NEW BEDFORD – The plans for New Bedford State Pier’s redevelopment continue to be a work in progress but it would appear the Cuttyhunk Ferry will remain come heck or high water.
That was a relief to most of the audience who attended MassDevelopment’s public meeting July 1 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Auditorium to present a draft study of possible State Pier tenants in the future.
When Cuttyhunk Ferry supporters were asked to stand, about two-thirds of the audience rose.
The study by consultant Utile Inc. of Boston took a look at seven proposals for State Pier presented to MassDevelopment last spring, including to continue Cuttyhunk’s operations on the pier.
The eight-acre pier is owned by the state.
When Cuttyhunk Ferry supporters were asked to stand, about two-thirds of the audience rose.
Montigny and Markey say Cuttyhunk’s not going anywhere
State Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, and Rep. Chris Markey, D-New Bedford, were asked point blank if Cuttyhunk would be allowed to stay.
Montigny, who has championed state bonding authorizations and law to redevelop the New Bedford State Pier into a mixed-use facility since 2008, said, “I wrote the legislation. I put $35 million aside. MassDevelopment doesn’t have the authority to arbitrarily make these decisions. They have to consult with the state representatives and myself – and it ain’t going to happen.”
Markey said, “Nobody has said that the Ferry is going to go away. Do not stress about that.” He added that ultimately it might not have the same amount of parking spaces as now, “but the idea that this Ferry is going to go somewhere else is hogwash.”
It would take two state piers to accommodate all proposals
Tim Love, co-founder of Utile Inc., said they had worked on the study for about six months.
He said the challenge – and why they had been called in by MassDevelopment – is that everyone, existing and future tenants, had asked for more space than they have today.
It would take two state piers to accommodate them as presented.
Their conclusions include making sure the various uses are mutually compatible and beneficial, that pedestrian and vehicular traffic be clearly separated, that shared and well-managed parking could be implemented to free up more space, and that the State Pier should complement the character of downtown New Bedford, especially on the western edge facing Union Street across Route 18 and MacArthur Drive.
He said a short-term plan could be to move Cuttyhunk Ferry to the north side of the Pier to share space with Seastreak Ferries while the south bulkhead is under construction, which is planned. Parking would be shared.
A restaurant and retail use could be developed on the western, downtown-facing side.
Montigny said the one good thing about the delays was coming up with a better end product. “When this is done it will have been worth the wait.”
Study recommends consolidating Cuttyhunk and Seastreak
He said they recommend consolidating the two ferries in the long term, as well, on either the north or south side to improve truck and pedestrian traffic.
He added that they also recommend not deciding immediately.
It’s a private-public partnership, and the response of private users and investors to the plans will be part of making them a success, Love said.
He said the idea is to clarify a line between a happy public getting the ferries, going to a restaurant, and coming from the downtown to shop and marine industrial uses.
“The long range plans we presented this evening are not going to happen immediately,” but can provide a roadmap for public and private investment, Love said.
No timetable available as yet
When asked about a specific timetable, Robert Jenkins, MassDevelopment senior vice president of real estate development, declined to provide dates. “This is part of the process.”
Servedwell Hospitality owner Steve Silverstein, who is proposing a new restaurant on State Pier, said he thought the meeting was productive. “I’m glad to see the progress. I thought it was a good meeting.” Though, he added, he wanted to see a more “robust” redevelopment. “And I think it will get there.”
Montigny said the one good thing about the delays was coming up with a better end product. “When this is done it will have been worth the wait.”
The consultant said New Bedford State Pier should complement the character of downtown New Bedford, especially on the western edge facing Union Street across Route 18 and MacArthur Drive.
The seven proposals – as they were provided to MassDevelopment last spring – are:
Cuttyhunk Ferry Co. to continue providing ferry service to Cuttyhunk Island from State Pier. Cuttyhunk Ferry Co., the town of Gosnold, which includes Cuttyhunk Island, and the Buzzards Bay Coalition, which owns 317 acres of the mile-and-a-half by three-quarter-mile island, are partners in seeking a long-term lease from MassDevelopment to continue and add to its operations from State Pier. Capt. Jono Billings owns the ferry company with his wife, Sue. Billings said they wanted to lease 67,000 square feet of the pier in the southwest corner, which includes the area reserved for the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey. They would operate in cooperation with Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey. The space would include 70 parking spaces. An estimated 20,000 people per year make the trip back and forth by the Cuttyhunk Ferry. The ferry also brings freight, food, medicine, fuel, and mail to the island, which has a year-round population of under 100.
