News & Events

This project will reduce the tax burden on residents and businesses by over $10 million over the course of 30 years as well as reduce energy cost for low to moderate income households. We look forward to the completion of this project!

In addition, the City will be rolling out RFP's for two additional solar projects at Chamberlain Elementary School and the Water Treatment Plant in the coming weeks. 

Taunton's Whittenton Mills Complex is being eyed for a massive 390-unit apartment complex.

“This is our white whale,” said Jay Pateakos, director of Taunton’s Office of Economic and Community Development, about the challenges of the 42-acre former industrial site at the City Council as a Whole meeting on Aug. 27. 

Pateakos recalled the city's hosting an open house at the site and six developers walked away halfway through the presentation because “it was too difficult to develop" due to all the dilapidated buildings and environmental contamination. 

Who's the developer?

Enter global housing developer, Greystar, who not only wants to take on the challenge, but has the resources to pull it off. 

Pateakos told the Gazette if this gets fully approved, it will be the biggest housing development the city has ever seen.

Ryan Souls, senior director of development for Greystar, said the company has been looking at the site — at 437 Whittenton St. — intermittently over the last two years, and its attraction to the site comes down to a belief in “growth opportunities for the area” and the desire to deliver “attainable housing to areas that have been historically undersupplied.”

Lots of amenities and retail space

The early conceptual plan for the site envisions 10 buildings with a total of 390 units.

Sixty-two percent of the units will be one-bedroom, with the remaining being two- and three-bedroom units. 

Additional features being considered for the site include a pool area, a playground, walking trails, a public park/pavilion area, a couple acres of open space to be used for recreational activities, like pickleball, soccer, and basketball, and several acres set aside for new retail and commercial space. 

Souls said the development won’t be a gated community, and all the recreational and commercial/retail space will be open to the public.

How much will rent be?

All 390 units are categorized as market-rate housing.

Souls said there will be no income restrictions for the units, but the primary demographic is middle-income singles, couples, and families making at least 80% Area Median Income (AMI).

Souls emphasizes pricing is based on current market rates. Completion of this development is years away, but early estimates for one-bedroom units are $1,950 a month.

Why no affordable housing?

Souls told the Council that with such a massive undertaking with a site having such challenges to deal with, there are revenue goals the company has to meet “to make it work, from an investment perspective.” 

Greystar, he said, intends on sticking to reasonable rates across the inventory of housing units by yielding to the lower end of market-rate pricing, rather than sticking to subsidizing a small percentage of units, he said. 

Souls also said Greystar, who will also be the property manager, will employ an additional restriction that rent increases, when done, will not exceed 3% annually. 

$150 million project

The total project cost is estimated at $150 million. 

That number includes up to $5 million in demolition costs for the whole site and as much as $9.5 million in remediation efforts related to brownfield contamination and asbestos cleanup.

Tax break for developer

On Aug. 27, the City Council approved for Greystar a tax increment exemption (TIE) agreement, which excludes a portion of real estate taxes for an agreed-upon time.

Greystar will get a tax break of $16.29 million over the course of 20 years. 

Souls argued the money saved from the TIE agreement will recoup the costs of Whittenton Mills' demolition and cleanup.

Earlier this year, the City approved a TIE Agreement for a 275 market-rate unit project at 1141 County St., located directly next to the MBTA South Coast Rail Station under construction.

Benefits to the city

Souls from Greystar said the company estimates the city will bring in a lot more revenue from the project than the tax break. He provided the following estimates:

• Estimated property taxes over 20 years — $19.1 million
• Estimated excise taxes over 20 years — $2 million
• Estimated permit and connection fees — $1.5 million
• Estimated new retail and commercial growth — $1 million

That's a total estimated new revenue to Taunton over 20 years of $23.6 million, according to the developer.

Taunton, MA – Mayor Shaunna O’Connell proudly announces the City of Taunton has achieved a remarkable milestone in securing grant funding, with a total of $7,345,466 received over the past five years. This funding has been instrumental in supporting various projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for Taunton residents.

