IN PROGRESS: American Locomotive Works (ALCO)

[Cotuit]

[Cotuit]

[dgreco]

if they incorporate the river into this project, it will be a nice little walk and view into the city.

[Frankie811]

if they incorporate the river into this project, it will be a nice little walk and view into the city.

[runawayjim]

if they incorporate the river into this project, it will be a nice little walk and view into the city.

[matt]

i think that's the plan... but the problem is that right now the river walk that exists behind the mall and through the valley neighborhood is surrounded by trees (not that trees are bad, but you can't see the river).

[MikeR]

are they planning on pulling up the trees and stuff that are growing over the river so that the riverwalk is actually a river walk and not a river surrounded by forest walk?

[runawayjim]

I think jen would be looking to put her foot up people's behinds if that were to ever happen...

[mental757]

line the streets with trees, but make the river visible.

[jencoleslaw]

i'm the tree lady, not the crazy riperian way lady, but i do know that having a vegitated buffer such as trees, and plants and the like is what helps keep the river clean (by filtering crap that would flow right into the river), keeps the banks from eroding and the like so i doubt it will be all neat and clean the way it is at Waterplace park. But i'm sure they'll try to pull out the invasive species of plants and trees and try to keep it from looking too wild.

[runawayjim]

i'm the tree lady, not the crazy riperian way lady, but i do know that having a vegitated buffer such as trees, and plants and the like is what helps keep the river clean (by filtering crap that would flow right into the river), keeps the banks from eroding and the like so i doubt it will be all neat and clean the way it is at Waterplace park. But i'm sure they'll try to pull out the invasive species of plants and trees and try to keep it from looking too wild.

[mental757]

I think there a large 'happy medium' between what is there now and the 'traditional' riverwalk limestone-scape like on the other side of the mall. I think this stretch of the river could meld into a slightly differant, more vegatative riverwalk...

[oak]

ALCO's signs are on the ZBR docket tomorrow night. The applicant is seeking 3 roof signs on 2 buildings. I haven't seen the plans yet, but I expect something similar to Rising Sun and Dynamo House for ALCO.

[Cotuit]

they could just line the river with stone walls like waterplace.

[mental757]

yes, thats basically what I was thinking - a nice mix, more talored to the higher % of residential on this side of the mall...

[mental757]

RI EDC to move into new ALCO offices on Tuesday 1/16/07

Projo: http://www.projo.com/business/content/BZ_M...FT.223205a.html

guess the first phases of ALCO are finishing up...

if anyone has time, maybe some photos of this area, since we haven't really had much visual updates???

[mental757]

from the RI EDC site:

http://www.riedc.com/riedc/news/47/525/

[CtownMikey]

http://www.projo.com/news/content/STRUEVER...CT.1838b35.html

[bhooley]

http://www.projo.com/news/content/STRUEVER...CT.1838b35.html

[runawayjim]

"Struever plans to turn the nearly 25-acre site of dilapidated old mill buildings across from the Valley Street Flea Market into a trendy urban neighborhood, complete with offices, shopping, a riverwalk connecting the area with downtown, and a mix of apartments and condominiums."

No offense to Eagle Sq. (which I think is a pretty cool neighborhood) but if SBE&R puts generic chain retailers in ALCO it's going to be pretty, well, generic... How cool would a Brew Pub or a Brew and View (www.drafthouse.com), or Portland has an indoor 3 par golf course...

This has got to be unique to become a real destination.

[Dan]

How cool would a Brew Pub or a Brew and View (www.drafthouse.com)

This has got to be unique to become a real destination.

[JJK5]

Do you guys remember when the Castle Cinema was a movie theater and cafe, not too long ago? Black leather (Lincoln) seating, table service, full liquor license.

It only lasted a couple football seasons as I remember - it was a cool place to watch the Pats and have a few beers though.

[DaveRPI]

"Struever plans to turn the nearly 25-acre site of dilapidated old mill buildings across from the Valley Street Flea Market into a trendy urban neighborhood, complete with offices, shopping, a riverwalk connecting the area with downtown, and a mix of apartments and condominiums."

No offense to Eagle Sq. (which I think is a pretty cool neighborhood) but if SBE&R puts generic chain retailers in ALCO it's going to be pretty, well, generic... How cool would a Brew Pub or a Brew and View (www.drafthouse.com), or Portland has an indoor 3 par golf course...

This has got to be unique to become a real destination.

[Garris]

like a mutual fund, you have to diversify the risk

[bhooley]

Nice analogy.

I can easily see developers viewing things this way, and I think for the community as a whole it's probably not a bad thing...

- Garris