residential dwelling consisting of sixteen (16) or more units will require a complete overhaul to the building interior. This not only includes the construction of the units, but also the installation of all new plumbing, electric, and HVAC service. There may also be a need to reinforce the structure itself, and this comes at a significant expense. The redevelopment will also require the replacement of all windows, doors, and roof. Again, this all comes at a substantial cost. 

“The “unknown” must also be factored into the cost. At this point, there has not been a thorough inspection of the building and property. When dealing with an older property, it is commonplace to find certain environmental hazards in the structure. The cost of removal of these hazards is often costly. There are also known environmental issues on the exterior, and the cost to address these issues is not yet known. Nevertheless, and based upon Contractors Landing’s past experience, the “clean up” is often very costly. 

“Contractors Landing proposes to convert the structure into a multifamily, residential dwelling consisting of approximately sixteen (16) units (but hopefully more). In order to do so, Contractors Landing will need certain relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Contractors Landing is proposing to purchase the property without the guarantee that it will be able to develop the property in accordance with its proposal, which poses a financial risk. 

“Lastly, the overall cost of construction has significantly increased over the past several years and there have been no signs that the increased prices will abate. The present economic climate is such that there is great volatility in the cost of construction materials and thus, it is difficult to predict construction cost. Given all of these factors (both known and unknown), Contractors Landing respectfully suggests that its Price Proposal of $150,000.00 is fair and reasonable.”

This marks the second attempt by the City of Fall River to sell the former elementary school since reclaiming the property in late 2024. The city regained ownership by exercising a reverter clause in the original sales agreement. This clause allowed the city to take back the building for $1 after the nonprofit Flint Neighborhood Association failed to redevelop it over an extended period. The association had purchased the historic school building in 2014 for just $5,000, with City Council approval, and intended to transform it into a community center. During their ownership, the property was used by a local food pantry, Gates of Hope, and offered monthly paid parking for neighbors. However, after nine years of little to no progress on redevelopment, the city invoked the clause to reverse the sale.

The first attempt to sell the former Davol school drew no bids.