PROVIDENCE — A proposal for a 249-unit apartment building in the I-195 Redevelopment District won final approval Wednesday from the district’s commission. The $80 million development will feature retail and other uses on its ground floor, and will be located on Parcel 28, at Chestnut and Friendship streets.
The development is a project of the Exeter Property Group. The architects are Torti Gallas and ZDS, of Providence.
The commission also briefly discussed a development plan for the remaining acres in the district, which would put the tallest buildings with the most significant density along the Interstate-95 area, and which would restrict four parcels from further residential development.
The intent is to save at least four prime parcels at the center of the elongated district for commercial development exclusively, because the purpose of the district is to provide innovation related employment, according to the commissioners.
The development plan will be discussed in early February at a public hearing.
Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.
I’m glad something is built and retail is on the sidewalk to enhance sidewalk life, but I wish it wasn’t modeled after the same brutish architecture that seems to be the trend these days. Every new building you see built today is a combination of rectangles. Rectangular windows with sheer metal siding. Beige is the dullest color. Mr. we could use a man like Thomas Tefft again. The architects today can’t seem to think outside the box (or rectangle). What do they teach you in architecture school these days? Just look at the old architecture of the surviving bldg’s. Why can’t these new structures be more ornate rather than mundane. It is our environment and we residents of Providence are imposed upon with the same oversimplified architecture ad infinitum. I know this is a local architect group, but I wish they would build as if they lived here…and whatever happened to chapter 513, article 6, section 600 of the Providence zoning code which is supposed to protect the historic character of downtown Providence by ensuring new development conforms to the historical character. Even though this is not a city commission, can’t the commission honor this rule? This is downtown Providence, isn’t it? We can do better, but we don’t.
As a resident I love it and glad it is being built. I would rather not critize but be thankful something is being built. If folks want something more ornate perhaps they should build their own property.