Sabina Matos was in favor of the Fane Tower. In 2018, Providence City Councilwoman Matos voted to override Mayor Elorza’s veto of a needed zoning change. (WPRI 12.14.18) Ultimately, Mr. Fane’s funding fell apart and he went away, but Matos has returned to the riverfront and now seems pretty cozy with the Bally’s gambling people …
The architectural quirkiness and traditional character of the Wickenden streetscape continue to be threatened. Plans to raze the buildings at 269 (seen here) and the adjacent 249 Wickenden Street and replace them with yet another generic, cheesy-looking mixed-use box, passed a first hurdle Tuesday with the Providence City Plan Commission. Members of the Fox Point …
Looks like our new mayor has run the popular PVDFest through the fun-extraction machine. The event has been moved to the weekend of September 8th, moved to the South Water Street WaterFire location, and scheduled to coincide with a WaterFire. Sooooo it’s WaterFire, but more crowded. But wait there’s more: The Mayor has ruled out …
But snake meat would be fine. Technically, it’s the flesh of warmblooded animals that is off limits on Fridays. In the same week that Pope Francis opened the door to possibly revising the tradition of priestly celibacy, Rhode Island’s outgoing, ultra-conservative, Bishop Tobin declared that his flock must forgo corned beef this St. Patrick’s Day, …
(3.16) Oscar nominated feature documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” follows the life of artist Nan Goldin and the downfall of the Sackler family, the pharmaceutical dynasty largely responsible for the opioid epidemic’s unfathomable death toll. The film relates the photographer’s struggle with OxyContin and her protest against the art establishment that took money …
(2.9) If football is not your thing, this might be a good weekend for getting out of the house. Playing now at the Avon, “Women Talking” follows a group of women in an isolated religious colony as they struggle to reconcile their faith with a series of sexual assaults committed by the colony’s men. Based …
The 195 Redevelopment District Commission’s own consultant is urging them to reject the latest version of Fane Tower. Among other problems, the new design could result in higher winds whipping through the adjacent park (which it will also be plunging into shadow). From the Providence Business News: The Fane Organization is presenting the updated design …
The public is being urged to attend a presentation from the Fane Organization this Wednesday before the 195 Commission meeting. Fane will present “a concept plan proposal . . . for the revised design of their Parcel 42 project.” From the Providence Preservation Society: Fane Tower is back on the docket with a new design: …
“My advice is, if you don’t like the way it looks, look in a different direction.” This was developer Jason Fane’s charm offensive three years ago when addressing the concerns of city residents who questioned the location of this oversized “luxury” condo tower. Now Fane has submitted this “new” design to the 195 Redevelopment District …
These are not just “license plate readers.” The cameras, now being installed around town for use by the Providence Police Department, will run 24-hours/day and will be recording much more data than your plate (see image below). Fortunately, some City Council members are tapping the brakes on this intrusive technology. Last night Helen Anthony, Rachel …
That’s all I have to say right now. Join the Womyn Project for a rally at the Statehouse tonight at 8pm (Facebook event link)
The need for all blood types is once again critical, so contact the Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) and schedule an appointment. The need is critical, here and in Connecticut. Now about Dr. Oz. I am still baffled that the RIBC has associated itself with this lying charlatan. More troubling is the fact that he …
And unworthy of your time. Shame on PBS, the home of Julia Child and Jacques Pépin. Their new show “Roadfood” is supposed to be an homage to Jane and Michael Stern, authors of the seminal “Roadfood” books, but the episode filmed in Rhode Island seems like a hastily researched treatment featuring a spectacularly unfit host. …
Christmas is coming early for members of AFSCME*, the largest union of state workers, thanks to bonuses coming there way courtesy of the taxpayers of Rhode Island. Should their new contract be ratified as expected, Governor McKee will be providing two $1,500 bonuses to employees who have received a Covid vaccine. This is roughly $3,000 …
Gov McKee — $3,000 To State Workers For Vaccination Read More »
Guess what did survive the pandemic. And just in time. With federal unemployment subsidies ending and eviction protections gone — let’s shovel money into the pockets of an out-of-town developer for a luxury apartment tower. (A Fane spokesperson calls them “market-rate apartments,” whatever that means. Clearly they are pivoting from the word “luxury.”) It has …
The City Plan Commission will be holding a public information meeting in August for a major land development project in Wayland Square on the site of the former funeral home at 230 Waterman Street. The proposal includes demolition of the existing 1892 building (unprotected because it is not part of a local historic district) and …