Photos and commentary provided by a Greater City Providence reader.
Tired of those pesky real estate taxes, then tear down a block on Plainfield Street between Dyke and Atwood Streets just off Olneyville Square. What will replace those buildings, surface parking? How many more buildings will see the wrecking ball before the Olneyville’s historic mill district loses its historic status?
To accommodate holiday shoppers and support local businesses, motorists in Providence will be offered two hours of free parking from 10am until 6pm from Friday, November 23, 2012 through Tuesday, January 1, 2013. The holiday parking program is designed for shoppers patronizing local businesses. Shoppers may park at a meter for the first two hours for free. If they remain at the meter past two hours they must pay the meter. The parking program includes Saturdays; however, cars parked in prohibited areas or beyond a time limit will be ticketed during this period. The holiday parking program will be offered in the following commercial districts:
The Buy Providence and Buy Art campaigns will run through the New Year holiday. The City will host a number of holiday events between now and January 1. Mayor Taveras will welcome Santa Claus to Roger Williams Park on Saturday, November 24. On Saturday, December 1, the City will host its annual tree lighting ceremony at the Bank of America Skating Center.
Update: This project was done by the City without the involvement of RIDOT, which makes the entire situation worse actually.
Urban Design by RIDOT! Was the City complicit? I’m almost at a loss for words about the thoughtlessness in locating a new traffic signal control box within a public plaza in Olneyville Square. If this happened in Wayland Square instead, there would be protest demonstrations. The photos speak for themselves regarding alignment and adjacencies to building frontages and the information kiosk. How many 10′s of thousands or dollars did they spend on this piece of junk? Is this urban design by traffic engineers? This is as bad as when they place signal arm pole bases in the center of sidewalks so that people have to walk in the street. There should be a law against this. Or better yet the Design Review Commission should review all RIDOT installations within the City. Since Olneyville is a less affluent neighborhood, I suppose we should expect this new control box to sit where it is for the next 40 or 50 years. I guess the consolation is that there are new fake old streetlights.
Notice of Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 – 4:45pm
Department of Planning and Development, 1st Floor Meeting Room
444 Westminster Street, Providence
1. Case No. 10-011MA – Preliminary Plan Approval for Subdivision of land from the relocation of Interstate 195 – PUBLIC HEARING The public hearing will provide information to the public and receive public comment as part of the Commission’s review of a proposed major subdivision. This proposal consists of subdividing land within the State’s right-of-way along the Interstate 195 corridor where the highway was removed. The corridor extends from Interstate 95 northeast north of Clifford Street, then continuing east, crossing Chestnut, Richmond and Dyer Streets, to the west bank of the Providence River. The land also extends from the east bank of the Providence River at James Street,
2. City Council Referral 3357 – Petition for zone change from C-2 to M-1 at 103 Dike Street Petition to rezone the property at 103 Dike Street from C-2 to M-1 – for action (Olneyville, AP 105 Lot 489)
3. City Council Referral 3358 – Petition to extend the I-3 overlay district Petition to extend the I-3 overlay district to include 1 Cookson Place/33 Broad Street – for action (Downtown, AP 24 Lot 626)
City of Providence Zoning Ordinance
4. Case No. 12-045MI – 475 Valley Street The applicant is seeking preliminary plan approval to divide the existing lot into three lots – for action (Valley, AP 27 Lot 263)
Notice of Regular Meeting
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 – 4:45pm
Department of Planning and Development
1st Floor Meeting Room 444 Westminster Street, Providence
1. Case No. 12-027MI – 66 Huber Avenue The applicant will be presenting a community outreach plan for the subject development – for discussion (Manton, AP 80 Lot 894)
2. Johnson and Wales University Master Plan Amendment The applicant is seeking an amendment to the current Master Plan for creation of a new academic program in an existing building – for action (Downtown)
3. Case No. 12-032MA – Creation of expansion parking area (Master/Preliminary Plan reiew) The applicant is seeking to increase the capacity of an existing parking lot from 36 to 96 spaces to accommodate the growth of a business on a proximate lot. The applicant is requesting to combine master and preliminary stages of review – for action (Olneyville, AP 33 (.pdf) Lots 322, 345, 350, 351, 395, 624, 654, 656)
A selection of photos readers have recently shared in our Flickr Group:
Photo © Paul Shelasky
Photo © provbenson2009
A selection of photos readers have recently shared in our Flickr Group:
List Art Building at Brown University, photo © h ssan
Photo © lddana51two
Hit-and-run injures Councilman Correia: wpri.com
WPRI reports that City Councilman Michael J. Correia (Ward 6) was struck by a hit and run driver around 6pm last night n Atwells Avenue. Happily, this morning the Councilman is out of the hospital and on the mend.
Correia was thrown 10 feet from his car and knocked out by the blow from the vehicle, which was described as a dark-colored Ford Escape SUV, according to Correia’s family members and Providence Acting Police Chief Hugh Clements Jr.
“I’m very lucky,” Correia told WPRI.com. He was treated at Rhode Island Hospital and then released, and is now resting at home with his family. He said he has brusies on his side and his arm.
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2011, – 4:45 PM
Department of Planning and Development, 4th Floor Auditorium
400 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903
OPENING SESSION
PROVIDENCE TOMORROW
1. Comprehensive Plan Update Presentation of proposed updates to Providence Tomorrow: The Interim Comprehensive Plan based on the results of neighborhood charrettes and public input – for discussion
MINOR SUBDIVISION
2. Case No. 11-017MI – 351 Harris Avenue Minor subdivision to create three lots, measuring approximately 183,884 SF, 45,943 SF and 56,951 SF out of a lot measuring approximately 287,030 SF – for action (AP 27 Lot 23, Valley)
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011, – 4:45 PM
Department of Planning and Development, 4th Floor Auditorium
400 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903
OPENING SESSION
PROVIDENCE TOMORROW
1. Comprehensive Plan Update Presentation of proposed updates to Providence Tomorrow: The Interim Comprehensive Plan based on the results of neighborhood charrettes and public input – for discussion
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