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Author Archives: David Brussat
The path now against Fane
The Providence City Council has overridden Mayor Elorza’s brave veto of a bill to allow developer Jason Fane to proceed with a tower that plainly violates city zoning law. The building would no longer violate the height limit for Parcel … Continue reading
Politics of the Fane override
When a pro-Fane tower councilman called in sick for Tuesday’s vote on whether to override Mayor Elorza’s brave veto of the Fane tower legislation, the council postponed the vote until tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 13. Having spouted my opposition to the … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Development
Tagged City Hall, City Politics, Fane Tower, Jason Fane, Mayor Elorza, Providence City Council, Providence RI, Zoning
7 Comments
SpongeBob HouseFancy
The other day my son Billy replayed for me an episode he had just watched of “SpongeBob SquarePants” (a cartoon that takes place at the bottom of the ocean). Billy, who is 9, thought I would like it, and he … Continue reading
The Journal’s ‘R.I. Memories’
Black and white photography bears the stamp of history, a ratification of the long-ago. One might wish that photos from, say, the 1890s were in color. That would convey a different authenticity, a satisfaction that today’s colorization processes generally fail … Continue reading
A Lost Providence Christmas
Just as the Providence Journal has published its magnificent collection of old Providence and Rhode Island photographs, it is time to go out and get (if you don’t have it) my book Lost Providence. The two books would work well … Continue reading
Mayor Elorza’s brave veto
To the surprise of most observers, Mayor Elorza vetoed the Providence City Council’s approval last week of legislation to raise by a factor of six the 100-foot height limit on Parcel 42 of the Route 195 corridor. That legislation, a … Continue reading
Moore’s attack on Scruton
One of the Scepter’d Isle’s leading architecture critics, Rowan Moore of the Observer, has crafted an utterly despicable if entirely predictable attack on Sir Roger Scruton. Sir Roger is the British government’s choice to head a panel to bring beauty … Continue reading
Veto the tower, Mr. Mayor
I wrote a letter to Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza today [Monday]. I sent it by email and then hand-delivered another copy tucked inside my book Lost Providence, where I inscribed the title page in his honor. “Delivered with the sincerest … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Development
Tagged City Planning, Hope Point Tower, Jason Fane, Jorge Elorza, Lost Providence, Providence RI, Zoning
2 Comments
Scruton’s first beauty volley
As I mentioned in “Sir Roger’s hunt for beauty,” Roger Scruton has been appointed chairman of a commission to promote beauty in British housing policy. Naturally, all those who are opposed to beauty in architecture are on the warpath against … Continue reading
The big boxes of the future
A few days ago some interesting photographs landed in my email inbox as part of an online discussion of big-box retail and its design, a subject near and dear to my heart, as I have watched the evolution of suburban … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Development
Tagged Big Box Retail, ICAA, Kroger, Lowe's, Madison MS, Mary Hawkins Butler, Michael Rouchell, Providence RI, Sam's Club, Suburban Design, Taco Bell, Walgreens
3 Comments
