Tag Archives: I-195 Corridor

Put Fane tower downtown

Posted on May 21, 2018 by

In 2005, Mayor Cicilline permitted a developer from Boston to demolish the dear old Providence National Bank (1929, addition 1950), near the Arcade downtown, before the developer had its financing sewn up. Even before the 2008 recession pulled the rug … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Don’t copy Boston’s tech hub

Posted on October 23, 2017 by

Last week I attended a party on Tide Street in South Boston, part of the Hub’s Innovation District. The party was fun, but please let me convey my experience of the district’s urbanism as a warning to Providence, which seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

R.I.’s Amazon HQ2 bid

Posted on October 22, 2017 by

Ha ha ha ha ha! Just look at that! Above is what Rhode Island’s leadership imagines Amazon wants for its proposed second headquarters. And they may be right. Amazon may indeed have that sort of thing in mind. If so, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

C’mon baby build our brand!

Posted on September 21, 2017 by

In 2015, seeking to demonstrate the depth of my naivete about politics in Rhode Island, I, in my role as citizen, wrote a letter to Governor Raimondo to suggest “a way to help improve the Rhode Island economy that is … Continue reading →

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

No, not halfway to Houston

Posted on April 19, 2017 by

Yesterday’s post, “Prov’s halfway to Houston,” generated some blowback in my own mind, especially when, later in the day, I came across two reports that lifted my heart and my hopes about Providence and its future. Maybe “halfway” to Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Garage design in Providence

Posted on January 5, 2016 by

So the most shovel-ready modernist abomination in Providence is apparently about to begin construction. Maybe it’s not too late to redesign the garage so that it fits into its setting. It is right next to a neoclassical power plant being … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Blast from past, Development, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SOS for lonely medical relic

Posted on November 12, 2015 by

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 , , , , , , , | 12 Comments