Much like the hundreds of other American cities that have witnessed their demise in the post-industrial era, the City of Fall River, Massachusetts now finds itself at a crossroads, seeking to stimulate its economy and replicate its mid-twentieth-century successes. Currently ridden by widespread poverty, complacency, and a sense of internalized shame, the time has come for Fall River to flip the script and start writing a new history. In this toolbox, I lay out ten specific strategies that would greatly help Fall River embark on a new journey, one that embraces the rich history of the city and places a heavy emphasis on the city’s downtown, waterfront, and unique workforce.
I. STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS:
A primary focus of this economic development toolbox revolves around building a strong downtown. Fall River boasted a vibrant downtown district during the industrial era, with pedestrians, vehicles, and streetcars running the North and South Main Street area. To rebuild a strong downtown, one of the biggest steps is not only making it easily accessible through all forms of transit, but also ensuring that it is safe. For that reason, improving streetscape safety is a major priority.
One initiative that is simple and cost-effective is ‘daylighting’, which is a safety measure that “Removes all visual barriers within ten or more feet of a crosswalk or intersection”. Successfully implemented in cities like Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, California, daylighting is a very straightforward improvement to combat traffic-related accidents and improve pedestrian safety. Furthermore, narrow streets and roads across the city can bring forth many benefits. Simply by narrowing streets by eight feet, studies find multiple benefits in terms of “Reducing speeds, increasing safety, and redistributing valuable space to other users”.
Whether by implementing daylighting techniques or narrowing streets for safety and speed reduction, simple, low-hanging streetscape improvements are critical in improving pedestrian safety and mitigating the risk of accidents in the downtown area, which fosters a pedestrian and biker-friendly environment in downtown Fall River. Given the “Positive correlation between improved walkability, raised local retail spend, and enhanced value of local services and goods”, these improvements cannot be underestimated.
“Whether by implementing daylighting techniques or narrowing streets for safety and speed reduction, simple, low-hanging streetscape improvements are critical in improving pedestrian safety and mitigating the risk of accidents in the downtown area, which fosters a pedestrian and biker-friendly environment in downtown Fall River.”
II. STRONG URBAN GREEN SPACE PRESENCE:
In cities where quality green spaces are hard to come by, understanding the benefits of urban parks is important. From an economic perspective, vibrant parks provide opportunities for small businesses to flourish, while also increasing property values in the surrounding areas. Urban green spaces also provide environmental benefits through their effects on “Negating urban heat, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, and attenuating stormwater” as well as by “Providing urban residents spaces for physical activity and social interaction, and allowing psychological restoration to take place”. Parks even go as far as to help combat obesity, mortality rates, and suicide rates, all of which bring forth untoward benefits to the city’s health care system.
In Fall River, the city’s biggest green space, Kennedy Park, lies right outside the heart of downtown, meaning that it is easily accessible to locals and visitors, which presents a great opportunity. The park, which spans 57 acres, is currently home to a baseball field, a pavilion, and recently renovated tennis courts and playgrounds. A popular place for playing basketball or walking a dog, strengthening Kennedy Park, whether it be through the revival of the community pool, planting new vegetation, starting a community garden, adding other recreational areas, hosting performances in the park, or inviting local artists to display their work are just some of the few ways the park can be a vibrant green space.
III. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY GARDENS:
In cities where food deserts plague certain neighborhoods, community gardens are a low-budget and highly effective way to cultivate nutritious food. By granting locals the ability to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, community gardens increase the availability of nutritious foods, strengthen communities, reduce food miles, reduce water runoff, and create a sustainable food source in urban settings. Simply by allocating a plot of land is enough to foster a vast area to welcome a community garden, where ugly and unused spaces can be converted into green and productive food sources.
Across Fall River, certain neighborhoods have been classified as “food deserts”. Typically, in poorer neighborhoods, these food deserts can be combatted with community gardens, which provide healthy and fresh produce to lower-income households who may not have the means to obtain nutritious foods. Not only do community gardens provide food, but they are also an opportunity for locals to mitigate their waste by converting trash into compost. In doing so, waste removal burdens are lessened, food scarcity is reduced, and public health is improved, paying untoward effects by reducing the strain on first responders and medical facilities. Furthermore, gardens can help beautify cities, repurpose vacant land, improve air quality, foster community, and even raise property values across neighborhoods.
“Not only do community gardens provide food, but they are also an opportunity for locals to mitigate their waste by converting trash into compost. In doing so, waste removal burdens are lessened, food scarcity is reduced, and public health is improved, paying untoward effects by reducing the strain on first responders and medical facilities.”
IV. PROMPTING TOURISM THROUGH CULTURE:
Fall River is famously known for being the most Portuguese-American city in the United States, with an estimated 48% of its residents claiming Portuguese ancestry. As a result, Portuguese culture across the city runs rampant, from our world-renowned cuisine to its religious traditions. With dozens of Portuguese markets, restaurants, and churches, taking full advantage of the city’s unique culture as a tool to attract visitors can present a major economic opportunity for the city.
