2120 replies to this topic

[Cotuit]

Garris, on Mar 7 2005, 11:58 AM, said:

BTW: He mentions that the Westin addition will be 28 stories (the lucky guy has apparently gotten an early look at the design...  and it is good  ).  Did we know this about the height before?  If 28 stories is right, so much for a new Providence tallest (especially in that depression it is in).  Also, he seems to be treating some of those other projects (like the LaSalle Sq) as being solid.  I thought that some of those were "hopeful" developments of the Power Block, correct?

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That was the first I had heard any solid numbers on anything for the second Westin Tower (I wonder what hotel it will become with Starwood losing out on the bid process?). The current Westin is 25 floors, so we won't be seeing a literal twin, happily. One Financial Plaza (the white tower) is 28 floors with a flat roof, but those are office floors which are usually taller than hotel/residential floors. The new Westin tower will likely have roof detailing similar to the current tower, so it will be taller than 28 floors implies. It still could nab second place. The depression it sits in will minimize it's impact on the skyline though. The current Westin really doesn't do anything for the skyline from most angles currently. It will be interesting to see it as a two tower complex. The whole Power Block may have some sort of second skyline effect. It's going to be interesting.

He was speaking quite "this is what is happening" about the rest of the Power Block. The Hilton project seems pretty solid to me, but I'm very much waiting and seeing on the other 2 condo towers. I'm sure he saw these quite some time ago.

I wish the Journal would have the other side of the traditional/modernist debate more often. There's someone from RISD who writes very occassionally.

[Garris]

Cotuit, on Mar 7 2005, 11:18 AM, said:

The current Westin really doesn't do anything for the skyline from most angles currently. It will be interesting to see it as a two tower complex. The whole Power Block may have some sort of second skyline effect. It's going to be interesting.

Agreed, it will be interesting.  The Westin, while really not a factor in the skyline from the N/S/E sides of Providence, is actually quite dominant from areas of the West side.  If I could find a good photographic area (which I actually haven't been able to as yet) from the West of the skyline, I'll show everyone.  The Westin dwarfts everything else from that perspective, and is actually quite well integrated.

Cotuit, on Mar 7 2005, 11:18 AM, said:

I wish the Journal would have the other side of the traditional/modernist debate more often. There's someone from RISD who writes very occassionally.

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True, but the RISD guy is seemingly just as opinionated (if not more so) in the pro-Modernist camp as D. Brussat is against it.  

- Garris

[Soren]

Cotuit, on Mar 7 2005, 01:18 PM, said:

The whole Power Block may have some sort of second skyline effect. It's going to be interesting.

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One thing I like about OTW and the other development projects in the works is that Providence will lose the one-dimensionality of the current skyline.  It sometimes looks like a stage set, with the three tall buildings in a row, and not much else.

[Cotuit]

Garris, on Mar 8 2005, 08:41 AM, said:

Agreed, it will be interesting.  The Westin, while really not a factor in the skyline from the N/S/E sides of Providence, is actually quite dominant from areas of the West side.  If I could find a good photographic area (which I actually haven't been able to as yet) from the West of the skyline, I'll show everyone.  The Westin dwarfts everything else from that perspective, and is actually quite well integrated.

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What area from the west are you thinking? I can't see the Westin from Federal Hill. I can see the Financial District towers, and I can see the State House, but not the Westin. Although I think if I crane my neck from my bedroom skylight I can just make it out.

I'm wondering what kind of view the Rialto and other Federal Hill condos might enjoy of it.

You can see the Westin quite prominently from Dean Street at Route 10, but what a horrible place to stand and enjoy the view!

Garris, on Mar 8 2005, 08:41 AM, said:

True, but the RISD guy is seemingly just as opinionated (if not more so) in the pro-Modernist camp as D. Brussat is against it.

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At least it creates a balance, even if it is a balance of extremes.

[eltron]

Garris, on Mar 8 2005, 09:41 AM, said:

If I could find a good photographic area (which I actually haven't been able to as yet) from the West of the skyline, I'll show everyone. 

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Try the hill above Eagle Square/Rising Sun - Putnam Street off of Atwells, heading into the "bad" part of town. The view of downtown is remarkable from there, if a bit far. Bring a zoom lense!

[Cotuit]

eltron, on Mar 8 2005, 09:53 AM, said:

Try the hill above Eagle Square/Rising Sun - Putnam Street off of Atwells, heading into the "bad" part of town. The view of downtown is remarkable from there, if a bit far. Bring a zoom lense!

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I was looking up there yesterday when I went grocery shopping, I need to get up there. It's like Great Mount Providence or something.

