Everyone agrees that the I-195 land is one of the City’s, and the State’s, greatest opportunities for growth and economic stimulation. Are we up for the task?

“Providence is so beautiful,” my sister-in-law Irene gushed as we sat down to lunch overlooking Waterplace Park at Jacky’s, one of Providence’s newest hotspots.

Like Irene, other newcomers to the city are usually entirely unaware of the city center’s horridly dull “before” landscape. As Irene and I walked along the riverfront  back to my car, I told her about the Capital Center Commission’s efforts 30 years ago to rebuild the city’s core. Their ambitious undertaking included unearthing the river that 150 years ago served as Providence’s hub.

In the late 1800’s the river’s peak at Salt Pond Cove, or “the Cove,” was a busy port for merchant trading and transportation. For those of you struggling to visualize the city as it was, picture tall ships docked where Smith Street is today.

The industrial age, for better or worse, transformed our city. The rise of railroads and manufacturing gave Providence the means to accessibility and profitability that had been previously reserved for open ocean ports like Newport.   In an attempt to keep my historical meanderings to a minimum, the city’s growth spurt and poor planning resulted in the Cove’s deterioration into a congealing mass of “silt.” (Again, for readers with a penchant for detail, picture a squalid waterfront dyed magenta from clothing manufacturer waste, that boasted a combined mass of direct slaughter house disposal and human excrement. And to think that we get squeamish over the thought of our ancestors neglecting to wear deodorant).

The solution to the city’s loss of its former Promenade was decided by further imprudence and poor planning. The decision makers resolved to fill in the entire Cove and deck over it. Once the decision was made however, the parties involved wasted years bickering to determine who should be responsible for paying for the fill (the railroad company eventually did).

It should be noted that the City ironically commenced the construction of its’ municipal sewage system only a year after the filling. (And yes, the sewer system would probably have saved the Cove).

So here we are again, generations later, facing another important city transformation opportunity. We have inherited countless foolhardy decisions and hasty executions to guide us as we determine the best new uses for the former I-195 land. But before we groan over our apprehensive contemplations of what crazy idea our dear State and City officials will come up with next, we can look to our one saving grace.

Thirty years ago the Capital Center Commission worked together to recreate our downtown into the renowned destination that it is today. Attend one Waterfire event if you need to affirm that they got it right.

A few weeks ago, in partial celebration of the Capital Center Commission’s achievements, the Providence Preservation Society put on a three-day symposium entitled “Make no Little Plans: A Symposium on Visions for Providence.”  The Symposium also served as a opportunity for the cities best and brightest to share their aspirations for the I-195 land redevelopment.

Symposium attendees also had the honor of meeting the now confirmed newly elected I-195 Redevelopment Commission.  Lincoln Chafee (Who chose the nominees with recommendations made by Angel Taveras and House Speaker Gordon Fox), nailed it with the commission selection. The seven-member Commission is headed by Colin Kane, principal of Peregrine Group, as chairman; Barrett Bready, president and CEO of NABsys Inc.; Barbara Hunger, a registered nurse with Women and Infants Hospital; Diana Johnson, renowned art consultant; John Kelly, president and CEO of Meeting Street School; Mark Ryan, principal of Moses and Afonso; and Michael Van Leesten, CEO of nonprofit OIC of Rhode Island. All upstanding contributors to our community, my first reaction to the Commission member selections was “dream team.”

Everyone agrees that the I-195 land is one of the City’s, and the State’s, greatest opportunities for growth and economic stimulation. Are we up for the task? After attending the Symposium I wholeheartedly say that yes we are. What I have witnessed so far is collaboration over mutual aspirations, and substantial aforethought and prudency paired with imagination and boldness. I am confident that the Commission’s leadership, like that of the Capital Center’s Commission,  will result in a better City for the next generations.

If you are skeptical about the promise of what we Rhode Islanders are capable of creating, think about this: The catalyst for the entire Capital Center redevelopment was a single wine-stained sketch on a napkin, ideas scribbled by a few young friends over cocktails. So before you criticize or succumb to your usual  jibes about our shortcomings, go get that forgotten napkin, post-it, or candy wrapper out of your trash basket, and get involved. If you can see opportunity in a 41-acre dirt pile, you can contribute to its fruition.