By embracing its reputation as “Little Portugal”, Fall River can harness the strengths of its Portuguese-American community through its distinctive gastronomy, culture, and traditions as a marketing tool to welcome outsiders for the day, or even the weekend. A great first step would be to hire a tourism director to oversee this initiative. Accounting for nearly 40% of the global economy, cultural tourism is a great way for Fall River to boost economic growth and sustainable development, given its role in “Job creation, regeneration of rural and urban areas, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage”. Furthermore, research has found that “Cultural amenities in the form of sights, landmarks, museums, concerts, and shows have a positive impact on tourism demand”. Thus, with the help of a tourism director, the city can partner with Portuguese restaurants to help attract visitors and generate business or alongside local artisans to promote their work to outsiders.
“Accounting for nearly 40% of the global economy, cultural tourism is a great way for Fall River to boost economic growth and sustainable development, given its role in “Job creation, regeneration of rural and urban areas, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage”.
V. DRAFTING A CLIMATE RESILIENCY PLAN:
Located along the Taunton River, Fall River is home to approximately five miles of shoreline exposed to the open ocean, with the rest of the city being constituted of a semi-protected bay. As of late, the city’s sewage and wastewater treatment facilities have continued to deteriorate as a result of aging and underfunding. In the last decade alone, two intense rainstorms contributed to a series of flash flooding that ultimately overwhelmed the city’s rainwater removal systems and resulted in millions of dollars worth of damage. Time and time again, with the prevalence of heavy rains or hurricanes, the city’s aging facilities have proven vulnerable to damage, something that must be properly addressed and funded as Fall River hopes to strengthen.
For this reason, laying out a resiliency plan that places heavy emphasis on planning and prevention will be critical in ensuring the absence of these damages. In a piece I wrote earlier this year, I argue that “Rather than simply responding to flooding incidents by pouring money into rehabilitative projects that place band-aids on a gushing bullet hole, laying out a comprehensive resilience plan for the city’s sewage system would pay dividends by minimizing the number of future incidents by providing sufficient resources and attention needed now. By identifying potential hazards and threats before they arise, mitigation and recovery plans can be formulated to reduce the severity and help the city quickly recover and continue to provide essential services. For a city trying to turn a page in its history book and revive its industrial-era successes in the present day, doing away with its antiquated sewage infrastructure and replacing it with sustainable wastewater treatment will pay dividends for years to come”.
VI. DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS:
Fortunately, downtown Fall River maintains its once-vibrant industrial-era infrastructure. With beautiful historic buildings, walkable streets, and high density, the foundation for rebuilding a lively downtown is in place, but work must start by repairing and keeping up with some of the worn-out and dilapidated infrastructure. This can be accomplished by renovating storefronts, protecting historic buildings, initiating streetscape improvements, and beautifying North and South Main Street with local art and murals.
Bryan, Texas serves as a great example of a city that sufficiently invested in repairing the broken parts of its downtown. After undertaking a multi-million dollar project to revitalize downtown, city planners placed heavy emphasis on “Historic lighting, trees, furnishing and sidewalk improvements, the restoration of historic buildings, the preservation of its cultural district, and the incentivization to attract ground-floor activities, such as restaurants, antique stores, and entertainment and cultural amenities”. In the years following these revitalization efforts, city officials cite that they have witnessed steady growth, attributing the “Landscape improvements and city marketing as the main causes of the increasing land values in that period”, indicating the success of the investment.
Looking back on Fall River, repairing and strengthening downtown similarly to Bryan, Texas, or South Bend, Indiana can make significant strides in making the area more visibly appealing and attractive to outsiders hoping to spend the day in the city. By preserving these beautiful historic buildings and converting some of them into mixed-use buildings with storefronts, downtown Fall River can be a big tourist attraction, ideally like Church Street in Burlington, VT, or Main Street in Northampton, MA.
“With beautiful historic buildings, walkable streets, and high density, the foundation for rebuilding a lively downtown is in place, but work must start by repairing and keeping up with some of the worn-out and dilapidated infrastructure.”
VII. REIMAGINING EMS:
Most people view police, fire, and EMS departments as “responsive” services offered by cities. After all, whether it is responding to shootings, putting out fires, or transporting cardiac arrest victims to hospitals, first responders are critical in responding to 911 calls and helping people remain safe and healthy. However, as somebody who has worked as a first responder, adopting a new mentality, one that views emergency response systems as “preventative” rather than “responsive”, can make countless impacts on a city like Fall River.
