Writing in the Providence Journal, Kate Bramson details the proposals currently on the table for land parcels in the 195 Redevelopment District.

"PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The developer preparing to renovate the old South Street Power Station near Davol Square into nursing schools, university offices and apartments proposed buying a nearby parcel of former Route 195 land for as much as $2.25 million to build a 150-room hotel, potentially a Starwood Hotels property.

But the bid by CV Properties, which has offices in Southport, Conn., and Boston, is among three proposals rejected by the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, which released the proposals to The Providence Journal in response to a request for records."  Read her article here.

Kate Bramson, Providence Journal, July 24, 2014 reports that Hecht Development, among the companies that submitted proposals to develop land along the former path of Route 195, is no longer in the running, founder and CEO Ken Hecht said Tuesday.

Jan A. Brodie, executive director of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, recently told Hecht that it wouldn’t make sense to meet with the commission unless he had firm plans to build on the parcel, about half an acre adjacent to his property at 95 Chestnut St. that he rents to the Betaspring business accelerator program and other tenants.

“The commission, to their credit, is armed with the mission to have development occur — to have development occur now — and I understand it and appreciate that,” Hecht said. “And my proposal was not necessarily ‘Here’s the plans for the building; we’re going to start building next month.’” Click here for the complete article.

As the 2014 legislative session wound to a close, the long-planned/awaited Garrahy Courthouse parking garage came closer to realization. The lot, pictured at left, would become a multi-story garage with retail on the ground floor and a possible satellite RIPTA bus depot.

Things appear to be on the move all around that lot. The legislature  enabled the joint Brown, Rhode Island College and University of Rhode Island re-purposing of the abandoned power plant on Dyer Street. That project alone will bring hundreds of new people into the district on a daily basis. Developers have expressed interest in several 195 parcels as the infrastructure work nears completion.  That means more people coming into the area.

As development proceeds and daily activity increases, additional parking will be sorely needed. So will the improved mass transit capabilities the proposed bus depot would bring to the District.

One of the 195 parcels mentioned as a possible site for a "life science incubator" is just off-camera diagonally across the Clifford and Richmond intersection from the southwest corner of the current Garrahy parking lot.

In its issue for June 23d, Providence Business News provided background and full details.

This handsome new traffic light control box sits at the newly rebuilt intersection of E. Franklin and Clifford Streets.

We're used to random, crude tagging, spray paint applied willy nilly that  calls for attention from the Mayor's Grafitti Patrol.

But we'd say that if there has to be a traffic light control box stuck somewhere like a sore thumb, at least this one wears a cheery, well thought-out Design — with a capital "D".  Best part is: it isn't in the middle of the sidewalk. One can stand in the middle of the side walk and admire the work of art... instead of having to step off the sidewalk to get around the contraption.

Whoever's responsible for this, congratulations!

For examples of sidewalk decor and strange control-box siting, check the rogues gallery here.

It's pouring sidewalks in the Jewelry District.

In keeping with today's landscaping standards, the sidewalks come with what look like oversize tree cuts. This week tree-planting crews began filling the holes with nice-sized  saplings.

Up along East Franklin St. (highway parlance would have called it Service Road X in days gone by) pairs of Hornbeam and Cherry have recently been planted. Not just along the sidewalks, but in the berms and down the embankments along the edge of I-95.

Now the tree planters are moving down the upper restored sections of Clifford (at right) and Friendship. We assume that the tree cuts in the walks down the "hill", below Chestnut, will be leafing out soon, as well.

And, come Spring 2015, the District will show off with its own display of cherry blossoms.

Iway City Streets West, Providence
 
Richmond Street (see picture), between Ship and Friendship Streets, remains closed for utility work. Please follow signed detour.
 
Ongoing Construction
 
Narrowing of city streets is anticipated project-wide weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dyer Street (between Ship and Friendship Streets), Point Street (between Eddy Street and I-95), Eddy Street (between Ship and Point Streets) and Chestnut Street (between Friendship and Clifford Streets) are narrowed for utility construction. New electrical conduit will be installed on Chestnut and Clifford Streets, while drainage will be installed along Dyer and Richmond Streets. Pavement removal is scheduled for sections of Friendship, Clifford, Richmond and Chestnut Streets. Curb and sidewalk installation is ongoing project-wide, and wheel-chair ramps are being installed along Eddy Street.

Iway City Streets East, Providence
 
On Saturday, we expect to have one lane open in each direction on South Water and Wickenden Streets for utility work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Our weekly activities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday will include demolition and rebuilding of a manhole along Wickenden Street and also work on new gas lines on South Main Street. We'll be excavating on Wickenden Street for new drainage lines, signal foundations and electrical conduit. New concrete sidewalks will be placed on South Water and South Main Streets. Anticipate narrowed lanes on South Water, South Main and Wickenden Streets with a single-lane closure on South Main and Wickenden Streets.

Iway City Streets West, Providence
 
Richmond Street, between Ship and Friendship Streets, is still closed for utility work. Please follow signed detour.
 
We are working weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with narrowed lanes anticipated project-wide. Dyer Street (between Ship and Friendship Streets), Point Street (between Eddy Street and I-95), Eddy Street (between Ship and Point Streets) and Chestnut Street (between Friendship and Clifford Streets) will be narrowed for utility construction. We will be installing new electrical conduit on Chestnut and Clifford Streets, and drainage along Dyer and Richmond Streets. Pavement removal is scheduled for sections of Friendship, Clifford, Richmond and Chestnut Streets, with street lighting conduit installation ongoing project-wide. In addition, wheel chair ramps will be installed on Eddy Street.

Iway City Streets East, Providence
 
Anticipate narrowed lanes on South Main, South Water and Wickenden Streets, with a single-lane closure on South Main and Wickenden Streets weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Wickenden Street, we will be demolishing and rebuilding a manhole, excavating for new drainage and installing curbing. We also plan to place new concrete sidewalks on South Water and South Main Streets.

In a burst of activity, the new Clifford and Friendship Streets appeared in macadamic splendor on April 17th. Not that one can drive on these beautifully smooth swaths of pavement – stark contrast to their cratered neighbors – but they are pretty to look at... and dream of the day we can use them. In the meantime, enjoy the view.

Look left and there's the west end of Clifford as it crosses East Franklin Street and slides right onto the Clif... er no, the Friendship Street bridge over I-95. A new East/West link for traffic and for bikers and walkers. And one of these days, the crossing for city Walk as it wends its way from India Point Park to Roger Williams Park.

Look right, against oncoming traffic (Clifford, when it reopens completely, will be one-way west), down the hill toward the Garaghy Legal Complex. There's the rejuvenated section that will connect all the bits and pieces of Clifford to its east end at Dyer Street.

Imagine sailing up the hill from your most recent court appearance on glass-smooth macadam, with no concerns for stone quarry-caliber pot holes. The future lies ahead.