Seastreak Ferries for continued use of the North Wharf and East Wharf and development of a café and merchandise retail space. Seastreak began offering high-speed ferry service from New Bedford State Pier in 2005. By 2023, 175,000 people were coming in and out of Seastreak’s New Bedford State Pier terminal per year. The company, which has headquarters in New Jersey and operates in New York and New Jersey as well as New England, operates 10 high-speed ferries. They say they need their parking area but don’t need any additional terminal space from what they use now. They also want to develop a café with a full-service kitchen and a retail shop in the current terminal building. That would require a five-year lease to justify the expenditure.
Servedwell Hospitality for a 6,500-square-foot restaurant. Owner Steve Silverstein says his proposed restaurant on State Pier — Homeport — would attract 200,000 people a year. It’s a $5 million project, he said. Servedwell Hospitality has invested almost $15 million in New Bedford in the last six years, Silverstein said during his presentation last spring. It employs about 500 people. Homeport’s 6,500-square-feet would seat 300, feature roof-deck dining and include two bars. It would employ 125 people at peak season. He added they wouldn’t be looking for state help in financing the $5 million proposal.
American Cruise Lines, headquartered in Guilford, Conn., made 25 stops in New Bedford in 2023, 36 last year and is expected to make 56 in 2025, company officials said. They’re proposing “New Bedford Cruise Gateway,” a park-like facility on the southern side of New Bedford State Pier. They say it would be designed to connect their passengers to New Bedford’s historic downtown and tourism attractions. It would include green space, vehicle access from MacArthur Drive, pedestrian access from Union Street, and a turnaround for passenger buses taking guests to and from excursions. ACL travels U.S. waters in 35 states, including rivers, and focuses on small towns with rich histories.
BASE Seafoods for a seafood auction and off-loading facility, as well as a location for the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and a seafood market. They say their $15 million proposal will promote economic growth and education, wrapped up in a destination-style attraction. BASE, the seafood auction house founded in New Bedford in 1994, would off-load the incoming catch at the pier, and then hold its daily seafood auctions before the scallops and fish are sent on their way to myriad outlets. All in view of the visiting public. Cassie Canastra, BASE CEO, and Laura Orleans, founding executive director of New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, made the presentation last spring. The proposal is for 400 feet along the waterfront to offload the fish, which would provide enough room to offload up to four boats at a time. They will be employing 56 people.
Coast Line Transfers for leasing and transformation of the East Wharf and Buildings 1 and 2, aiming to revitalize cargo operations and expand offshore wind support. Their focus is on crew-transfer vessels, as well as offshore supply vessels, and they provide support to marine services in southern New England. CLT, which is operating from the State Pier now, proposes the use of existing Buildings 1 and 2, including about 2.3 acres of pier space in all. They want to continue to develop their relationship with the offshore wind industry while providing a hub for marine industrial activity, as well as rejuvenate the cargo offloading in the facility. There is 20,000 square feet on Building 1’s first floor they’re focused on. The other 5,000 square feet is occupied by Seastreak. They don’t want to push Seastreak out. Their proposal will generate 120 jobs, they said.
New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal and PACE to support the offshore wind industry with a marine warehouse and technical training facility. Foss Marine’s proposal for State Pier will supplement its warehouse operations at the nearby 29-acre New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal. That entails acquiring control of building 1 on State Pier. The 28,000-square-foot first floor includes 6,000 square feet occupied by Seastreak ferries. The Foss proposal takes that into consideration, they say. They would want only 22,000 square feet for the warehouse operation. The building’s 28,000-square-foot second floor would be developed into a basic technical training facility where people can learn how to work in the offshore wind business.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford State Pier redevelopment plans still a work in progress