Friends Of Brown Street Park
By Barry Fain
Get down and dirty! GARDENERS, PLEASE, WE NEED YOUR GREEN THUMBS! We are looking for volunteers to assist with beatifying any time from once a week to once a month for the beds at Brown Street Park! Also, if you are interested in donating any plantings, please contact Meg Wirth for details at Meg@FriendsofBrownStreetPark.org.
The Whole Foods Market garden has been created at the south entrance to the park. Thanks to all who participated in the design and installation. Look for native wildflowers planted along the 'forest' section of the south side of the park and in a third perennial bed behind the adult fitness station.
A children's garden is in the works! FBSP has enlisted Kate LaCouture of Green Circle Design and the third graders at the Mount Hope Learning Center to design a children's garden filled with color and texture.
Thank you again to the RISD Architectural Department students who designed such fantastic sculptural installations at Brown Street Park. It was an incredible pleasure for the FBSP to host this project with RISD and we look forward to retaining one of the designs in the park as a permanent piece. Our many thanks also to the Providence Parks Department for making it all possible. Neighbors and all visitors of the park, we would love to hear your thoughts about the exhibit! Please contact us directly at Allison@FriendsofBrownStreetPark.org with your comments and experiences.
The seating at Brown Street Park just got comfier! Check out the new retaining wall (the big W shaped structure in the middle of the park). We will continue to add more "benches" around the park as well.
We will continue to be developing the park grounds throughout the summer, and as we continue to make improvements, we ask for everyone's efforts and respect in keeping the park clean of all trash and waste. And, for safety measures in accordance with the Parks Department, all pets must be kept out of the park grounds. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
A reminder that you can support the FBSP when you collect your Eastside Marketplace receipts for "The Friendship Fund" and then mail them to or drop with Marcy Wemple of 87 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02904. Eastside Marketplace will then make a donation equivalent to 1% of the total to Friends of Brown Street Park to support our revitalization efforts.
For more information about becoming a member, volunteer, sponsor or donor of Friends of Brown Street Park. Please visit our website at www.FriendsofBrownStreetPark.org to learn how.
FBSP T-shirts are available for $15 and wildflower seed packets (set of 3) are for sale for $5 a pack. Membership fees are $15 for an individual and $20 for a family.
Friends of Brown Street Park is a 501C(3) non-profit organization. All donations to the group are tax-deductible.
College Hill News
By Barry Fain
The April Meeting of the College Hill Neighborhood Association (CHNA) was held on Monday, April 8 at extraordinary School One. As always, we appreciate School One's willingness to make their space available for us.
SAVE THE DATE OF THURSDAY, JUNE 12
That's when the CHNA will hold its Annual Meeting and Spring Social at Prospect Terrace on Congdon Street from 6 to 8PM. While some business will be conducted... a report of the past year's activities and the election of the new officers and a Board of Directors for the group... it will also be an opportunity for all residents of College Hill to get together for an evening of food, fellowship, music and family fun. Ed Bishop, Barry Fain, Susan Haffenreffer, Brenda Shannon and Allison Spooner have agreed to help plan the event. If you'd like to get involved or if you have interest in being considered for the Board, please contact 453-3937.
College Hill/Fox Point/Wayland Charette planned for May 5-8
The City has finally announced tentative plans for a planning charette that will include College Hill, Fox Point and Wayland Square during which residents can offer their input into the new Comprehensive Plan for Providence as it effects us specifically. The charette will be on held from May 5 to 8 at a location still to be determined as we go to press. Call the City's Planning Office at 351-4300, ext522 or their website at providenceplanning.org for the location. This will be our first, and possibly last, chance to make comments on the plan so don't miss it.
Brown urged to save three buildings
The CHNA took two votes in response to planned Brown initiatives in our area. Brown recently held a public meeting at which they updated the neighborhood on the status of their Master Plan for future development. They announced that their new 80,000 sq. ft., four-story brain science building planned for Angell Street will require the relocation or demolition of three 19th century buildings. While Brown is aggressively seeking sites for the relocations, they admit that if they cannot find suitable alternatives, the buildings will have to come down. The CHNA passed a resolution unanimously urging Brown to do what it must to find suitable new homes for the old buildings. In particular, the UEL building has important historical ties to both Brown and College Hill and should be relocated. The Board also voted unanimously to urge Brown to preserve the historic wall of the Dexter Asylum and Farm on Hope Street when they begin the renovations needed for the planned Nelson Student Center.
We understand that four additional local students have been found to have been involved in graffiti-related activities on the East Side. We urge everyone to be as vigilant as possible in helping the police to apprehend those who may be involved in such activities. CHNA's task force continues to work with other organizations throughout the city in seeking appropriate strategies and solutions for reducing the spread of and removing graffiti.
Special kudos to our neighbors working on the Brown Street Park as they continue their remarkable progress which now boasts a new bench designed by RISD students, a garden supported by Whole Foods and new trex seating for the wall at the park. Check out the new park as it just keeps getting better and better.
Please send in your 2008 Dues
If you live in the College Hill area... or if just want to help support our efforts to beautify and protect our neighborhood...please send your dues for $25/family to Susan Hardy, treasurer, CHNA, Box 2442, Providence 02906. We thank you in advance and pledge that the money will be spent wisely. Also check out our website at www.collegehillneighborhoodassociation.org. And remember our Board meetings are open if you'd like to attend. Call 453-3937 for meeting dates.
Fox Point News
By John Rousseau
Neighborhood & Waterfront Charettes Scheduled
The residents of Fox Point, College Hill and Wayland Square will have one last chance to voice their opinions and concerns for the future development of their neighborhoods at a charette, now scheduled for May 5, 6, 7 and 8 .The neighborhood charette is being hosted by the City of Providence's Planning and Development Department for final resident input into its Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted by the City Council November 1, 2007.
These residents, along with other groups, also can impact the final recommendations for head of Narragansett Bay at a Waterfront Charette to be held June 9, 10, 11 and 12. The Fox Point Neighborhood Association, in conjunction with the Head of the Bay Gateway Committee, will be urging the public use of the Shooters property at the Charette.
Recently, the Head of the Bay Gateway Committee held a waterfront workshop, entitled "Making a Special Place at Head of the Bay." The interactive workshop was led by Ethan Kent of the Project for Public Spaces, a non-profit organization that provides workshops and technical assistance to waterfront communities. Founded in 1975, the project has helped neighborhoods revive their waterfronts in over 1,000 communities all over the world. (More on the workshop in the next issue.)
Be sure to check for announcements of charette locations at the city's web site, www.providenceri.com and then by selecting Planning & Development under "City Departments Online."
In March, the City Council's Ordinance Committee also recommended that the Shooters property be re-zoned from mixed-use waterfront to a public space designation. (At publication time, the council has not voted on the ordinance.)
FPNA President Daisy Schepel said she hopes the ordinance won't be necessary because of growing interest in making the site into a public space with maritime uses. "The upcoming charettes are opportunities for the Gateway Committee to garner support from several sectors in the city and state," Schnepel said. "If enough people speak out against proposals for high-rise condominiums at this location, then maybe Mayor Cicilline and others will weigh in on the importance of it remaining a public space."
Bus Shelter To Tell Story of Fox Point
A new bus shelter, that will incorporate Fox Point history, is being planned for Wickenden Street, according to Ward I Councilman Seth Yurdin. The shelter, which will be across the street from the Fox Point Library, will contain a series of panels displaying the neighborhood's heritage through interpretive art and history, Yurdin says.
Yurdin has been working on the project with the City of Providence Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism and the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority, (RIPTA). Though still in the planning stages, a series of panels will highlight Fox Point's history, including the landing of Roger Williams, the birthplace of George M. Cohan and the neighborhood's diverse immigrant populations.
"Connecting people with their neighborhood's history creates a sense of place," Yurdin explains. "We want the bus shelter art and history display to complement our renovation and revitalization of the Fox Point Bath House." He noted that a Request for Proposals (RFP) would be issued soon, followed by opportunities for community comment and input on the project.
Contacts
FPNA email: fpna@cox.net
FPNA Website:
http://www.foxpointprovidence.org/
Gateway Committee:
info@headofthebaygateway.org
Councilman Seth Yurdin:
ward1@providenceri.com, 521-7477
Non-emergency reports of suspicious activity: 272-3121
Brook Street Substation: 243-6990
FPNA meets at 55 Hope Street on the second Monday of each month unless it falls on a holiday. In that case, the meeting is held the next day, Tuesday.
Summit Neighborhood Association
By Jessica Jenner
Get ready for our annual Yard Sale! The date this year is May 10 (rain date May 17), noon to 3 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer, 655 Hope Street. Mark your calendar and start to sort out your treasures. Drop off your contributions at the church during pricing on Friday evening; we can arrange for pickup of large items in good condition. We also need help with setup, sales and clean-up. Volunteering is a great way to meet neighbors and build social capital! To volunteer or arrange for pickup of a large item contact Connie Chesbrough at 726-7123 or email Conniechez@aol.com.
This year's yard sale profits will go to Save the Fountain. The Parks Department is working on a Request for Proposal for an assessment of work required to bring the Lippitt Park fountain back into operation. The original blueprints of the fountain have been digitized; this will make both hard and soft copies available and they will be invaluable for the assessment and the restoration work. Raising the necessary funds to carry through on the project remains a critical concern; for more information e-mail
savethefountain@yahoo.com or go to http://www.savethefountain.blogspot.com.
On March 20 neighbors Tina Wright and Monica Anderson held the first Hope Crime Watch meeting. Providence Police, Miriam Hospital Security and staff from Radius Management (owners of Summit Commons, A Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Hillside) were in attendance. The group agreed that the next step was to survey neighbors and businesses about their interest in having a crime watch and the roles for which they might volunteer. Once the surveys are complete and an interested group of neighbors and businesses has been established a Start-up Meeting will be held on May 20 at 6:30 in The Miriam Hospital Hurvitz Conference room. For more information about the Hope Crime Watch call Tina Wright at 228-8123 or Monica Anderson at 793-2120.
Our new board held its first meeting in March, and is working on the Social Capital notes from the Annual Meeting. There are many good ideas. One under consideration at the moment is to create a list of local interest groups and their important dates. This information can be given directly to any board member, or posted on our email list.
Jonathan Harris, consultant for the North Main Street Project, delivered a base analysis of lots on North Main to an audience of property owners and commercial realtors on Feb. 20. His analysis used overlay maps to show ownership, area, lot coverage, use and assessed value of every property between Branch Avenue and the Pawtucket line. One finding that jumped out was the huge variation in assessed value from lot to lot. Another was that there are no parcels under one owner large enough for a major development project.
Miriam Hospital recently retained Vanasse, Hangin, Brustlin, Inc., to conduct a parking study in the area surrounding their campus. The consultants found that most employees park in off-site lots and are shuttled to campus. The hospital parking committee meets monthly, and employees who receive two or more parking tickets come before the committee and receive a written warning from their supervisor; any additional tickets carry the potential for loss of transfer or loss of job. New employees are given information about parking and other neighborhood issues at their orientation. If you believe a Miriam employee is parking regularly in front of your house, call the Miriam hotline at 793-4040 and leave a message; include the license plate number and your name and phone number.
The introduction of valet parking in Lot B has eased visitor parking, and once construction crews have moved it will provide additional relief. There is no charge for parking in any of the Miriam lots. Miriam Security helps the City of Providence to enforce on-street parking regulations, and the consultants recommended that the hospital also help ensure that all necessary signage is in place in the vicinity.
We send a very big thank-you to two of our neighborhood restaurants for their support. India Restaurant hosted our party to honor the stalwart souls who distribute the newsletter, and then welcomed us again when we held an orientation for prospective board members. Our recent wine tasting was held at Pizzico; it was a lovely event and enjoyed by about 20 people.
Groundworks Providence needs help with neighborhood spring tree planting; fall planting requests must be in by June 1 at www.pnpp.org.
For more information about SNA or to join the email list go to our website: www.summitneighbors.org.
Blackstone Parks Conservancy
By Anna Browder
Blackstone Boulevard – A New Challenge
That little windowless building built of uncut fieldstones opposite the entrance to Swan Point Cemetery? It's a trolley shelter and it's listed on the National Registry of Historical Places.
It was built in 1905 across from the entrance to Swan Point Cemetery to provide shelter for Cemetery visitors who were waiting for the new Butler Avenue Trolley to return them from their visit to the cemetery. It was commissioned by the Directors of Swan Point Cemetery and designed by the prominent Providence architecture firm of Stone, Carpenter & Willson to complement the cemetery wall across the street. At the time, it was furnished with comfortable benches and a waterline for a drinking fountain. In 1948, the Butler Avenue trolley line discontinued service and the shelter became a resting spot for pedestrians enjoying the footpath that replaced the trolley rails. In 1978, the shelter was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The building was built to last at least 100 years. Now, of course, that time has passed, and it is in need of some serious work. Almost all of the intricate cedar trim visible in contemporary photographs has deteriorated and has been removed and many of the cedar roof shingles are falling off. A number of the fieldstones have become dislodged and fallen to the ground, with the deterioration rate increasing in the last few years. Since it's in a popular and unguarded area, in its present dilapidated state it has become hazardous.
We are about to begin a campaign to restore it, depending on grants, funds from the Swan Point Cemetery, and community contributions. The first phase would include the removal and replacement of all of the wooden roof shingles and installation of new red copper valleys and a drip edge around the perimeter of the roofline. The dislodged boulders would be set back in place and mortared as needed. The second phase would add benches, historical/educational signs, landscaping, and perhaps lighting.
You have probably seen the four new benches on the boulevard, but do you know that two benches were replaced on River Drive? One had been stolen off its pad and the other was destroyed by a vehicle driving into it, leaving behind assorted vehicle parts scattered far and wide. Damage and loss occur; one bench on the boulevard lost an arm when a tree branch was blown into it in a violent windstorm. The part will be replaced.
Your Eastside Marketplace cash register receipts help cover our expenses. We receive 1% of their face value, and received a check for $177 in December. Mail receipts to The Blackstone Parks Conservancy, PO Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906.
Visit our website to learn how to become a BPC member at www.blackstoneparksconservancy.org, which is designed and updated by our invaluable volunteer, Dominic Capuano, of Capri Systems, Inc. Email us at
estherc@blackstoneparksconservancy.org.
Wayland Square
By David Kolsky
The City's ever-changing schedule for involving the neighborhoods in writing a new Comprehensive Plan (Providence Tomorrow) switched its plans at the last minute yet again. This means that the Neighborhood Discussion Group's meeting on April 23rd (before you read this) discussed the May 5-8 workshops (charrettes) for Wayland Square, Fox Point and College Hill, rather than those planned for the Waterfront, which we can now consider at our May 28th meeting.
The new schedule, which laudably allows for more participation of the students and staff who leave town after final exams, is May 5-8: Fox Point, Wayland Square and College Hill; June 9-13: the Waterfront (from India Point to Allens Avenue). Times and locations had not been settled as I write this, but you can often (though not always) learn more details from the Providence Tomorrow web site, http://www.providencetomorrow.org.
I would urge anyone interested in the future of the East Side, including the future plans of Brown and RISD, to attend at least one or two of these charrettes. You may never have another such a direct opportunity to learn about and express your own views about the direction of our neighborhoods and this whole southern end of the East Side, from India Point to the First Baptist Church to Richmond Square. Not only will these workshops have an important role in determining how the area is zoned, but many other relevant issues like safety, recreation, transportation, housing and the environment will be discussed. The tone will be very informal and recognizes that people may have to drop in and out of particular workshops in response to other obligations.
The Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square (471 Angell Street near Elmgrove) is planning to have a speaker from the Planning and Community Development Department explain the latest details and mechanisms for the Waterfront charrettes at this month's meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m on Wednesday May 28th. Because that speaker may have other engagements that evening, we will hear her or him at the beginning of the meeting.
The Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square meets (when practical) from 7 to 8:45 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month. For more details, watch this column, the Angell Street window of Books on the Square, or our publicly viewable Yahoo! Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WaylandSquare (no requirement to join the Group).
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