We’re taking a look back at 2011. What Cheering the good and What Jeering the bad.
195 Demolition
You guys all know there are like a dozen cities all over the country that are insanely jealous that we tore down our downtown expressway, right?
Putting aside what happens with the 195 Commission (we’ll talk about that in a minute), it is so totally awesome that the highway is gone. Even without any development happening yet, the Jewelry District has been transformed. Suddenly, with the highway gone, people realize the Jewelry District is on the edge of Downcity. And while the sidewalks aren’t exactly jammed, it is certainly noticeable how many people now choose to walk between Downcity and the Jewelry District, who would not before.
Route 195 being torn down at Chestnut Street in the Jewelry District
Broadway Bike Lanes / Gano Street Sharrows
Anticipated since at least 2008, bike lanes finally showed up on Broadway in 2011.
We also saw the city’s first sharrows show up on Gano and other streets, helping to connect the East Bay and Blackstone bike paths.
Let’s hope we see more bike infrastructure sprouting up on streets all over town in 2012.
35 Weybosset Façade
It is going to mean a parking lot, but a parking lot was in the cards all along, we’ve saved the façade for future use and that is going to greatly blunt the impact of the parking lot.
Thanks to the Providence Preservation Society, the Providence Revolving Fund, and all others involved in saving the façade.
Image: © Chad Gowey 2010. All rights reserved.
