Category Archives: Development

L’Apogée, here we come!

Posted on April 9, 2018 by David Brussat

This afternoon’s meeting of the Downtown Design Review Committee was cut short when one applicant, the developer of a second ugly building on Canal Street next to the first one now under construction, begged off till next time. In its … Continue reading →

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We dodged the HQ2 bullet

Posted on April 6, 2018 by David Brussat

Providence would have been slaughtered if Amazon had decided to build its second headquarters – HQ2 – in Rhode Island and its capital city. So for the loss of 50,000 well-paid jobs and sundry other benefits, we should not blame … Continue reading →

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Carpionato’s latest 195 plan

Posted on April 4, 2018 by David Brussat

A few days ago I received, at my request, the latest iteration of plans for a large development on the east embankment of the Providence River by the Carpionato Group. The company had made a presentation of its plan to … Continue reading →

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Fane tower versus beauty

Posted on March 25, 2018 by David Brussat

Charles Denby is a Barrington doctor who has allied himself with the push for more art and sculpture in Providence. He doesn’t see why Providence should not have some major iconic work of art such as The Little Mermaid in … Continue reading →

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Battering Battersea Station

Posted on March 15, 2018 by David Brussat

Owen Hatherley has denounced a large development around the historic Battersea Power Station, in London. I cannot read his piece because it is behind the paywall of The Architects’ Journal. But I do have the next best thing – its … Continue reading →

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Mighty pen on Penn Station

Posted on March 5, 2018 by David Brussat

In “Mighty Penn,” The New Criterion has a brilliant extended reflection on the idea of rebuilding Pennsylvania Station, in New York City, as it was originally designed in 1903 by Charles Follen McKim of McKim Mead & White. Many facts … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Berlinski: Sacking of Paris

Posted on February 25, 2018 by David Brussat

Claire Berlinski’s masterful summary of the sad situation in Paris is out in the latest City Journal under the title, “The Architectural Sacking of Paris.” I am looking also for Joe Queenan’s no doubt hilarious essay “London Beats Paris in … Continue reading →

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Johnston, we hardly knew ye

Posted on February 23, 2018 by David Brussat

Fifteen years ago I wrote about Johnston, R.I., as part of a series that ran monthly (or at far longer intervals eventually) under the kicker “Outside Providence.” Each month, proceeding in alphabetical order, I’d visit a city or town outside … Continue reading →

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Brown shifts, saves 5 houses

Posted on February 20, 2018 by David Brussat

Breaking news! Brown has just issued an announcement that it will shift its proposed performing arts center a block north, saving four historic buildings from demolition. The new site, between Angell and Olive streets rather than Waterman and Angell, requires … Continue reading →

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Throop Alley & other tidbits

Posted on February 14, 2018 by David Brussat

An agenda item for an upcoming meeting brought home to me the sadness and even the anger attending some of the more pernicious projects being sold around here as “economic development.” The agenda for the Tuesday, Feb. 20 meeting of … Continue reading →

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