A $4 million bet called the Rivervue Professional Building at 775 Davol St., which opened for business last week.
FALL RIVER — The city, for years, has been tilting toward the waterfront, Dr. Henry Crowley said.
At the same time Agape Dermatology, a business he partially owned on Bedford Street, was growing too big for its offices.
So he spoke with his friend Peter Cabral, and his business partners, Michael and Mona Khoury, to come up with a solution.
The result: A $4 million bet called the Rivervue Professional Building at 775 Davol St., which opened for business last week.
Agape Dermatology is at home now on the third floor of the large white building, next door to the Boardwalk Crossing. St. Michael’s Federal Credit Union is building out the first floor for its offices.
“We all were looking at the way the city is moving,” Crowley said Tuesday during a tour of the site. “The city is building a beautiful waterfront.
“We wanted to be part of it.”
The partnership purchased the land for $350,000 in February of 2016. The land once held the Massasoit Steam Mill. The mill was taken down and construction began a year ago.
Agape took the top floor because it had the best views, according to Mona Khoury, the practice manager. When they designed their offices, she reserved a corner room, the one with the best views, as a break room for the staff, she said.
As if on cue, a tug boat made its way up the Taunton River as she spoke. Traffic could be seen crossing the Braga Bridge. Even on a gray day the room was filled with natural light.
“The views here are beautiful,” Crowley said. “But access was a big thing for us. You can look out the windows and see major highways, Route 79 and Interstate 195. Plus you can get here by boat. Pretty soon, you will be able to get here by train.”
The proposed train stop for commuter rail is in the building’s back yard. State officials promise commuter rail to Boston will be operating by 2022.
Agape doubled its office and treatment space when it opened in the new building. It tripled its parking.
“Parking was a big thing for us,” Crowley said. “We had patients driving around, not finding parking. They would call us and say they were done, they were going home.”
The entire building is almost 20,000 square feet. The second floor is the only space remaining for rent in the building, Crowley said.
“We are working on filling that space,” Crowley said. “We have some interest.”
Which is a relief, given the amount of money invested in the project, Crowley said.
“It was a big bet,” he said. “But we have faith in the city.”
Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.