Downtown Attleboro. Image courtesy of Google Maps.

A three-term city councilor challenging Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux for his seat has released a plan calling for the city to take an aggressive role in redeveloping the city’s downtown, focused on six key parcels.

City Council Vice President Heather Porreca told a crowd at her campaign kick-off that the city, under her leadership, would try to smooth the way for the creation of up to 1,800 housing units, 240,000 square feet of retail space, 900,000 square feet of commercial space and 2,400 parking spaces near its commuter rail stop. The Sun-Chronicle was the first to report her plan.

In a transcript of her speech released by her campaign, Porreca said the city would help businesses that currently occupy the six parcels with relocation, but was not specific whether the city would purchase the parcels and sell them to developers, or simply attempt to corral current property owners.