The grant funding received by Taunton each year is as follows:

• 2020: $352,662
• 2021: $477,000
• 2022: $1,112,307
• 2023: $2,173,086
• 2024: $3,230,411

Mayor O’Connell expressed enthusiasm about this notable accomplishment. "We have set a new record in grant funding for our city. In the aftermath of COVID, our team has increased grant funding close to 1000%. These grants help us fund projects without adding to the burden of the taxpayers. The substantial increase in grant funding over the past five years is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our city officials and staff. Many city employees are actively involved in the grants process, and I am particularly grateful to our former Grants Coordinator, TJ Torres, and current Grants Manager, Heather Rios, for their contributions to this significant achievement," said O'Connell.

Grant funds have been allocated to a range of impactful projects, including enhancing infrastructure such as roads and bridges, supporting community development and local businesses, investing in public safety resources for police and fire departments, and expanding access to healthcare and social services for vulnerable populations.

"We are committed to continuing our efforts to secure additional funding and resources that will

benefit our city," Mayor O’Connell added. "The support of our state and federal partners, as well as the collaboration of our local community organizations, has been instrumental in increasing our grant funding opportunities."

The O’Connell Administration looks forward to building on this success and leveraging future grant opportunities to continue to save taxpayers' money and support and advance the progress being made in the City of Taunton.

 Ty Moore has a strong connection with soul food cooking. Not just because of her family’s Mississippi roots.  But also as a reflection of her personality.

“I’m big on being a light for people. I try and give off a warm aura. I’m always smiling,” Moore said.

Moore relates with soul food cuisine’s mission of bringing people together and spreading happiness. 

“Food brings people together.  If I can do that with food and my smile, and my personality, so be it. Love transcends,” Moore said.

Moore intends on giving everyone the opportunity to “taste the love in the dish” when she opens up her Southern soul food restaurant, Nytia’s Soul Kitchen, in downtown Taunton late this summer. 

What's on the menu?

The menu for Nytia’s Soul Kitchen will offer a variety of southern and soul food selections done with her own spin, bound to whet your appetite. 

This includes fried chicken, chicken wings on top of waffles, fried catfish nuggets, fried and/or smothered pork chops, baked mac 'n' cheese, and country-fried steak and gravy as main entrees. 

“The country-fried steak is going to be huge,” said Moore, referring to the amount of buzz she’s already receiving online and through her network of fans and customers. 

Customers will also get their fill of popular sides like candied yams, fried okra, green beans, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, collard greens and biscuits. 

A signature dish at Nytia’s will be cornbread bowls.  Like a bread bowl, the cornbread bowl will be hollowed out and filled with your choice of meat and sides.

There are few things in life that are as nice as reuniting with an old friend.

Especially after an absence.

Lately, Tauntontonians and residents in surrounding communities have been looking forward to reuniting with one old friend in particular: Colonial Do-Nut Shop.

The beloved institution at 91 Broadway closed in 2022 after more than 70 years in business.

Since then, the iconic donut shop has sat, empty and quiet, though looking much the same as always.

Things were left just as they were on the counters, looking almost as if the space was just waiting for customers to return to their seats at the counter once more and place their orders.

Now, the wait is almost over.

Who are new owners?

Brian Levesque, co-owner of Grove Street Tavern in Taunton, and his wife Kerlin are now the co-owners of Colonial Do-Nut Shop.

And they’re working hard on making the donuts, and getting the shop reopened. 

Since the news initially broke on Facebook in May, anticipation has been high.

When will Colonial Do-Nuts reopen?

“Right now we are targeting a mid-July opening date,” Brian Levesque said in an email to The Taunton Daily Gazette. “There are a lot of things that we need to do to get ready and we are just now starting to get fully involved with the process due to our current schedules.”

And those schedules are full.

Levesque was supposed to retire from his full-time job in mid-April, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he delayed his departure, he said.

