Jef NickersonTwo weeks ago I took some photos in the PPAC Square area, then never bothered to post them. So I took some more yesterday which actually gives an opportunity to show how work is starting to come together.
August 10th
One of my friends on Flickr noted that these tree well/bench dealies were body sized and this one appears to be flagged for Carol. We don’t know who Carol is, if she has already passed on, or if someone is planning ahead. If your name is Carol, watch your back.
August 10th
They also make good storage for crushed barrels and random debris. My question, are these actually big enough for a healthy tree? They seem to be open at the bottom, but don’t most trees roots generally spread out, not down into a hole then out? Are we going to have large healthy shade trees in these tombs, or little decorative trees?
August 23rd
I also have to wonder why? Why spend the time, energy, and money creating these bunkers when you could simply plant a tree in a hole and build a bench around it? If we didn’t build these things, wouldn’t we have more room for more mature trees?
They are already serving their purpose though, without trees.
August 23rd
Some ladies enjoying their food truck lunch on the sarcophagus1. Of course, down the block I did see some skateboarders looking for something to “grind2.”
One thing I really like, no bricks!
August 23rd
The sidewalks are a nice flat concrete with the aggregate slightly raised (hard to see really in the photos) which is more attractive then your typical concrete sidewalk installation. And unlike brick, it will not heave during winter freeze/thaw cycles.
August 23rd
The comfort station tower is sitting in its traffic island. It looks like their may be up-lights embedded in the sidewalk around the font. I fear RIDOT forcing a giant “Keep Right” sign in front of it.
Over by the parking garage they are still fixing to pour the sidewalks.
August 23rd
Across the street there are holes in the sidewalk ready for trees sans-mausoleum.
August 10th
I’d be fine seeing those bricks go, but they’re in pretty good shape, so I guess we should keep ’em.
This spaceship style tree hole/bench thing is at the corner of Richmond and Weybosset:
August 10th
I don’t know the reasoning for all the different levels.
Down by the Johnson & Wales Safety & Security Office.
August 23rd
Across the street, some trees which made it into the rebuilding plan.
August 23rd
Over at the Weybosset-Broad-Empire-Chestnut intersection new traffic light poles are up (street lighting poles are also up all up and down the street).
August 23rd
New traffic light poles are up at Empire and Fountain, Empire and Westminster, and Broad-Green-Claverick as well.
1 Hat tip to another Flickr commenter.
2 The Urban Dictionary is not terribly helpful with this one.
No matter what trees they plant, if they don’t keep them watered the roots will want to spread. The biggest difference between this set-up and planting at the surface is that this set-up will not get run-off from the rest of the sidewalk when it rains, etc.
On the other hand, I assume these are going to be small trees, as the roots are also used for stability, and this configuration does not allow for a wide root base to provide that.
“Carol” is the name of the tree that will die in these tree pits, aka bathtubs, aka tree coffins.
I hate brick. There’s no way around it.