>> Providence West Neighborhoods

[f1rehead]

Seven Stars is indeed open. I drove by there on my way to work and stopped in for a delicious almond croissant and cup of coffee.

It's a little too out of my way and a little too expensive ($5 for the above-mentioned items) to become part of my daily routine but I'll certainly be going often.

I also have to try and remember to go to Palmieri's. They're more on my way to work but I still haven't stopped by.

[coleslaw]

i guess that building isn't on the ICMB list...

[Bil]

i guess that building isn't on the ICMB list...

It's "ICBD", Industrial and Commercial Buildings District.

[quente]

its definitely not related to the carriage house - two seperate owners.

The building permit just said selective demolition, but they are doing some pretty major work - opening up some new window and door locations, cutting up the concrete floor to run utilities.

It will be interesting to see what is up...

[runawayjim]

i keep meaning to ask this... anyone have any info on the fish market at atwells and dean? the place has looked the same for a couple weeks now with no visible signs of work being performed.

[Dan]

Its coming soon.

[chemgeek]

I also noticed on my walk that Phoenix Dragon Restaurant is evidently out of business - the sign was painted over, the windows had plywood over them and they were doing work inside (not sure if they were removing stuff from the old restaurant or remodeling for a new use). Any ideas?

[runawayjim]

Its coming soon.

[Mothra]

I went by there today on the way to Seven Stars, which by the way, is quite lovely inside. The hardwood floors and marble countertops almost made up for the $6.75 that I spent to buy a loaf of multigrain bread (delicious but expensive - won't be doing that too often).

From what I saw, it looks like they've reoriented the building entrance to face Broadway (the gable shaped parapet will probably be used for signage) with the vacant lot along Broadway serving as parking. Based on the reorientation and parking, my guess is it's going to be a commercial strip center. Perhaps a washateria? Or perhaps Liam's coveted Mega Dong Hutt?

[Frankie811]

I wasen't sure if I should have posted this in the Provi-wood thread or this thread. In the end, this thread won out. So here it is. Bar

[Liamlunchtray]

Bar

[basachs]

Solution: Green Bar gets sold: Becomes new Decatur!

I love in the story that the owner claimed no knowledge of drug activity there...

[quente]

and I am getting increasingly worried about what is happening on that corner of Vinton and Broadway. Has anyone heard what is going on there? I can't believe that it would be legal to park cars in that lot, but I do not know what the zoning is there.

[Liamlunchtray]

I left a message with Jason Martin at the Historic District Commission and received a voice mail from him today. The building on Vinton is outside of the historic district and will not be reviewed by the HDC. It will become an office building. The corner lot is in the district and will be used as parking unfortunately. It's subject to HDC review but . . .

[basachs]

Oh man, thats just terrible. A friend of mine had been looking at this building a year or two ago with the thought of turning it into a house. I had been so hoping that whatever happened to it would result in some nice new storefronts being built along broadway. Lame.

[quente]

Apparently that lot needs a lot of expensive environmental cleanup. This is what I have heard from people that have looked into buying it when it was for sale.

[basachs]

Do you know what was there before that required the cleanup?

Regarding that lot - I knew someone who had also toyed around with the idea of building a rowhouse there but I don't think they ever got past the talking stage. In light of this upcoming parking lot, it's really ashamed none of these projects materialized but brownfield development is a tricky business . . .

[runawayjim]

Apparently it was a gas station at one point, and there are tanks underground. This is what the person whop was looking at buying it told me.

[Liamlunchtray]

the picture of the site from google maps shows the old gas station...

[basachs]

No, the lot we are talking about is the one across the street from that gas station.

[Mothra]

Do you know what was there before that required the cleanup?

Regarding that lot - I knew someone who had also toyed around with the idea of building a rowhouse there but I don't think they ever got past the talking stage. In light of this upcoming parking lot, it's really ashamed none of these projects materialized but brownfield development is a tricky business . . .

[quente]

Right, the gas station across from the lot is the Sunoco. Anyone remember that lot in question being a gas station a long time ago?

[basachs]

I guess my main question is, how did this lot get to pass through to be parking with no one knowing about it?

[jencoleslaw]

I think the lot was actually an industrial zoning so anything better than that is an automatic pass, doesn't need to go to zoning. But, they will have to comply with the landscape requirements if they repave that lot, i think.

[eltron]

there was a serious attempt to make office first floor residential two and thee floor but the person on the Sutton St side nixed it. I wonder what she thinks of this project...