[Liamlunchtray]

Cotuit, on Mar 8 2005, 10:11 AM, said:

I was looking up there yesterday when I went grocery shopping, I need to get up there. It's like Great Mount Providence or something.

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Back when SoundStation7 was still open (Recording studio that was in an amazing converted Fire Station up that way) I was able to go up to the top of the Hose Drying tower. The view of the city was fantastic from up there. It was up that hill and then on a side street off to the left. Cant remember the actual street name to save myself though.

Liam

[eltron]

Liamlunchtray, on Mar 8 2005, 12:02 PM, said:

Back when SoundStation7 was still open (Recording studio that was in an amazing converted Fire Station up that way) I was able to go up to the top of the Hose Drying tower. The view of the city was fantastic from up there. It was up that hill and then on a side street off to the left. Cant remember the actual street name to save myself though.

Liam

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Oooof!

Lucky beotch! The view there really is incredible. The firehouse/SoundStation 7 was on the market last year, but they took it off to deal with some zoning issues and what to do with the recording equipment. Its an awesome building, and I would LOVE to get my hands on it!

[provid]

Dimeo has been hired for this job. ( Construction Management )

[Cotuit]

mikepl, on Mar 8 2005, 03:34 PM, said:

Dimeo has been hired for this job. ( Construction Management )

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Who are you sleeping with?  

I'm a little surprised that Dimeo got this, I didn't realize they could take on something this big. I was kind of expecting someone out of state like Suffolk.

[Soren]

mikepl, on Mar 8 2005, 04:34 PM, said:

Dimeo has been hired for this job. ( Construction Management )

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Based on a quick look at their web site, this will probably be the tallest thing they've done, though I doubt it will be close in square footage.

[Liamlunchtray]

eltron, on Mar 8 2005, 03:04 PM, said:

Oooof!

Lucky beotch! The view there really is incredible. The firehouse/SoundStation 7 was on the market last year, but they took it off to deal with some zoning issues and what to do with the recording equipment. Its an awesome building, and I would LOVE to get my hands on it!

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Yeah, that building just blew me away. I would LOVE to have been able to buy it!  It could really be a fantastic house. Its too bad that the neighborhood is so rough. I mean, i think I would be OK living there, but a lot of other people wouldnt. If you reopened the overhead doors then you could pull your cars right in. Fortress of Solitude!

Liam

[Garris]

eltron, on Mar 8 2005, 08:53 AM, said:

Try the hill above Eagle Square/Rising Sun - Putnam Street off of Atwells, heading into the "bad" part of town. The view of downtown is remarkable from there, if a bit far. Bring a zoom lense!

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Thanks for the tip.  I'll check it out (and bring the zoom lens).

- Garris

[Garris]

Cotuit, on Mar 8 2005, 07:59 AM, said:

You can see the Westin quite prominently from Dean Street at Route 10, but what a horrible place to stand and enjoy the view!
At least it creates a balance, even if it is a balance of extremes.

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This was actually the area I was thinking of, more or less.  I haven't found it quite yet, but somewhere near there is a "sweet spot" where the Westin is nicely integrated into the skyline.  

I too wonder what kind of view the Federal Hill condos will have of downtown...  It'll be quite nice, I wager...

- Garris

[Cotuit]

Crappy pic, but...

[CtownMikey]

sorry if I may have missed it, but I just recently read that old article (sorry not exactly old).. by David Brussat..and he mentions 1 of the 5 'skyskrapers" to be 55 broadway?? I have been checking UrbanPlanet like 4 times daily and I havent read a thing about it Im guessing that it is old news. I'm just wondering is there any info about it?

[Cotuit]

55 Broadway is part of the Power Block proposal. Once we have more concrete information on it, it will probably get it's own thread. 55 Broadway is where the circular gas station was recently torn down at the corner of Broadway and Atwells across from the Holiday Inn.

[Frankie811]

Cotuit, on Mar 12 2005, 12:19 AM, said:

55 Broadway is part of the Power Block proposal. Once we have more concrete information on it, it will probably get it's own thread. 55 Broadway is where the circular gas station was recently torn down at the corner of Broadway and Atwells across from the Holiday Inn.

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http://www.projo.com...13.2486d81.html

      

Edited by Frankie811, 14 April 2005 - 05:04 AM.

[Cotuit]

Quote

Eamon O'Marah, of Blue Chip Properties, said they hope to break ground in October and complete the building in late 2007.

That break ground target is moved up, they previously were saying December.

[KRC]

Cotuit, on Apr 14 2005, 07:38 AM, said:

That break ground target is moved up, they previously were saying December.

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I did see a couple of gentlemen on Westminster Street by the site on Wednesday talking about "just in time" construction scheduling.  I was eavesdropping so I didn't stay to listen for too long.