March 08, 2005
Boomtown Providence
The last couple weeks have brought amazing news to those of us who love the city of Providence: five huge projects that will dramatically change downtown (and the skyline!). The Westin is getting a new tower. The Big Three of the skyline will be joined by the OneTen Westminster condominium tower (you can tell they'll be expensive because the address is "OneTen"). The Holiday Inn is going from ugly duckling to (Hilton) swan, with more hotel rooms and a new 27-story tower. A block away a 25-story residential tower is going up. And nearby in LaSalle square will be another tall building full of lofts! That's some sweet developin'.
(click for larger image)
The above rendering of the new Westin tower almost took my breath away. I was starting to think that I'd never like another building built in Providence (the GTECH building is awful, and the new OneTen Westminster tower looks like a glass box with a decent building trying to grow up its side). What a great addition to the skyline. Classic, powerful, and respectful of the city. Big thanks to David Brussat for getting the image to me when I couldn't find it anywhere else. His column from last week does a great job, as usual, of covering the exciting goings on of the last couple weeks.
This is the sort of thing that would be perfect for the URBlog, but there's been no time at all. (I could use an intern, I think. Applicants welcome). If you're looking for blog-like commentary, Cotuit's gang at Urban Planet is doing a bang-up job.
Exciting times. Hopefully we'll have lots more to come!
Posted by Bil at March 8, 2005 06:38 PMI've been searching for that rendering!
Thanks for the mention of UP, glad to see you there.
I hear ya on keeping up with the blog, I forgot I had one. :)
Posted by: cotuit at March 9, 2005 09:47 AM : Link this commentjust wonderin' how much public money is going into it just to be sold elsewhere in a few years...
although, it will make the skyline nicer.
Gotta admit.. the "beautification" that started under Cianci has been progressing nicely.
Posted by: Jim S at March 9, 2005 11:20 AM : Link this commentDo you mean the Westin, Jim? The hotel is owned by the state and it's about to be sold for a profit after making money for the state for the past few years. The new tower will be built completely with private funds. (As will the new condo tower and the Holiday Inn renovations.)
The taxpayers actually made out pretty good on this one.
Posted by: Bil at March 9, 2005 11:49 AM : Link this commentMuch better than what Mesolella was proposing at the Fogarty Building. He wanted millions from the state and the General Assembly was ready to give it to him.
Apparently Parcel 2 is getting some tax breaks to defer the cost of the parking structure. The mayor is pressuring them to make phase 2 include offices, but they are saying the market won't support that right now.
Posted by: cotuit at March 9, 2005 01:17 PM : Link this commentThere should be a rule for Down City: When building a new building you will use bricks only...
Posted by: R.K. Bentley at March 9, 2005 08:57 PM : Link this comment
