There’s no better time to be developer with an eye and an appetite for the Fall River waterfront — now a rolling green space — but soon to be transformed into a vibrant, walkable, multi-use boulevard, and sooner still, to be parceled out at bidding.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation released an official Invitation to Bid on July 24, marking a major milestone for the development of the Route 79-Davol Corridor’s 20-acre frontier, and sending a clear signal that the state-local partnership will remain intact as developers enter the bidding.

MassDOT stated it is seeking proposals that hold the promise of being able to transform a blank canvas of several separate parcels into a vibrant mixed-use district that reflects the community's vision for the Davol Street Corridor.

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan thanked Gov. Maura Healey and state officials “for their continuing commitment” to the Route 79-Davol Street project. “We are excited to see this transformational project at this stage as the future growth and development of these parcels on our city’s waterfront will bring close to $1 billion of investment and open many new economic opportunities for the City of Fall River.”