It was learned a few days ago that the City of Fall River may have a taker on the Bank Street Armory.

The City of Fall River initially wanted the armory to be converted into an arts and entertainment venue, but Main Street Property had stated that concept is financially prohibitive and would negatively impact the Narrows Center nearby.

Main Street Property planned to invest $13.6 million into developing the armory and had stated they would be open to designating 20% of the apartments as "affordable". Full details including diagrams can be viewed on the July 18, 2023 Fall River City Council agenda.

Fast forward to August.

Alexander Silva of The Preservation Society of Fall River told Fall River Reporter that his organization and The Historical Commission will make recommendations on how the property should be used, with the decision ultimately coming down to Mayor Coogan and the City Council.

Now in November, it has been learned that the American Numismatic Society has been in talks with Mayor Paul Coogan to move its operation from New York City into the Bank Street Armory in Fall River.

Coogan told FRC Media that he spoke with ANS and a gentleman told him some of the challenges they have and that the City could work through them.

"It would be a tremendous asset to downtown Fall River if this company would relocate from New York City."

Coogan went on to say that the cost of ANS doing business in New York City is prohibitive and they want to move here and has been through the building two or three times, and they have an architect reviewing plans.

The mayor believes that it is about a 50/50 chance that they relocate to the Bank Street Armory and Fall River will do anything they can to encourage ANS to relocate here.

To read the complete article, see:
City of Fall River may have found a use for the Bank Street Armory(https://fallriverreporter.com/city-of-fall-river-may-have-found-a-use-for-the-bank-street-armory/)

Sydney F. Martin Executive Director Dr. Ute Wartenberg Kagan writes:

For more information about the American Numismatic Society, see:
https://numismatics.org/