Thursday, September 27, 2007

North Main St. seeks reinvention

The stretch of North Main Street heading away from the heart of Providence has a mixed identity. On one hand, it's home to cool busineses like Javaspeed Scooters and the Sandwich Hut (try their meatball sub), and was once home to the Rhode Island Reds. Yet as Dan Barbarisi describes in today's ProJo,

North Main Street looks like it is missing teeth. For every strong, vibrant business, there are two ugly gaps with vacant lots or boarded-up stores.

Barbarisi's story reports on how the Summit Neighborhood Association, with some help from the city, is trying to chart a brighter future for the area. North Main Street has a lot of potential. Let's hope that it can come closer to reaching it.

Development | Jobs/Economic Development

9/27/2007 12:02:24 PM by Not For Nothing | Comments [2] |
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Like a bunch of headless chickens
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RI: the more things change . . .
RI economy still in the disaster zone
Airport director to share economic vision

Friday, September 28, 2007 9:23:01 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Isn't a key problem with developing North Main figuring out how to tastefully yet effectively develop an area where a substantial amount of frontage on one side of the street is taken up by a cemetary? Having a long, walkable stretch of businesses/shops/restuarants on both sides of the street, ala Atwells Ave. or Thayer Street, becomes difficult under this restriction.

p.s. The lounge at the Gregg's on North Main is an underrated location for a late-night meal in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Andrew

Friday, September 28, 2007 10:15:52 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I hadn't really considered the tombstone issue, Andrew. That might be a factor, but it seems like the area needs more of a critical mass of living people. Thanks for the tip on Gregg's.

Ian Donnis

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