Tag Archives: Providence RI

Signs of a city walkabout

Posted on June 28, 2018 by David Brussat

My friend Maria Ruggieri and I went walkabout – as Crocodile Dundee would say – in downtown Providence yesterday evening. We popped into a number of new restaurants, the first being Layali, a restaurant/bar (opened by owners of the late … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Taking wing on Westminster

Posted on June 14, 2018 by David Brussat

Arnold “Buff” Chace, Providence’s pioneering redeveloper of downtown, has another major project in mind for Westminster Street. He has announced the renovation of the Lapham, Wit, and Trayne buildings, erected in 1904, 1925, and 1893, respectively. To the Trayne will … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cover-up on Canal Street!

Posted on June 13, 2018 by David Brussat

Some people might think the “cover up” in the headline refers to the legally dubious swap of air rights for extra height that would have enabled 15 stories for Phase 2 of the proposed Edge College Hill apartments on Canal … Continue reading →

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

Millar on Harrison in Prov

Posted on June 4, 2018 by David Brussat

John Millar has sent me some contextual thoughts about his attribution of some famous old Providence buildings to architect Peter Harrison (see my post “Harrison’s excellent career,” written after his lecture at the Boston Athenaeum last Thursday). His attribution to … Continue reading →

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

Don’t junk up the PawSox

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David Brussat

The politics of the proposed new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox – the PawSox – are beyond me, but a new financial package just proposed by its leading opponent, Nicholas Mattiello, speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, … Continue reading →

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Need sigs vs. Fane today!

Posted on May 28, 2018 by David Brussat

On behalf of all Providence communities, the Providence Preservation Society and Building Bridges are calling on people to get local voter signatures on the attached lists by tomorrow to force the Ordinance Committee of City Council to hold a meeting … Continue reading →

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

Put Fane tower downtown

Posted on May 21, 2018 by David Brussat

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 , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

The Journal’s angry editorial

Posted on May 17, 2018 by David Brussat

The Providence Journal today published an editorial, “Saying no to a bold future,” that castigates opponents of the proposed Fane tower as “insiders,” a term usually applied to those who manipulate the system to benefit the few at the expense … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Not over till fat lady sings

Posted on May 16, 2018 by David Brussat

High-fives aplenty greeted last night’s vote by the City Plan Commission to urge the city council to reject the Fane tower. The commission wisely ignored its staff’s argument that a 600-foot tower in a 100-foot zone is consistent with the … Continue reading →

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My Jane’s Walk this Saturday

Posted on April 30, 2018 by David Brussat

My fourth Jane’s Walk tour of the waterfront along the Providence River takes place at 4 p.m. this Saturday, May 5. We will meet at the Crawford Street Bridge near Hemenways in the Rubik’s Cube and stroll north, heading west … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments