Losing Providence, bit by bit – David Brussat

An architecturally-designed parking lot with cars parked in it.

by David Brussat, Architecture Here and There, contributing writer Photo, top: 151 Chestnut Street, site of a proposed multi-story apartment tower 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…

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Industrial Trust lit up again! – David Brussat

A tall building in Providence lit up at night.

by David Brussat, Architecture Here and There, contributing writer Photo, above: The Industrial Trust Bank Building lit up on August 7, 2023, David Brussat I don’t know how long this has been going on behind my back, but it sure does make me happy. After visiting a friend this evening and driving home in the…

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Business Beat: Hope & Main opening eatery and market, downtown Providence

Two people sitting at a table in front of a window.

Photo: Hope & Main website Hope & Main, Rhode Island’s first food business incubator, officially opens the doors of its downtown Providence location TODAY, Wednesday, January 18 at 11am at The Atrium, 100 Westminster Street in downtown Providence, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. They open officially Monday 1/23 and their hours are 7am-6pm Monday through…

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The Capital Center Plan, part 1 – David Brussat

A black and white drawing of a city park.

by David Brussat, Architecture Here and There, contributing writer Photo: Artist rendering of Capital Center initial conceptual design, circa 1980, by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Here this series of chapters from Lost Providence skips back to Chapter 18, “Capital Center Plan” to describe the origins of the plan, announced in 1978, to revitalize downtown by…

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In the Arena: Cliff Wood, Providence Foundation with Joe Paolino, Jr.

RINewsToday

Each week Joe Paolino, Jr. interviews people of interest on his program, “In The Arena”.  The show airs at 7am on Sundays on ABC6. This week his guest is Cliff Wood, Executive Director, The Providence Foundation. They discuss the city of Providence, tax incentives, TSAs, etc. for Providence development and business investments, climate change impact…

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Gallery Night is b-a-c-k

RINewsToday

Walking Tours for Gallery Night are happening, with the next scheduled for this Thursday, May 20th, starting at 5:30pm. Guide Frank Toti will lead the Downtown Walking Tour. There will be stops at: The Graduate Hotel University of Rhode Island, Providence Campus AS220 Downtown Public Art It will start at The Graduate at 5:30pm. They…

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“In the Arena” – Bob Russell, Providence Downtown Improvement District

RINewsToday

Each week Joe Paolino, Jr. interviews people of interest on his program, “In The Arena”.  The show airs at 7am on Sundays on ABC6. This week his guest is Bob Russell, interim executive director of the Providence Downtown Improvement District. They talk about what the District does to keep downtown safe, clean, and ready for…

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The Dead Birds of Downtown… horrified to death by building’s ugliness?

RINewsToday

By David Brussat, Architecture Here and There The Wexford Innovation Center, completed last year in Providence’s I-195 corridor dedicated to technology, has been killing birds. No, they are not horrified to death by its ugliness; rather, they are disoriented by its reflective plate-glass windows, which birds think they can fly through. Big mistake. Maybe they…

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