Providence: expand the tax base above all else?

re: Providence: expand the tax base above all else?

Corey — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:46:19 GMT

Not exactly. I bounced around from one school to another for the better part of 4 years, and never managed to find the right fit at all, so I've been taking time off, studying on my own, and taking some classes at RISD on the side. I'm planning on going into historic preservation.

That being said, I've lived in and visited enough places in this *fine* country of ours to know that Providence is really exceptional in terms of architecture. It's a very, very beautiful city, with pretty much unlimited potential.

re: Providence: expand the tax base above all else?

joe bernstein — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:33:25 GMT

Corey-amen to that!!Streetcars and/or trackless trolleys like they used to have.And a rehab of the old tunnel and old Red Bridge for a commuter trolley line from a park&ride in EP to downtown.

I read your description of the problems with the contemporary architectural efforts with a great deal of interest.Are you a RISD grad/student?

re: Providence: expand the tax base above all else?

Corey — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:16:02 GMT

I don't know what makes less sense: building modern glassy structures that make a clear break from the existing world class historic architecture, or trying to build "classical" looking buildings with materials that are totally inferior to those in the old buildings, and which are standardized in such a way that accurately constructing a building of correct classical proportions and ornament is impossible. One option completely disregards the city's historic architecture, and the other simply insults it. Both are likely to create extravagantly expensive spaces.

But all this is a bit absurd to be arguing over just yet. Without any sort of meaningful public transportation (read: replacement of the city's historical streetcar system), frittering away our time nitpicking on architectural aesthetics is totally frivolous.

re: Providence: expand the tax base above all else?

joe bernstein — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:36:21 GMT

Those new condo towers would have been right at home in Kaliningrad circa 1958.