Plans to tear down President Avenue plaza for 350-unit mixed use project is off the table

FALL RIVER — Plans to sell and tear down the Boardwalk Crossing Plaza at 101 President Ave. and build a 350-unit mixed-use high-rise is off the table, according to the property’s owner, Frank Marchione.

“It was mutual,” said Marchione regarding the potential buyer. “Both of us kind of stepped away from the table. They didn’t think it was prudent for what they were going to do. So, it’s off the table.”

Developer 1265 Main Street LLC of Waltham was set to present the plan to the Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals on Dec. 21 to pitch their proposal to develop the property that sits next door to the soon-to-be opened Fall River commuter rail station.

The plan would have replaced the shopping plaza with a seven-story apartment building with about 10,000 square feet of retail and commercial space on the first floor.

What was planned Executive Plaza set to transform along with Fall River's waterfront

The developers were seeking a variance to knock down the plaza and build the mixed-use project and a parking garage. They were also looking for the ZBA to approve variances to wave building height regulations, parking requirements, setbacks and allowed uses in a Local Business and Housing Development Overlay District.

If the development had gotten all the variances from the ZBA, the structure would have been twice the height as allowed under city building codes.

Marchione and his brother and business partner, Nick Marchione, purchased the plaza and completed an extensive renovation at what was once called the Executive Plaza in 2017, and renamed it Boardwalk Crossing.

The property on the corner of President Avenue and Davol Street is also the home of the Al Mac’s Diner, which was reportedly going to stay at the location if the plaza had been redeveloped.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Plaza owners not selling property to make way for giant housing project