CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026
7:00 PM

CITY HALL, 133 WILLIAM STREET
NEW BEDFORD, MA 02740
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SECOND FLOOR, ROOM 214

NOTE: THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED.  CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS CAN BE VIEWED ON THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD’S HOMEPAGE UNDER QUICK LINKS, THEN MEETINGS.

REVISED AGENDA

AGENDA ITEMS:

1.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Pemberton and Abreu, requesting, that Mr. Paul Brooks Jr., Director of Real Estate and Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, appear before the Committee on City Property, to discuss the feasibility of leasing the Diocese’s 25,000 square foot parking lot on the corner of Ashley Boulevard and Earle Street to the City of New Bedford for municipal parking purposes. (To be Referred to the Committee on City Property, Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River, Mitchell Administration, and Purchasing Department.) (Matter ID #0029) (Referred – January 08, 2026.)

 

INVITEES: Paul Brooks Jr., Director of Real Estate and Development, Fall River Roman Catholic Diocese; Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Molly Gilfeather-Rodrigues, Purchasing Director; Atty. Eric Jaikes, City Solicitor; Representative, Mayor’s Office

2.   WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Pemberton and Oliver, requesting, that the Committee on City Property meet to begin the process of disposition for the Phillips Avenue Elementary School, located at 249 Phillips Avenue. (Matter ID #0030) (Referred – January 08, 2026.)

 

INVITEES: Joshua Amaral, Director, Housing & Community Development; Representative, Mayor’s Office

 

With regard to items #3, #3a, #3b and #3c, pursuant to M.G.L. c.30A, Sec. 21, the City Property Committee may enter into Executive Session to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property should the Chair determine that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the City’s negotiating position.

3.   COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (DRAFT), for the redevelopment of a portion of the municipally owned Whaling City Golf Course as an Advanced Manufacturing Campus (AMC). (Matter ID #0090) (Referred – January 23, 2025.) (February 20, 2025 – tabled) (March 19, 2025 – Remain in Committee)

 

3a. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, (DRAFT), for the redevelopment of a portion of the municipally owned Whaling City Golf Course as an Advanced Manufacturing Campus (AMC). (Matter ID #0091) (Referred – January 23, 2025.)  (February 20, 2025 – tabled) (March 19, 2025 – VOTE: To determine that the property is not needed for municipal purposes; VOTE That the City offer the property for lease; VOTE: That the Purchasing Dept. proceed with issuing the RFP; VOTE: That the City also offer the property for potential sale; Remain in Committee.)

 

3b. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, in conjunction with the REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (DRAFT), for the redevelopment of a portion of the municipally owned Whaling City Golf Course as an Advanced Manufacturing Campus (AMC), requesting that the Committee on City Property vote to authorize the Planning Department to conduct an appraisal of the property being contemplated for potential disposition and authorize the Planning Department to conduct a survey of all City departments to determine whether the property is needed for municipal purposes. (Matter ID #0092) (Referred – January 23, 2025.) (February 20, 2025 – VOTE: To authorize the Planning Department to conduct an appraisal of the property being contemplated for potential disposition; VOTE: That the Committee on City Property send a communication to all City departments to determine whether the property is needed for municipal purposes; tabled) (March 19, 2025 – VOTE: To determine that the property is not needed for municipal purposes; VOTE: That the City offer the property for lease; VOTE: That the Purchasing Dept. proceed with issuing the RFP; VOTE: That the City also offer the property for potential sale; Remain in Committee.)

 

3c.  PROPOSAL, Charter Development Company, LLC submitting a proposal in response to the City’s RFP for the creation of an Advanced Manufacturing Campus (AMC) of a portion of the municipally owned Whaling City Golf Course. (February 5, 2026 – the office received proposal via the Purchasing Department and sent to all Councillors.)

INVITEES: Joshua Amaral, Director, Housing & Community Development; Jennifer Carloni, Director, Planning Department; John Costello, CBRE Valuation Services; Robert Ekstrom, Chief Financial Officer; Atty. David Gerwatowski, Legal Counsel; Molly Gilfeather-Rodrigues, Purchasing Director; Andrew Julian, RND Consultants Inc.; Robert McNeil, Northeast Golf Company; Neil Mello, Chief of Staff, Mayor's Office; Mary Rapoza, Director, Parks, Recreation & Beaches; Derek Santos, Executive Director, Economic Development Council; Atty. Jonathan Silverstein, Blatman, Bobrowski, Haverty & Silverstein, LLC; Shawn Syde, City Engineer, Department of Public Infrastructure; Jennifer Vieira, Director, Department of Facilities and Fleet Management; Peter Winters, Associate City Solicitor

 

COMMUNICATION - RFP - Advanced Manufacturing Campus (AMC).pdf
RFP - Advanced Manufacturing Campus (AMC).pdf
COMMUNICATION - AMC Procedural Actions.pdf
PROPOSAL DISPOSITION OF 100 ACRE AMC-PROPOSAL-CHARTER DEVELOPMENT.pdf

 

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if any accommodations are needed, please contact the City Council Office at 508-979-1455.  Requests should be made as soon as possible but at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.