“As of now I have shifted from full-time to a part-time basis, which will now allow me to focus more on opening Colonial. This is the biggest reason why we were not able to open as early as we originally hoped,” Levesque said.

Being a co-owner of Grove Street Tavern also demands a lot of his time, and Kerlin Levesque is also a full-time interpreter for the Bristol County Court System. Kerlin will remain in that role, in addition to assisting with the donut shop.

Taunton—Last week, Mayor Shaunna O’Connell and the City of Taunton gathered to honor the outstanding accomplishments of local students at the newly-established City of Taunton Scholarship Night. A total of $10,000 in scholarships across three different programs were awarded, marking a significant milestone in Mayor O’Connell’s commitment to supporting education and future leaders.

"Empowering our youth through scholarships is not just an act of generosity; it's a strategic investment in the prosperity of our community. I'm delighted that we can offer assistance to students as they pursue higher education and strive toward their ambitions," said Mayor O’Connell. "These students have demonstrated unwavering dedication, resilience, and a strong sense of civic responsibility. I have every confidence that they will emerge as leaders and make significant contributions to our community.”

One of the highlights of the evening was the City-sponsored donation fund, a dedicated initiative aimed at supporting the educational aspirations of local students. This fund relies on the generous contributions of community members, businesses, and organizations who are committed to investing in the future of our youth. The funds are distributed by a committee consisting of Mayor O’Connell, Taunton Public Schools Superintendent John Cabral, and local teachers and residents. The City of Taunton Scholarship Fund recipients are:

• Meghan Emond - Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical High School

• Neuricia Abreu - Taunton Alternative High School

• Calleigh Perreira - Taunton Public Virtual Academy

In addition, scholarships were awarded to students who participated in the City of Taunton Internship Program, which provides high school students with invaluable hands-on experience in various departments within the City. The interns demonstrated commitment and skill, contributing significantly to their respective departments. Human Resources Department and Mayor’s Office worked closely with Taunton Public Schools Internship Coordinator Rebecca Raposa, whose invaluable support and collaboration were essential to the success of the program. The following students participated in the program:

• Michaela Callahan - Taunton High School, Mayor's Office

• Sophia Claudio - Taunton High School, Mayor's Office

• Erin Crehan - Taunton High School, Mayor's Office

• Nathaniel Leitao - Taunton High School, Water Department

• Isaiah Rose - Taunton High School, Water Department

• Dylan Moitoso - Taunton High School, IT Department

• Ruthca Nelson - Taunton High School, Engineering Department

Scholarships for academic excellence and community service were awarded through the Mayor’s Worthy Cause. The recipients of the Mayor's Worthy Cause Scholarships are:

• Jillian Foley - Taunton High School

• Ericka Gendron - Taunton High School

• Bridget MacDougall - Taunton High School

• Jayden Bastille - Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical High School

• Savannah Ferreira - Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical High School

Each recipient has shown remarkable dedication to their studies and a strong commitment to making a positive impact on the community. Mayor O’Connell extends her heartfelt congratulations to all the scholarship recipients.

If you were thinking the former Uno Chicago Grill restaurant at 904 County St. might forever remain vacant, think again.

The property finally has a new tenant, and this one will have plenty of video game nerds breaking out the cheat codes.

Free Play Bar Arcade, an assorted game complex, with locations in Providence and Worcester, will be moving in and open for business this fall. 

What will be there

The business boasts providing hundreds of assorted classic video arcade games, interactive and rhythm-based video games (Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Pump it Up, and car-racing games as examples) and traditional games like pinball, ski ball and air hockey. 

Co-owner Anthony Santurri explained there’s a nostalgic quality to Free Play as it caters more to adults. 

“We want people to feel like when they were kids, while hanging out with other adults,” he said, adding the clientele at other locations “show up, play the games you used to play as a kid, laugh and joke with other adults, and leave happy.”

The weekends will also boast scheduled music entertainment, such as live bands, DJs and karaoke. 

