Planning & Development
Cranston Zoning Fun: The Great Wall of Nothing
Here’s a storefront on one of Auburn’s main thoroughfares, Pontiac Avenue. This is a street-facing facade, seen by hundreds of pedestrians and motorists daily, right in the heart of the neighborhood. I guess there’s a peculiar chain-pharmacy architectural standard that precludes the use of windows, but this example seems very Cold War.
Nothing says, “Hey, come on in, we’re open!” like a 16 foot cinder block wall. Remember to show a valid passport at the magnetic security device on your way in. And by the way, you’re on closed circuit TV.
In fairness, this Monument of Welcomeness is the work of Brooks/Maxi Drug, which only recently sold their stores to Rite Aid. The former drugstore chain was a notorious zoning ordinance bully.
On the other hand, had windows actually been included in the original facade, they’d probably be plastered with neon sales flyers anyway.
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Monday November 23, 2009
Fixing Rolfe Square: Pimp Your Storefront Edition
Ruth’s Lingerie storefront during a sale last year Things are starting to look up for Rolfe Square. Soon they will be looking fabulous. The Artists’ Exchange has teamed up with students from Rhode Island School of Design to redesign six storefronts. Artists’ Exchange Director Elaine McKenna-Yeaw says “the idea is to... more
Saturday October 24, 2009
The Park Cinema Reopens for a Sequel
At 5 PM last night, the Park Cinema officially re-opened as the Rhode Island Center for Performing Arts. Rolfe Square took on a completely different feeling when the theater was illuminated and pods of people spilled out onto the neighboring streets. It was especially striking to see the Park sign... more
Monday October 19, 2009
Fung On Board With Transit Oriented Development
Cranston Mayor Allan Fung was recently selected to attend the Northeast Session of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design. The two and a half day seminar was an opportunity for mayors to present urban development challenges to teams of city planning and design professionals. After each presentation, mayors and designers... more
Tuesday September 29, 2009
Drive In?
The first sign of a pulse at the Park Cinema came in August with the opening of the Park Café and the 848 Club along the facade of the renovated structure. The Park Avenue landmark, built in 1924 by theater mogul Abraham A. Spitz, is emerging from a 5-year, and... more
Thursday August 13, 2009
Stop & Shop Plan Questionable
At a special planning review meeting last week, area residents voiced concerns about a proposed Stop & Shop on Warwick Avenue, including lighting, noise, traffic and trash.
Besides the fact that this is a shallow use for this potentially great location, a bigger issue with this proposal is its impact on the city's recurring flood problems.
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