POSTPONED: 110 Westminster Street

[rhuck]

I just... don't see a shorter building on that site... that site looks *made* for a true skyscraper. I think if I had full control over the elements, I'd have E&B get completed, get maybe another couple office projects which would make condo space a lot more attractive to pedestrian commuters, which is becoming a more attractive mode of transportation now that gas is around $4 a gallon. I'd be willing to keep this lot vacant for another couple of years while the office stage gets set up more downtown so that a condo tycoon looks at it and says, "Hey, we need a good condo highrise here."

[prudence]

I'm afraid the watered down version of this project is not going to be satisfying to many, nor worthy of the loss of buildings, nor worthy of the value of the location, but it would appear that it will be the best we will get with the current capacity and risk profile of those in control of the site, and may be lucky if even *that* happens.

[Lone Ranger]

I just... don't see a shorter building on that site... that site looks *made* for a true skyscraper.

I'd be willing to keep this lot vacant for another couple of years while the office stage gets set up more downtown so that a condo tycoon looks at it and says, "Hey, we need a good condo highrise here."

[CtownMikey]

anything in that spot that doesn't match heights with the big 3 if fine

[Pseudo_Work]

anything in that spot that doesn't match heights with the big 3 if fine

[Garris]

*Does it really make much sense that we should have to clutter our otherwise friendly-scaled urban core with tall slick monotonous corporate buildings that can be found in any crappy American "city", as a way to market our own city whose most distinguishing feature is its historic charm and sensible size? Come on. Modernism can work without being a flagrant homage to Skidmore, Owings, and Merill.

[mvince03]

uh-oh

http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/newsbl...rcade_buil.html

[Pseudo_Work]

I happen to really like and be a defender of skyscrapers. It represents a different type of urbanism and, as land becomes more scarse and expensive, going "up" is really the only possible solution. Manhattan is Manhattan and Chicago is Chicago not because people thought skyscrapers would be cool (although certainly ego did play a role) it was because the economic and urban conditions of the time demanded it and the technology became possible.

Look at what is happening in Chinese cities right now. Much the same thing...

While historic charm and sensible size are Providence assets, it's also, for me, the "big city" feel it imparts as well in the Business District and now Capitol Center. Without that big city feel mixed in with old world charm, there frankly isn't much "unique" about Providence. Cities like Portsmouth and Burlington do the historic charm and quaint proportions thing more organically (and economically successfully) than we do. It's that big-small mix that make us more than those two cities and put us in a league with bigger downtowns.

This might have been true 20 years ago, but even the most quaint big cities in Europe are doing some of the best and most interesting skyscraper design in the world right now.

- Garris

[Cotuit]

Unlike Atlanta or other southern and western boomtowns, we are fortunate to have a planning department that understands the ingredients of healthy urbanism. We are less likely to have a glass box growing out of the ground and into the sky with a windswept plaza surrounding it than those cities. Look at the proposals for E@B, that has ground level retail, clear first story windows, landscaping... GTECH has ground level restaurant space, BCBS has some ground level retail, though it would have been preferable to see Finance Way lined with retail (I don't think that's the plan), the Westin has ground level retail, the proposed 111 Fountain garage has ground retail/restaurant...

Though unlikely to rise 500 feet, what I'm told of the latest 110 incarnation is we will also see ground level retail.

What is most monotonous about glass boxes is where they meet the street, there's usually nothing there. We seem to be handling the street better here in Providence.

[TheBostonian]

Providence isn't quite like a booming, sprawl-town anti-city. Whatever is built here, tall or not, will be part of a tight urban fabric.

[Lone Ranger]

*Does it really make much sense that we should have to clutter our otherwise friendly-scaled urban core with tall slick monotonous corporate buildings that can be found in any crappy American "city", as a way to market our own city whose most distinguishing feature is its historic charm and sensible size? Come on. Modernism can work without being a flagrant homage to Skidmore, Owings, and Merill. Look to Europe.

[webbage]

I'm just sayin'. Why is everybody so anti-big-business in this state?

[Claremorris]

uh-oh

http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/newsbl...rcade_buil.html

[Pseudo_Work]

Not to be snarky, but I have to point out that, with a few more monotonous corporate monoliths (or 500-foot penises, whichever term you prefer) in downtown Providence, Rhode Island's economy probably wouldn't be in the crapter right now.

I'm just sayin'. Why is everybody so anti-big-business in this state?

[runawayjim]

Cause it's a small state, with a small capital city, and lots of existing small businesses. Corporate America sorta flies in the face of what the place is about, regardless of whether that's healthy or not.

[Pseudo_Work]

corporate america may fly in the face of what many of the people here are about, but this place is about more than just socialist commie small businesses. unfortunately, we need our corporate residents. imagine if textron or citizens up and left providence. think about what that'd do to the city. think about what would happen if CVS, amica, fm global, or fidelity left the state.

let's not forget that not all large corporations are big and evil.

[Frankie811]

corporate america may fly in the face of what many of the people here are about, but this place is about more than just socialist commie small businesses. unfortunately, we need our corporate residents. imagine if textron or citizens up and left providence. think about what that'd do to the city. think about what would happen if CVS, amica, fm global, or fidelity left the state.

let's not forget that not all large corporations are big and evil.

[mental757]

RI and Providence saw it's first glory days thanks to corporate america!! Brown and Sharpe, Davol, Hospital Trust, Fleet Bank, etc., etc.

Like any city, you have to take the bad with the good. If a 1000 employee corporate HQ wanted to move to Providence (from out of state) and build a new 450 foot tower, we should be overjoyed and almost thankful. This isn't a ticket to for them to build a massive pile of crap, but RI cannot continue to live with the anti-business aura it has been know for at times.

[rhuck]

RI and Providence saw it's first glory days thanks to corporate america!! Brown and Sharpe, Davol, Hospital Trust, Fleet Bank, etc., etc.

Like any city, you have to take the bad with the good. If a 1000 employee corporate HQ wanted to move to Providence (from out of state) and build a new 450 foot tower, we should be overjoyed and almost thankful. This isn't a ticket to for them to build a massive pile of crap, but RI cannot continue to live with the anti-business aura it has been know for at times.

[webbage]

The one thing I find funny about people being so anti big business and trying to support the small business - is that the successful big businesses, most of the time, were the small businesses that were successful at what they did. It's almost like punishing success.

[Pseudo_Work]

The one thing I find funny about people being so anti big business and trying to support the small business - is that the successful big businesses, most of the time, were the small businesses that were successful at what they did. It's almost like punishing success.

[runawayjim]

But doesn't it also reinforce the point of supporting the small businesses to help them grow to become large ones? Doesn't it make a lot more sense to grow the stuff ourselves than spend all our energy trying to bait corporations that have thrived in their own communities to come here? To me, that's the more sustainable option.

[Frankie811]

Bill would resuscitate downtown skyscraper plan

The long-stalled, seemingly dead plan to build a skyscraper on Westminster Street is showing a pulse, as legislators have brought a bill before the General Assembly seeking a tax break for the project.

[Pseudo_Work]

Bill would resuscitate downtown skyscraper plan

The long-stalled, seemingly dead plan to build a skyscraper on Westminster Street is showing a pulse, as legislators have brought a bill before the General Assembly seeking a tax break for the project.

[Frankie811]

Wow. Simply, wow.