Santurri said an enclosed outdoor area will be built on the property for those year-round added entertainment options.

Taunton – On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Mayor Shaunna O’Connell was joined by Taunton Police and Fire, elected officials and City of Taunton employees to break ground on the city’s new public safety facility which is on track to come in millions of dollars under budget.

"After decades of discussions and attempts, we are here to break ground on this new public safety facility that will help keep Taunton safe for decades to come. Building this modern public safety facility is an important milestone for Taunton’s future,” said O’Connell. “It also shows our commitment to our city’s first responders who are critical to Taunton’s wellbeing.”

The Taunton Police Department has been operating in temporary facilities for over 40 years. The city has not built a police station in over 110 years. When O’Connell ran for Mayor, she promised to improve public safety and build a public safety facility which has been needed for decades. Last year, the City Council approved O’Connell’s plans and the people of Taunton passed a ballot question in support.

"For far too long, our police department has been operating in temporary and substandard facilities. We’re grateful to Mayor O’Connell, the City Council and the people of Taunton for making this project a priority. Let’s get these shovels in the ground," said Police Chief Edward Walsh.

In 2023 the City of Taunton made considerable progress in preparation for the construction of the new public safety facility. Demolition of the former Villa Fatima building was completed in November 2023 and a general contractor was awarded the project in April 2024. Most recently, the project bids have come in $8 to $10 million below projections which will save significant tax dollars.

The new public safety facility will house the Taunton Police Department, Taunton Fire Department headquarters, 911 Emergency Communications Center, a fire training building and other essential services, streamlining operations and fostering collaboration among first responders. Fire Chief Steve Lavigne expressed his department’s appreciation for the training facility. “We are not currently able to do burn training in the city without an appropriate training

For Immediate Release: 05/06/2024 Contact Person: Ligia Madeira, 508-821-1000

facility. The new public safety facility will not only allow us to do our own burn training, but we’ll also have classrooms for other types of training as well.”

Former Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw was on hand for the groundbreaking and expressed his gratitude to be able to witness the next phase of the project. “Central Fire Station is over 150 years old. It was built for horses. We need a modern facility. The Mayor and her administration made this happen and it’s great to be here to see this project take off. I’m looking forward to coming back for the ribbon cutting,” said Bradshaw.

Construction on the new public safety facility is underway and expected to be completed in approximately 20 months. The public is advised that 90 County Street is now an active construction zone and public access is restricted. For more information and updates on construction progress, please visit taunton-ma.gov ###

Taunton, MA…Today Mayor Shaunna O’Connell announced that the bids for the new public safety building have come in $8-10 million under budget and there will be savings for the taxpayers.

"I could not be more pleased with our team’s effort on this project. By focusing on building a facility that is modern and meets our public safety needs while still being careful stewards of taxpayer dollars, we have significant savings that will be passed on to the taxpayers," said Mayor O’Connell. "We are not only going to be able to deliver a top-tier facility that will improve public safety, but we are going to be able to do so at a lower cost to taxpayers.”

The project team recently presented to City Council to provide them with an update on the project and the bid process. The upcoming groundbreaking marks a major milestone in efforts to enhance public safety infrastructure within Taunton. The new Public Safety Facility will house the Taunton Police Department, Taunton Fire Department headquarters, 911 Emergency Communications Center, a fire training building and other essential services in one location. The facility is designed to improve coordination, efficiency, and response times during emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all Taunton residents.

"I can attest to Mayor O’Connell’s unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility throughout every phase of this project. Her proactive approach and attention to detail have been instrumental in ensuring that costs are kept down without compromising on the quality or scope of the Public Safety Facility,” said Dan Pallotta, the Public Safety Facility’s Project Manager.

The Mayor extends her gratitude to the project team for their ongoing dedication and commitment to delivering this project on time and under budget. The City of Taunton also appreciates the support of the community throughout this process.

For more information about the Public Safety Facility project and other initiatives in the City of Taunton, please visit taunton-ma.gov ###