For more information on the Symposium and the new Commission, visit:

http://www.gcpvd.org/category/features/195-relocation-project/

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Copyright photo by Kathleen Ann Pacheco-Corbett, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the written permission of Kathleen Ann Pacheco-Corbett, The Buyer's Choice, Lincoln, RI.  Permission granted with a link back to my website and/or blog providing site is appropriate for all ages.  Thank you.                        

                                            We want to be your "Personal Realtors for Life"

                                                      http://www.thebuyerschoice.com

                                                 KATHLEEN ANN PACHECO-CORBETT

                               Office 401-725-5608     Cell 401-556-6911   Fax 401-423-4377

OPENS FOR THIRD SEASON IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

                                      “Movies On The Block” returns to Providence for 2009

                                         FREE Thursday Movie Nights Throughout The Summer

                                                          Event Admission is FREE to the public 

                                                          All shows begin at sundown

                                                  For more DETAILS, call (401) 421-0254.

Last Thursday, June 4th began the opening of Providence's only OUTDOOR SCREEN and will be running every THURSDAY through September 24th,

Movies that are Pop hits, cult classics and even some short films from Rhode Island International Film Festival are screened at dusk located at Grant's Block on the corner of Westminster and Union Streets in downcity Providence, across from Tazza Cafe,

This Thursday's, June 11, 2009  at approximately 8:20pm the film Pirates of the Caribbean will be shown starring Johnny Depp as famous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann.

Uncertain as to which film is scheduled to shown.

   1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
   2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
   3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Bring your friends and family downtown for a free film.
Beach/lawn chairs and blankets and snacks are encouraged

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                                          We want to be your "Personal Realtors for Life"

                                                      http://www.thebuyerschoice.com

                                                 KATHLEEN ANN PACHECO-CORBETT

                               Office 401-725-5608     Cell 401-556-6911   Fax 401-423-4377

It was time for a date night.  Melissa and I went out for dinner recently at Waterplace Restaurant in Providence.  We decided to make the most of the evening and planned to be there for a while... drinks, apps, dinner, dessert, after dinner drinks, the works.  Turns out we picked the perfect place to do so.

We had been once last winter, when Prudential Gammons Realty, had our holiday party.  So we remembered how striking the interior was.  2 open levels, beautiful lighting and fabric hanging from very high ceilings creating a warm atmosphere in a large space.  There is a bar on each floor; the second floor being more of a lounge area.  They also have a wonderful patio area, which is very popular in the summer, particularly during Waterfire events.

We started out sharing the Gruyere Roasted Garlic and Truffle Fondue.  It came with lots of different items for dipping, like broccoli, carrots, bread, apple slices, strawberries, grapes... delicious. 

For dinner, Melissa went with the "Pillows from Above", which were pumpkin ravioli with toasted walnuts and a brown butter sauce.  She was very pleased with her choice.  I had the "Mediterranean Chicken Naploeon" which was out of this world. 

If we get dessert, we usually share something but this time we got our own:  Melissa got the peanut butter and jelly spring rolls with marshmallow dipping sauce (that's right!) and I had a carrot cake concoction which alone is enough to bring me back to this restaurant.

Waterplace Restaurant has definitely become a go-to for us now.  So go check it out... but make sure you get your reservations in if it's a summer weekend evening!

Bob Black - REALTOR

Prudential Gammons Realty

"Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate"

I was excited to see that the theme of the Home Show this year is "Think Green".  I'm very interested in the concept of green living and construction.  The home show will even give us ideas about how to recycle our current furniture. 

On Stop & Shop Day, there will be cooking demonstrations - you can find me at the cooking demo by the Green Collaborative, a creative Johnson & Wales student organization focused on the environment.

I also plan to enter the drawing to win a trip to Ireland.  What's greener than that?

The Home Show
Rhode Island Convention Center
March 12 - 16, 2008

Attention AAA Members - Double Your Discount!

Double your discount on AAA Day, Wednesday, March 12th!

AAA members SAVE $4 off the purchase of up to two (2) adult tickets when you show your AAA card at the ticket window!

Offer is only valid on AAA Day, Wednesday, March 12th. AAA members save $2 off the purchase of up to two (2) adult tickets all other times. Offer is not valid on the purchase of Senior or Children's tickets.

Bob Black - Realtor

Prudential Gammons Realty