Category Archives: Providence

Speed bumps on Blackstone?

Posted on December 14, 2015 by David Brussat

Speed bumps punish the innocent for the sins of the guilty. Most people do not speed down Blackstone Boulevard. I know. I’ve been behind many of them in my time. People who obey the law are the ones who suffer … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Landscape Architecture, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Is this tactical urbanism?

Posted on December 7, 2015 by David Brussat

Here is a street sign that seems to epitomize the fatuousness, and perhaps the corruption, of municipal bureaucracy. Warning signs just like this have been popping up in the middle of streets in Providence for the past year or so. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

A boulevard, not a highway

Posted on December 3, 2015 by David Brussat

The next big Providence project for a city that has seen many might be to turn the old Route 6/10 connector into a boulevard. The Providence Journal reports that the state’s transportation authorities seem surprisingly receptive to the idea as … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Landscape Architecture, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Our Downcity walkabout

Posted on November 21, 2015 by David Brussat

On a clear, modestly chilly evening that just about defines New England in November, hundreds were out on the streets of downtown Providence. No doubt thousands more were inside on the seats of downtown’s robust round-robin of local restaurants and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Preservation, Providence, Uncategorized, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Your best lost building here!

Posted on November 17, 2015 by David Brussat

The other day I received an email from Edward Mack, an editor at The History Press, an imprint of Arcadia Publishing. You all know their books. The regional literature shelves of your local bookstore are struggling even now under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Blast from past, Books and Culture, Development, Preservation, Providence, Providence Journal, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

SOS for lonely medical relic

Posted on November 12, 2015 by David Brussat

It appears that the days are numbered for the sad, lonely final relic of the old Rhode Island Hospital. The Providence Journal’s Patrick Anderson reports in “Rhode Island Hospital plans to raze 115-year-old Southwest Pavilion, last remaining building from original … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Dorothy in “Renderland”

Posted on November 9, 2015 by David Brussat

Given the apparent difficulty architects have designing places that improve rather than undermine their settings, I was amused at the crie de coeur from art critic Mary Louise Schumacher of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about the figures – known in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Books and Culture, Development, Landscape Architecture, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

“Rightsizing” Providence

Posted on November 6, 2015 by David Brussat

The King’s Cathedral, a church in Olneyville whose motto is “Where Everyone Is Royalty,” and its leader Bishop Jeffrey Williams hosted the inaugural session of this year’s “Beyond Buildings” symposium of the Providence Preservation Society. “Beyond Buildings” rubs me wrong, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Haunted houses in America

Posted on October 31, 2015 by David Brussat

GTECH headquarters is certainly the scariest building in Providence, even with the recent relocation there of Capital Grille (from Union Station!), following in the brave footsteps of Ruth’s Chris Steak House. But GTECH is not haunted. It is scary. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Providence, Video | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rhode Island turning point

Posted on October 30, 2015 by David Brussat

Rhode Island is at a turning point. Going forward it can encourage new development that strengthens its brand of beauty or it can throw away a competitive advantage by allowing developers to build projects that will transform the Ocean State … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, I-195 Redevelopment District, Photography, Preservation, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment