lots in limbo

lucia44 — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:37:28 +0000

6:08

lucia44 — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:15:13 +0000

6:08 pm… Hi all, it’s Lucia. I’m kind of upset that I wasn’t here for the beginning because we are still managing to draw a fair amount of people- the free doughnuts have a little to do with it though. Nonetheless, people have been incredibly interested in the project and very supportive.

I’m afraid I’ve always been better at showing than telling though, so…..

4:25

sew7 — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:39:26 +0000

We are so pleased that people are interested in contributing to our paper chains of dreams for the vacant lot at 110 Westminster Street. One local business lady we chatted with mentioned how she had recently moved from Hyannis. She shared with us how in Hyannis, a vacant lot has been transformed into a green space, where workers like herself could enjoy peaceful lunches on a nice day.

Just as I was writing this, a local delivery car stopped mid way down Westminster Street to see our installation. He shouted his disappointment that 110 Westminster has stayed vacant so long, and his desire to have some kind of green space. Seems to be a running theme…

3:35

sew7 — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:44:07 +0000

Lots in Limbo in the Afternoon- we’ve been chatting with folks for nearly 6 hours at this point. I think we’ve all been pleasantly surprised by how interested people are in our sidewalk display. The conversations coming out of public art on the sidewalk has been impressive.

If you are interested in getting involved about 110 Westminster, we have an update. Chris Ise principal planner for the Department of Planning and Development came by to see our site. Here’s his update. He reports that this month the Downcity Design Review Committee (regulatory body for Downtown Development) will hear an application from the owner of the 110 Westminster site to demolish the Weybosset Street facade and pave the lot for surface parking. The owner’s proposal maximizes the amount of parking spaces and includes only the minimum amount of required landscaping. Once the meeting is scheduled, the agenda will be posted on the Planning Department website. Public comment is encouraged.

2:38 p.m.

robynschroeder — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:42:59 +0000

2:38 p.m.: A very nice woman suggested, on behalf of us as students, that the space ought to be a student center of site of learning.

Another man, a development realist, lamented that the ultimate decisive factor in what will go into Providence’s empty spaces is money, “and there isn’t any money in public parks.”

Great responses from RISD students today; two students suggested permaculture (symbiotic agriculture that’s not monocropping), perennials, a “jungle gym for grown-ups,” or a “food forest” with fruit trees!

2:19 p.m.

robynschroeder — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:21:24 +0000

2:19 p.m. – Seems a lot of people, many of them RISD-affiliated, have been imagining projects around this very lot, including having designed buildings they imagined for it, and creating a book of parking lots in Providence. Hopefully they’ll be in touch with us and we can link to their materials!

Side note 1: People are reading our “chains”–the papers we’re hanging that connect people’s ideas for the space to each other. Come down and add your own!

Side note 2: Honu the Beagle is currently working at our site, and is very popular–although she wishes she were working the Dunkin Donuts station….

2:16 p.m.

robynschroeder — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:02:05 +0000

2:16 p.m.: Our Copacetic Jewelry sign was used! We put that sign up because we’d talked to Don from Copacetic in the course of interviewing folks in the neighborhood; he reported that the lack of a throughway, either through the Arcade or through the building that was never built at 110 Westminster, prevents people from getting from Westminster to Weybosset Street and hurts his business. He wasn’t the only person to mention it (check out the interview page!).

Someone was casting about, unable to imagine how to get to his store; so his story checks out, and one could only wish for his sake that we could leave the sign up past today. Or that that throughway were possible…

1:35 p.m.

robynschroeder — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:00:49 +0000

1:35 p.m.: A note on the donuts: come on down and take one! And you don’t have to wait until no one’s looking; no one’s judging, here.

12:50PM

caikola — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:03:38 +0000

We are getting wonderful contributions! Most people are pulled in by sheer curiosity. A fellow came by on a striped bike and put his thoughts on the paper chain of ideas—he wanted a park, a suggestion that is quite popular among residents. ‘Parking lot’ has also retained popularity, although I recently overheard a woman say, “I’d rather see them build a few well-placed parking garages than turn a space into a parking lot.” We’ve also heard ‘swimming pool’ quite a few times—perhaps because of the temperature outside today (the perfect day for swimming).

A couple on bikes road by and proposed an orchard to go in the space. Meanwhile, a businessman strode through and chuckled, “A big playground!” Providence is such a playful city—even grown-ups want more swingsets and slides. There are also the very practical-minded few who are thinking about the current economic climate. A woman who’s currently homeless stopped to chat with Annie. She initially said she wanted to see housing for the homeless in this empty space, but then expressed that she wanted something that would generate jobs for people and income for the state. She suggested science labs, schools to train scientists, or small businesses.

As I write, four people sit on the steps outside of Webster Bank and just watch what we’re doing across the street. It’s exciting to be generating so much interest!

12:20PM

amy — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:41:18 +0000

I’ve uploaded some photos. Click to see the images.

Passersby Sophie hula hoops, using the space as a play area.

Shana and Erin draw windows onto the cardboard “buildings.”