Federal Hill
Setting up, here is downcity Providence from the edge of Federal Hill, looking across I-95. Off to the left is the Westin, centre is the downcity towers, and on the right is the big ass, ugly as hell Holiday Inn.
The Federal Hill Arch is the main entrance to Federal Hill from Downcity Providence.
Old Canteen Restaurant
Mediterraneo Restaurant, one of the best in Providence
Mountain Street. I had intended to shoot some of the residential side streets in the area, but this is the only one I got. When I do the West Side I’ll get some more residential. This street is pretty typical of the streets right off the Main Drag, Atwells Avenue.
Atwells Avenue at Dean Street looking toward Downcity. The tower in the picture is Dominica Manor, an assisted living facility. There is talk of another tower being built to the right of it, hopefully a better looking tower.
I have no idea what this church is called, all I know is I hear it’s bells every hour on the hour. There was a big swarm of emergency vehicles decending on the building next door, otherwise I would have got more pictures here.
Back on Atwells Avenue
Jessie’s has some great desserts. L’Epicurio and Naissance next store are 2 more restaurants. There’s a reason they call this area Restaurant Row.
A rare non-restaurant store front.
Scialo Bros. Bakery, authentic Italian stuff here folks. (guy waving the hat thinks I’m gonna make him famous).
DePasquale Square. This small one-block section of DePasquale Street was closed down to create this square, I think in the mid 80s. The square is lined with food stores and cafes/restaurants. Soon a boutique hotel will open on the square. There were quite a few people enjoying the weather in the cafes today. On summer nights this place is jumpin’!
Aqua Viva, another member of Restaurant Row.
The blue sign marks the kilometres to major cities in Europe.
Almonte’s is some strange timewarp. It kind of scares me.
Tony’s Colonial is one of at least 4 Italian Markets on Federal Hill
I really love the blue house on the right. Just outside the frame of this shot is the Christmas Tree that hasn’t been removed yet, it’s been knocked over, now someone needs to take it away.
Back in the 70s and 80s Federal Hill and Atwells Avenue were known mostly for the Mafia, and Tattoos. The Mafia is (pretty much) gone, but there are still several tattoo parlors on the Hill.
Other end of the Hill, and another church I don’t know the name of.
6-10 is a beltway that wraps way too close to the city. This section was supposed to connect to I-84 which was to run to Hartford, CT. But I-84 was never built and this is kind of a highway to nowhere. Just beyond the bend it enters Downtown Providence and becomes a surface boulevard, thankfully plans to build an expressway through the downtown were averted.
The Atwells Avenue Bridge over 6-10. We’re leaving Federal Hill and heading down into Eagle Square and the nighbourhood simple known as ‘Valley.’
Eagle Square
Eagle Square, In the forground are two new ‘Mill Style’ buildings and in the background is an original mill building. You can see a Dunkin Donuts in one of the new buildings (yes, I stopped for an Ice Coffee). Where all the dirt is piled up in the foreground used to be a dumpy little Dunkin Donuts. It was moved into the new building and it’s building was knocked down. A new ‘Mill Style’ building will be put up in it’s place.
Looking back up toward Federal Hill. The blue building should be becoming a restaurant soon. There was a 'for lease' sign on it, that is now gone which makes me think something is getting ready to move in. Good news, it’s a really cool building.
Eagle Square is being developed into a combination of retail, office, condo, apartment, and live/work artists spaces. This is one of the mill buildings that were saved to become part of the project.
The Woonasquatucket River runs through the Eagle Square development. The Woonasquatucket continues into the city and becomes Waterplace Park downtown. It should eventually be lined with parks and paths all the way through the city to the Bay.
What almost was: The original plan was to knock down all the mill buildings and create a strip mall. The community was outraged when buildings started coming down and forced a halt to the project. This section is what was torn down. This supermarket is much needed, but luckily the rest of the complex was saved and does not look like this.
More of the River:
