In 2005 the tallest building in Providence was to be constructed in the heart of downtown. It was to be built between the historic Arcade and the iconic Turks Head building on the land where Buck-a-Book used to be.
Historic buildings, including the classic Providence Bank at 100 Westminster, were sacrificed. A fight to preserve the historic streetscape on Weybosset Street resulted in the odd facade that stands to this day as a reminder that a grand project had detoured at this site.
Across the street, the “Superman” building stands as another testament to the fact that downtown stalled out as it transitioned from being a financial district into the neighborhood it is becoming.
Buildings formerly full of workers drained out. Some became new, hip homes to a generation unconcerned with owning cars, McMansions or kitchens. The Arcade, Providence Gas, Union Trust, Teste, Case Mead and 32 Custom House buildings are now part of the neighborhood that occupies what was once a financial district.
Thirteen years later, the lot where the “tallest building in Rhode Island” was to be built, sits empty except for the surface parking lot that is allowed only temporarily by the city zoning ordinances.
Thanks to the efforts of Jason Fane, there is again a serious proposal to build the tallest building. The siting of the Hope Tower has more to do with the desperation of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission than with good planning. Hope Tower belongs downtown.
Providence is a city that has spent many years and dollars planning its future. Hope Tower, as proposed, does not fit the plan. Providence should not change the rules and do an end run around the master plans by “spot zoning.” Far better to incorporate the development by following the rules than to rush into a mistake that will stand into the next century.
We should invite the Fanes to build on the 110 Westminster St. lot. Providence paid a big price to prepare the lot, demolish the historic buildings and then wait as the wound healed into an ugly scar.
Hope Tower will fit perfectly in the downtown neighborhood. There are many restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, salons and amenities in place to serve the well-heeled tenants of Hope Tower.
Hope Tower will stimulate growth of existing and new businesses. It will propel the progress and renewal of what is one of the oldest commercial districts in the nation.
To come downtown, the Fane organization would either need to buy or partner with the current lot owner – Paolino Properties. Former Mayor Joe Paolino is a man on the move.
Paolino Properties is a seasoned, downtown developer with generations of experience. They would be perfect partners – experienced family developers looking to make architectural statements and change the course of development in our city.
The infusion of capital could also make the critical difference for the Industrial Trust, aka Superman, building. Hope Tower can be the tipping point that sparks a renewal of the Superman building.
Downtown deserves to flourish, it needs to finally and fully recover from the wounds it sustained. Building Hope Tower in a place already deemed appropriate by our master plans and zoning would be a refreshing change, compared to the “Let’s Make a Deal” approach that causes reputable developers to shy away.
This project can bring jobs and vitality to our downtown.
Robert I. Burke is the owner of Pot au Feu restaurant in Providence.
I disagree and article seems a bit self serving from the author who owns a business in the financal district of Providence. As some one who just relocated back to RI, living in the Jewerly District seems development along the waterfront would be a great place to start. Perhaps the reason Providence has not flourished is new ideas and thoughts are constantly shot down for the way things were done. Lets try something new and build the Providence waterfront (a 5 minute walk from downtown) which will equally provide the benefits described in the article for downtown. We have a developer that wants to invest a substantial amount of money in Providence.