Reimagining the way in which EMS does business can bring forth so many benefits. In Massachusetts, select municipalities have begun to bring their services outside the ambulance and emergency room, through Mobile Integrated Health Care (MIH) and Community EMS (CEMS). Ultimately, by partnering with local healthcare providers, MIH services would entail frequent home visits to at-risk residents, such as recently-discharged surgery patients. Given that post-operation patients have substantially higher rates of medical emergencies, MIH programs allow paramedics and EMTs to do home visits and check in on patients to try and identify risks and red flags before an emergency arises.
With heavily-funded and resourced MIH programs, there is a strong opportunity for healthcare landscapes to be revamped. Not only would home visits by EMS departments improve overall patient care and well-being, but it also lessens the workload in emergency rooms, reduces the strain on first responders, makes the department more money to invest in services, and saves hospitals and patients alike millions of dollars annually on re-admission and “frequent flyers”.
VIII. PARKING MAXIMUMS & LOT RE-PURPOSING:
In the United States, there are an estimated eight parking spots for each registered vehicle. In fact, surface parking alone constitutes more than five percent of all urban land in the United States, representing an “Area greater than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined”. Not only is parking wasteful, but it is also estimated to occupy ⅕ of the land in a downtown area. In downtown Fall River, which is in need of revitalization, addressing wasteful parking lots that occupy valuable space is of the utmost importance.
Unnecessary parking is not just wasteful, but it is expensive. Not only does it require lots of maintenance, but it also creates runoff, flooding, and makes cities far less walkable, which inherently weakens the vibrancy of a downtown. In Fall River, implementing parking maximums to limit the number of vacant parking spaces is a big push that would liberate lots of space for activities, such as murals, community gardens, or outdoor gardens. In a Strong Towns report, it was found that “Curbside patios produced 49 times more revenue than what would have been earned from parking fees”. Thus, looking towards removing any unnecessary and wasteful parking and replacing it with repurposed land for businesses or outdoor dining would inherently increase the value of the area and bring far more vibrancy than sheets of asphalt.
“In a Strong Towns report, it was found that “Curbside patios produced 49 times more revenue than what would have been earned from parking fees”.
IX. MAKING FALL RIVER A 24-HOUR CITY:
For young adults and middle-aged residents of Fall River, finding fun things to do is not an easy task. Apart from a couple of breweries, there is little-to-no nightlife in the city, which oftentimes deters people from visiting the city. As a soon-to-be college graduate, the lack of fun activities even prompts some of my friends to want to move to a more vibrant, young adult-friendly city. As a result, not many college-educated students from Fall River want to remain there. This lack of nightlife is something that Fall River should seek to address sooner than later.
For starters, investing in bars, speakeasies, music venues, arts centers, and nightclubs, are just a couple of ways in which younger crowds and audiences can have things to do at nighttime. After all, studies have shown that, “A more vibrant nightlife plays a significant role in the overall local economy”. As this toolbox seeks to strengthen downtown, what better way to do so than by making the North and South Main Street areas vibrant beyond the traditional nine-to-five?
To accompany recruiting locally-owned businesses to open up shop downtown at night, finding out ways to extend public transit after-hours is another pivotal piece of the puzzle. All in all, however, understanding the financial implications of a lively nightlife in Fall River cannot be taken for granted and must be up there on the priority list.
“For starters, investing in bars, speakeasies, music venues, arts centers, and nightclubs, are just a couple of ways in which younger crowds and audiences can have things to do at nighttime. After all, studies have shown that, “A more vibrant nightlife plays a significant role in the overall local economy”.
X. SELLING A SHARED VISION:
Lastly, the final tool of community economic development in Fall River is arguably the most important; Selling a shared vision. In a city where residents combat internalized shame and a sense of failure, there is a real pessimism in the air that clouds the successes taking place. Every time new developments arise, the shared sentiments on Facebook groups or at neighborhood meetings entail how soon people expect the project to fail. For years, between failed developments, corrupt elected officials, and a heavily stigmatized reputation, Fall River and its residents have struggled to mount pride and excitement about its revival.
For that reason, the most important thing that we as planners, developers, politicians, or engaged citizens can do in Fall River is to neglect these feelings of shame and failure and start writing a new, shared narrative, one focused on the amazing things that take place in the city. Similarly to how El Paso Heights has struggled to move past its stigmatization, Fall River must overcome the notion that the city is ridden with poverty and crime and instead highlight the strong sense of community, the Portuguese culture, and the potential that comes with the construction of two new state-of-the-art high schools and the commuter rail.
At the end of the day, none of my previous nine tools for economic development mean anything if the people it directly affects are not excited or sharing the vision. For that reason, placing significant emphasis on community outreach and civic engagement to include all populations across the city is imperative. Before Fall River can reach its new heights and get to where it wants to be, it needs to sell a vision and overcome its sense of internal shame and failure.
“At the end of the day, none of my previous nine tools for economic development mean anything if the people it directly affects are not excited or sharing the vision”
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