Tag Archives: Providence RI

Latest from the I-195 circus

Posted on June 30, 2019 by

Last week the I-195 commission publicly rejected the Spencer Providence proposal for Parcel’s 2 and 5 on the eastern half of the Route 195 corridor. Of three options presented more than a year ago, it was by far the most … Continue reading →

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

Graduate bilks the Biltmore

Posted on June 13, 2019 by

The Biltmore Hotel, built in 1922 and still the oldest hotel in Providence, now fashions itself the Graduate – the Graduate Hotel Providence. It is the latest in a chain of hotels in college towns that hope to cash in … Continue reading →

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

Streamline? No. Steamroll

Posted on June 4, 2019 by

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio will hold a meeting later today – 4 p.m. in Room 313 – on his legislation to “streamline” the development process for projects on state land in every city and town in Rhode Island. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Nightmare on Smith Hill

Posted on June 1, 2019 by

Last night I had a dream so disturbing that I woke up, got out of bed, and sat at my computer to memorialize it. This was about 5:30 a.m. With minor clarifications and omissions, my memo reads: Dreamed I was … Continue reading →

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

Make Mr. Highways smile

Posted on May 21, 2019 by

The late George Henderson, of Rumford, is the engineer who designed the Henderson Bridge across the Seekonk River, replacing upstream the old Red Bridge between Providence and East Providence. Known as “Mr. Highways,” he must have been a pretty popular … Continue reading →

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

Spirit of Benefit Street

Posted on April 24, 2019 by

By happenstance, much of my yesterday was spent on or near Benefit Street, long known as Providence’s Mile of History. The intersection of Benefit and College streets must be among the most beautiful in the history of the world, to … Continue reading →

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

More for my groaning shelf

Posted on April 14, 2019 by

Here is the UK Guardian architecture critic Oliver Wainwright’s critique of Hudson Yards, the “largest and most expensive private real estate project in U.S. history.” His article is called “Horror on the Hudson: New York’s $25bn architectural fiasco,” and it … Continue reading →

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

Final say on Fane design?

Posted on April 10, 2019 by

Fane tower supporters left Monday night’s meeting in full glum after the city’s design panel recommended against approving three of four Fane requests for exemptions from zoning that could kill the project. Opponents left in full euphoria, in the belief … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Hope for Henderson Bridge?

Posted on April 3, 2019 by

Rhode Island’s Department of Transportation plans to use extra federal transportation funds to replace the stodgy old Henderson Bridge – a span that not only looks like a highway overpass but is a highway overpass. It was originally built in … Continue reading →

Posted in Development, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A history of Thayer Street

Posted on March 17, 2019 by

I’ve been invited to read from my book Lost Providence during an open-mic session this Friday, March 22, at the Brooklyn Coffee, Tea & Guest House, 207-209 Douglas Ave., at 6 p.m., $5, in Providence. But I think instead that … Continue reading →

Posted in Lost Providence, Providence | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments