Attack on Wickenden Street. Vote TODAY – David Brussat

by David Brussat, Architecture Here and There, contributing writer

Photo, top: Rendering of proposal to redevelop site of 269 Wickenden St. (CPC)

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 still growing invasion of chain stores. Thayer is not without charm for those who admire the perusal of voluptuosity of either sex. But it no longer has the look or the feel of a community, or a neighborhood.

The same thing has been happening on Wickenden Street, which has for years played second fiddle to Thayer for neighborhood shopping and dining until Thayer opted out of the competition by putting out the welcome mat for the chains. With the development of a new building, masquerading as three buildings, at 269 Wickenden St., a threshold will be breached, opening the floodgates to the destruction of the historic character and charm of Wickenden. The horizontal fenestration on the ground floor is sufficient reason to reject the proposal for aesthetic reasons – if such reasons are still considered appropriate.

The documents for the 269 Wickenden proposal.

The City Plan Commission will vote TODAY (Tuesday, Oct. 17) on whether to approve the master plan for this gargantuan residential/retail project. Lily Bogosian, the interim director of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association, has sounded the alarm. Her letter to members of the FPNA reveals that as talks with the CPC have proceeded, the square footage of the project has grown to 75 apartment units, “more units than the entire street combined.” She adds: [Tuesday’s] meeting is likely to be FPNA’s last chance to preserve Wickenden Street’s unique and historic integrity.  Using the same development strategy, future developments that will also be unsuitable are likely to be approved.

The CPC meets at 444 Westminster, across Empire Street, beginning at 4:45 p.m. This item will be No. 6 on the agenda. It is a hybrid meeting so observers can attend in person or on Zoom.

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Here is Lily Bogosian’s letter to members of the FPNA, reprinted below in full:

On Tuesday, October 17 at 444 Westminster Street at 4:45 pm the next City Planning Commission (CPC) meeting will determine whether this controversial development that has been strongly opposed by the neighborhood and merchants is granted final Master Plan Approval.

FPNA supports responsible development throughout the city.  However, next week’s meeting is likely to be FPNA’s last chance to preserve Wickenden Street’s unique and historic integrity.  Using the same development strategy, future developments that will also be unsuitable are likely to be approved.

The new plans presented this week by the applicant have increased the building size and density to 75 apartment units, more units than the entire street combined. The 39,999 square feet of proposed residential space provides relief from a delivery drop space; a requirement at 40,0000 square feet. In other words, delivery trucks and emergency vehicles will have to double park on this already too busy two-lane street to enter the building. The height has also been increased from the upper ridge to the lowest grade on Brook and Wickenden to over 70’ tall.

This fundamental change in the heart of Wickenden Street will alter the future of our neighborhood, foretelling a street of chain stores and oversized buildings with 200-400 square foot rental units. Our neighborhood residents and local merchants’ confidence is shaken by the city’s unwillingness to incorporate very basic standards of neighborhood character as set forth  in our district’s neighborhood comprehensive plan.

To preserve all our neighborhoods’ development concerns and to guarantee adherence to the city’s comprehensive plan, FPNA needs our collective participation. The CPC must recognize that our neighborhoods are unified in support of responsible development citywide.

We hope that you will share FPNA’s immediate opposition to the 269 Wickenden development by attending the meeting on Tuesday at 4:45pm at 444 Westminster Street.  Should you prefer to attend virtually, here is the CPC’s Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87233568540, or participate by telephone by dialing one of the following toll-free numbers: 833 548 0276, 833 548 0282, 877 853 5247, or 888 788 0099. The Webinar ID is 872 3356 8540.

Thank you in advance for considering your participation in FPNA’s responsible development effort.

Respectfully,

Lily Bogosian, Interim Director, FPNA

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To read other articles by David Brussat: https://rinewstoday.com/david-brussat-contributing-writer/

My freelance writing and editing on architecture and others addresses issues of design and culture locally and globally. I am a member of the board of the New England chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, which bestowed an Arthur Ross Award on me in 2002. I work from Providence, R.I., where I live with my wife Victoria, my son Billy and our cat, Gato. If you would like to employ my writing and editing to improve your work, please email me at my consultancy, [email protected], or call (401) 351-0451.