I was (digitally) sifting through a couple hundred pictures I've taken in Providence and came across this one, which I thought was pretty interesting:
These benches are facing the Woonasquatucket River across the street from the Foundry and just upriver from the Mall/Rt. 95. You'd never know there was a river there, as you can see the banks are pretty overgrown. Do you think anyone ever sits there?!
I'm going to assume that these benches are early investments in what will hopefully become a beautiful, thriving area. It wasn't so long ago that this spot was among a wasteland of decaying buildings and empty lots situated between train tracks and empty mill buildings, with a trash strewn river running through it. Today there are new roads and sidewalks (and a "bike path," or more specifically striping which mall exiting maniacs speeding down the road aren't
supposed to cross...) A new upscale apartment complex went up, with plans to refurbish other underutilized buildings are on the drawing board. Eventually the river will be better landscaped as development upriver restores the Woonasquatucket the jewel it is.
There's good times ahead, and you've got a perfect place to sit and watch.
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I can’t decide if that’s:
A) A good place to read.
B) Wonderful for people who like the color green.
C) Nervous-making for people worried about a mob hit coming from behind.
A) probably not, with 2 lanes of noise pollution 10 feet behind you and Waterplace Park a 5 minute walk away
B) definitely, Em even said she was happy to see foliage again after the nasty winter weather y’all got up there in the north.
C) a legitimate concern in Providence!
Y’all????
That area of the river is nice, and there are many good things to come in the way of residential development over there. But I can’t help but wonder, why one would want to pay ‘luxury’ prices to live there. I suppose it’s fine if you’re just going to hop in your car to drive to your job in Boston or to go shop at the Emerald Square Mall or something. But where is the neighbourhood? The pedestrian environment there blows.
The walk under the highway and the mall to Waterplace Park is less than scenic. The walk over 6/10 on the Dean Street overpass is life-threatening. It’s so close to Downcity and to Federal Hill, yet so far away. It’s a weird little island set apart from the rest of the city.