News & Notes

A Downtown Hub Is Missed, and a Replacement Is Stalled

Two years have passed since the demolition of Filene’s Basement, where generations of Bostonians tussled over cut-rate designer clothes in a dingy but fiercely loved downtown store.

In its place, a $700 million tower was to rise with offices, condominiums, a hotel and a new Filene’s for the bargain hungry. But the recession halted the project, possibly for good, leaving Boston with a deserted construction pit in one of its busiest neighborhoods.

In Providence, R.I., a crumbling brick facade is all that remains of the landmark Providence National Bank building, which was razed in 2005 to make way for a now-canceled residential tower.

[The New York Times]

Providence National Bank, a sign of The Times

Ted Nesi at WPRI takes a look back at the history of the Providence National Bank in response to the above New York Times story.

[WPRI]

on pedestrian malls: look to australia

First of all, don’t compare North America to Europe. The history and ambient density and urban momentum are all too different. Compare North America to Australia, where the history and economics are similar but a cultural difference led to a different outcome.

[Human Transit]

The Rise of ‘DIMBYism’: Open Data Is the Key to Smarter Communities
[The Huffington Post]

Obama’s Infrastructure Proposal: A Good Start That Needs Work
[The City Fix]