At its biennial awards dinner on Thursday, December 10, at the Salvation Cafe in Newport, the Rhode Island Chapter of the America Society of Landscape Architects presented an Honor Award to L+A Landscape Architecture for their comprehensive plan for the urban pathway, CITY WALK, in Providence.

The RI ASLA Honor Award citation described the award winning project:

“CITY WALK is a network of connected urban landscape spaces enhancing the everyday life of the city. In 2014, a landscape architecture study for this 7.8 mile route culminated seven years of advocacy to incorporate CITY WALK into municipal and neighborhood planning, which it has successfully accomplished. Two principles guide the ambition of CITY WALK: connect eight Providence neighborhoods via a network of pedestrian paces/bicycle routes and improve equitable access to urban assets.

Accepting the award for Ron Henderson, Principal of L+A Landscape Architecture, were Phoebe Blake, for CITY WALK, and Katherine Dana, for L+A.

To see the project in detail, see the complete L+A Landscape Architects CITY WALK REPORT 2014, here.

Winding up an eventful year, the Jewelry District Association held its annual meeting at Clean Plate restaurant on Tuesday, December 8th. With new development moving ahead on a number of fronts, the meeting provided an opportunity for bringing the membership up to date.

Following a congenial social hour, two visual presentations gave us vivid glimpses of the way new developments promise to revitalize the District.

Bob Azar, Associate Director, Providence Department of Planning and Development offered a slide presentation of projects proposed, approved and/or underway in the District and Downcity. He detailed an exciting future of new hotels, new office space and a range of condo, apartment and student residences, from the complex at South Street Landing to two extended stay hotels now going through approval processes. He noted that something like 1,000 new living spaces are contemplated for the center city and the District; current occupancy approaches 99%. Presentation here.

JDA Board member Al Dahlberg showed us a Brown University video outlining long-range thinking and vital role of partnerships in the school’s major expansion going forward in the district. The video appears here.

President Salisbury called the business portion of the meeting to order. After a brief review of the financial state (healthy) of both the Jewelry District Association and the Jewelry District Foundation, he turned the floor over to Sharon Steele. She reviewed the JDA's major achievements in the past year, which ranged from the successful campaign to stop the PawSox relocation to the District's public park site on the river front and fighting for responsible night club operations to the creation, promoting and finding funding to launch the City Walk pathway linking Fox Point through the District to Roger Williams Park.

For complete details of the business meeting, see the JDA Annual Meeting Minutes, here.

Following the business meeting, special recognition was given for public service.
To Brown University (Christina Paxson, Russell Carey & Al Dahlberg) for:

"Demonstrating Extraordinary Corporate Citizenship, Cooperation and Responsibility in the Cause of the Betterment of Our Neighborhood & the City of Providence at large.”

“Over the years Brown University has used its major presence in the Jewelry District
in many positive and creative ways – providing facilities for our monthly meetings,
invaluable help with our annual clean up and the creation of the Ship Street pocket park,
to cite a few recent examples.”

“And because you include the Association in your forward planning process, we know Brown will continue to add new life and vibrancy to the place where we work, live, play and – yes – study.”

And to Janice O'Donnell, former JDA Board Member and past Executive Director of the Providence Children's Museum, for:

"Outstanding Citizenship, Willing Participation, Creative Initiative and Unstinting Effort in the Cause of the Betterment of Our Neighborhood & the City of Providence at large.”

“You have sought to make the Jewelry District a better place in which to live, work and enjoy throughout the year & despite hours devoted to the Jewelry District Association, you found time to bring the Providence Children’s Museum into a new era with expanded facilities, growing membership and blossoming attendance.”

Special thanks, as well to the Clean Plate restaurant, for hosting the meeting.