NEW BEDFORD — MassDevelopment re-issued a request for proposals on Monday to redevelop the 8-acre State Pier, months after the quasi-state agency provisionally accepted but then rejected a proposal from a group of local businesses earlier this year.
The request for proposals is the first step in an effort to revitalize what city and state officials say is a central but “underutilized” piece of New Bedford waterfront.
MassDevelopment’s request asks applicants to consider the City of New Bedford’s vision of a “pedestrian streetscape” with retail and dining. The main entrance to the pier, which sits across from Union Street, should be “inviting for a pedestrian experience,” the state request says.
New proposals to redevelop the state-owned property should incorporate existing uses, the request says, such as temporary docking for commercial fishing vessel repair and maintenance, as well as support for commercial shipping and cargo operations.
The earlier proposal included a restaurant overlooking the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey, an operations hub for the offshore wind industry, and a fish auction house where the public could see the daily catch being offloaded. That proposal was drawn up by Taber’s Wharf Partners, which was initially selected by MassDevelopment.
The group’s vision earned support from Mayor Jon Mitchell, who has spoken of the State Pier as an underutilized asset that should be better incorporated with the city.
The group involved several locals, including restaurateur Steve Silverstein; Ed Washburn, the former director of the New Bedford Port Authority and current managing director of Coast Line Transfers; and Cassie Canastra, director of operations at BASE. Washburn said on Tuesday he is still reviewing the request for proposals, and that Taber’s Wharf Partners has no comment at this time.
According to MassDevelopment, factors outside of its control, including state law, precluded the agency from proceeding with Taber’s Wharf Partners’ proposal. This included the need for “significant public investment” in structural repairs and an offsite parking garage. MassDevelopment also said the group sought a 10-year use exclusive period prior to commencing a 35-year lease, which the agency said was not allowed by law.
In the new RFP, MassDevelopment identifies some limitations and restrictions. No person or entity can be permitted exclusive use of the pier. Only up to 20% of the pier may be used to support offshore wind development and operations.
The committee reviewing the new proposals will evaluate several criteria: whether a proposal avoids conflict with other uses; whether it preserves or expands water-dependent uses like shipping, cargo and dockage for commercial fishing; the extent to which it allows pedestrian access and connects to downtown New Bedford; whether it has local support; and how financially feasible it is, including how much public investment is needed to achieve it.
“The State Pier is Greater New Bedford’s most underutilized parcel of property,” said Mitchell in a statement Tuesday. “We’ve been working on redeveloping the pier for a decade in keeping with the plan forged by the waterfront stakeholder group, and I am excited that the Healey-Driscoll administration is moving ahead with the effort along the same lines.”
The state delegation lodged strong criticism of MassDevelopment during the last bidding round over its selection of Taber’s Wharf Partners, stating its process for reviewing and selecting the group’s proposal lacked transparency and opportunity for public input.
At least one official is still expressing concern about it.
“While I am greatly encouraged by MassDevelopment’s efficiency in producing this RFP, I remain concerned that their proposed process does not include a public forum to solicit community feedback so that we do not encounter any further delay,” said state Sen. Mark Montigny in a statement.
The initial RFP was put out in April 2022. In that round, the agency received three bids.
“State Pier presents one of the most exciting economic development opportunities in New Bedford,” Montigny said, “and I remain optimistic that we will redevelop this severely underutilized asset in a way that is in complete alignment with my fifteen-year vision.”
The deadline to submit development proposals is Feb. 28, 2024, with a target selection by MassDevelopment in March or April.
MassDevelopment did not provide additional comment on the RFP.
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
Our city should look at cities and towns in New England such as Portland, Provincetown, and others. A lot of small Ki-osk’s to showcase our artisans. Food courts to showcase our city’s diverse cultural Foods.
I hope they also promote a bike friendly option. By making the area bike friendly and with the addition of bike lanes to the Route 6 bridge, the state pier and Union Street can attract cyclists to downtown New Bedford and offer tourists who come to NB via commuter rail (for sightseeing or for the island ferry) access to the beach at Fort Phoenix State Park.