Tag Archives: Providence RI

Notre-Dame de Weybosset St.

Posted on December 20, 2024 by David Brussat

It’s a bit late to be hailing the rebuilt Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. How beautiful it looks, inside and out. For a deeper analysis of both efforts I will await word from those more knowledgeable than I. Still, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Providence | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The mush slated for Parcel 5

Posted on September 29, 2024 by David Brussat

The Route 195 District Development Commission has just released a set of nine proposals submitted at its request for Parcel 5, the largest remaining unbuilt, unsold or not yet “under agreement” bit of I-195 land east of the Providence River, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, I-195 Redevelopment District | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Rubik’s Cube of life sciences

Posted on September 14, 2024 by David Brussat

Brown has released the design of its umpteenth medical research center in Providence’s Jewelry District. It looks just like every other building of its sort, a bland, inoffensive glass and steel nonentity designed by TenBerke, with interiors by Ballinger, encumbered … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Read-Ott House, RIP

Posted on August 28, 2024 by David Brussat

After years of effort by those who wished to save it, the Read-Ott House succumbed to demolition on Monday by its owner, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church next door to it on Walcott Street, in Pawtucket’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Losing Providence, bit by bit

Posted on December 12, 2023 by David Brussat

The Downtown Design Review Committee met a couple of days ago to consider applications to demolish a couple of buildings on Chestnut Street and Richmond Street in the Jewelry District. I looked them up to see whether I should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Don’t demo this sad trio

Posted on November 27, 2023 by David Brussat

Someone has it in for a row of decent old houses on Angell Street. Specifically, they are Nos. 209, 211 and 217. They should be preserved. Their preservation should be second nature at every level of policy in Providence. Yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Attack on downtown beauty

Posted on November 15, 2023 by David Brussat

Providence Mayor Smiley has smudged a frown on the beauty of downtown. He has demolished the decorative brick and stonework at the intersection of Westminster and Dorrance streets. This is the intersection, part of former Mayor Paolino’s excellent redesign of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Attack on Wickenden St.

Posted on October 16, 2023 by David Brussat

Thayer Street lost its character over the past two or three decades, as Providence and Brown shrugged their shoulders when “the Main Street of Brown University” saw its carriage trade and mom & pop shops ousted in favor of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

The soggy PVDFest mess

Posted on September 13, 2023 by David Brussat

I’d like to put in a bid for downtown as the site for the next PVDFest. Mayor Smiley moved this year’s event out of downtown to the waterfront along the Providence River. Downtown is where festivals such as PVDFest should … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Bad advice for Wayland Sq.

Posted on July 25, 2023 by David Brussat

Wayland Square, named for Brown University’s fourth president, on land owned long ago by one of its founders, Moses Brown, is one of the most delightful neighborhoods in the city of Providence. It has fine shops and restaurants, and hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Providence | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment