DESTROYED: Providence Fruit & Produce Warehouse

[DaveRPI]

for the produce warehouse...

i would like to see the building refurbished [only to please preservationists, haha] or torn down... and then added onto with a 15-20 story slender tower at the mall's end and a 8-12 story tower towards projo site. the site itself [not sure of who owns the land on the other side of the exit ramp towards dean pkwy] could stretch from the mall to Dean pkway and could include a couple different styled facades/designs

the 15-20 story tower would be a hotel [with condos] included that would have bridges connecting to the mall over route 95. [this would be a great place for some type of scrolling video board to advertise and navigate providence.

the 8-12 story tower would be located next to or over/under the exit the ramp and would include residential apts or condos

the first floors of the bldg towards the mall's half would include a "super stop n shop - express" haha ok, i made it up, but think "dave's marketplace" in cumberland with the extra amenities but similar size in the urban setting

this area would also include a signature restaurant for the hotel and next to that a "circuit city w/ a verizon wireless" ... the best buy is going in downcity towards the powerblock and fed hill! lol, also some type of outdoor cafe/restaurant area [maybe even a dunkin's and a how about a piccadilly pub for the lunch and after work crowd]

filling out the street i see a dry-cleaners, an H&R block, a wine/liquor store, maybe a another small bar or pub of some sorts towards monet, a late night chinese food place [gotta have one of those in every neighborhood]

parking could be built towards the projo end or a deal worked out with the mall...

ok ok, point is i see this as a residential area off-shoot of downtown and fed hill. people who want to be close to shopping, work, transportation, and restaurants/nightlife would want to set up shop here. i dont see the appeal for it being a tourist attraction at all or even a place where out-of-towners congregate too much. i see it as a mixed-use neighborhood that has the potential of being open for 18-20+ hours a day. businesses that are located there would mostly service the needs of the apartment residents and also the business people within a 5-10 walking distance. things like the circuit city and signature restaurant would be off-shoots of the mall and the hotel and would transition into the needs of the neighborhoods around it also. the supermarket hits an obvious need in an urban area where residents and office people often have to travel distances to get basic goods

this area reminds me of the leather district in boston for some reason even tho the price scales are completely off

maybe its the proximity to downtown crossing and the financial district and south station that makes me think that way...

[CtownMikey]

if any more residential is added to this area, i would hope it isnt high end luxury condos again. Any chance of it being affordable apartments that high school teachers, fireman, etc could afford? salaries from 35-60 thousand ish

[Cotuit]

if any more residential is added to this area, i would hope it isnt high end luxury condos again. Any chance of it being affordable apartments that high school teachers, fireman, etc could afford? salaries from 35-60 thousand ish

I think given that it's jammed against the highway the way it is, it could be an area that wouldn't try to go high end. I mean maybe one condo in Providence could have vinyl floors and white appliances.

Also, does anyone know if anyone's buying the903 as 'luxurious?'

[DaveRPI]

I think given that it's jammed against the highway the way it is, it could be an area that wouldn't try to go high end. I mean maybe one condo in Providence could have vinyl floors and white appliances.

Also, does anyone know if anyone's buying the903 as 'luxurious?'

Yeah, I dont know about too high end, but its accessibility to downtown, federal hill, the mall, and the train station are great advantages and selling points. I see it as more of a studio, 1, and 2 bedroom area. It'd be interesting to see what people would pay to live there. This area should flourish between Eagle Square and Alco and then the PP Mall, downtown, and Federal Hill.

[DaveRPI]

btw- I've been staring at live local of this area for a bit now and how cool would it be if there was an elaborate pedestrian bridge that crosses route 10 up to fed hill much like the one going to india point?????

It'd be another great way to connect neighborhoods, parts of downtown, off-shoots of downtown and also be another great place for signage, message boards and advertisements/navigation of the city.

I think it is always very important to "dress up" the entrances to cities and this is an obvious one heading into Prov's downtown

[DaveRPI]

and another thing... with all these bridges I'm talking about, would that create an image or expand upon the image of providence for visitors and residents alike... like venice with the bridges and waterways

it would give the city a multi-level look

[gregw]

All great suggestions. I would personally like to see the Produce Warehouse developed as affordable/midrange townhouses. (I'm sure Carpionato would only do residential if it were high end cause that's apparently where the money is.)

The Produce Warehouse is really a series of identical units/bays strung together not unlike a block of attached brownstones.

[jencoleslaw]

i could be wrong (it has happened) but i think that this property had some serious stipulations attached to it as to how it could be developed and what it could be. It came before CPC once and i thought it unimaginative and banal and too surface-parking-y, but the developer said they were bound by the "covenants" on the rfp but if Thom is around he can probably set us straight.

[Jerry2]

Yeah, I dont know about too high end, but its accessibility to downtown, federal hill, the mall, and the train station are great advantages and selling points. I see it as more of a studio, 1, and 2 bedroom area. It'd be interesting to see what people would pay to live there. This area should flourish between Eagle Square and Alco and then the PP Mall, downtown, and Federal Hill.

Did you notice that their minimum asking price is dropping? Now it's 180K.

[Dan]

Did you notice that their minimum asking price is dropping? Now it's 180K.

This is the starting price for a condo at The 903? Can they even make money selling at that price? The renovations must not have been very extensive!

Why would anyone invest in a unit here right now? It may have a pool and indoor parking, concierge, whatever... but its still location, location, location. As an owner, each day you can look forward to opening your shades to the breathtaking sights of... Providence's most prominent eyesore (now that the Temple is on its way to becoming a Renaissance Hotel). That's not luxury if you ask me.

I'm pretty sure every time there's a fire at the Fruit House, everyone across the street is looking on rooting hard for a total loss.

[Cotuit]

This is the starting price for a condo at The 903?

That's the starting price. Maybe they have 2 or 3 of the smallest units with the worst views (the views over the river are actually rather nice) that cost that much, then they quickly climb. Typical bait and switch.

[Dan]

That's the starting price. Maybe they have 2 or 3 of the smallest units with the worst views (the views over the river are actually rather nice) that cost that much,

Are you saying that the river view units are considered the least desirable? I'd much rather be on the other side, on the boulevard facing the (now sharp-looking) Promenade and the river.

Edit: they're condo units, not rooms Dan

[Cotuit]

Are you saying that the river view units are considered the least desirable?

No, the river side is likely the most desireable.

[basachs]

If you look at the saturday Projo in the real estate transactions there have been a few 903 sales in there. On in the 200's and one @ 300 I believe. There is about a month lag in these, so these sales were in late may/early june.

Someone's buying into it...

[Frankie811]

I'm pretty sure every time there's a fire at the Fruit House, everyone across the street is looking on rooting hard for a total loss.

I would be!!!! I can't even imagine what visitors are thinking as they head towards the mall.

[Recchia]

If they were to go lower than 180, say 150, I'd buy one just so I could live practically right downtown pretty cheap. And I could say "I live at the 903" and sound cool. And a pool!

[Jerry2]

I would be!!!! I can't even imagine what visitors are thinking as they head towards the mall.

We should do an urban planet poll with pictures of this and take a vote. I say tear it down. I agree with Frankie. It's single-handedly the most embarrassing structure still standing in the city.

[DaveRPI]

We should do an urban planet poll with pictures of this and take a vote. I say tear it down. I agree with Frankie. It's single-handedly the most embarrassing structure still standing in the city.

i think it should be torn down and the site extended to dean parkway

nice big blank canvas to work with for the developer and architects/planners

[f1rehead]

We should do an urban planet poll with pictures of this and take a vote. I say tear it down. I agree with Frankie. It's single-handedly the most embarrassing structure still standing in the city.

Are we talking about tearing down "The 903"? Because I would be completely on board with that idea. That building belongs in some Texas suburbs, not in Providence.

[DaveRPI]

haha no, the old warehouse across the street

the 903 isnt spectacular by any means, but it sure as hell beats a empty dirt lot and a goofy looking red brick box warehouse that used to be there

[f1rehead]

haha no, the old warehouse across the street

the 903 isnt spectacular by any means, but it sure as hell beats a empty dirt lot and a goofy looking red brick box warehouse that used to be there

heh. My lame attempt at humor... .

I actually think the warehouse is pretty cool. If I had a $jillion I'd rehab it into 2 story stalls and use it as an art mall. Artists could use the second floor as a studio and the first as a gallery space. Each stall could be either an individual artist or a group of artists. I don't know how many spaces there would be, but certainly there would be enough to make it a "destination" like the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA.

I think it's odd that there isn't anything like that already in a city that puts such an emphasis on art.

[glassandsteel]

Wow, that's a wonderful idea. Too bad it's in the hands of people that wouldn't bother. I'm sure they're focusing on something that would be more lucrative for them but it would have been an excellent proposal merely on it's intent. Maybe somebody could pull something like that off elsewhere in the future.

[Cotuit]

I actually think the warehouse is pretty cool. If I had a $jillion I'd rehab it into 2 story stalls and use it as an art mall. Artists could use the second floor at a studio and the first as a gallery space. Each stall could be either an individual artist or a group of artists. I don't know how many spaces there would be, but certainly there would be enough to make it a "destination" like the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA.

I think it's odd that there isn't anything like that already in a city that puts such an emphasis on art.

Wow, that's a wonderful idea. ... Maybe somebody could pull something like that off elsewhere in the future.

I like this idea for the other side of the highway along West Exchange Street (LiveLocal View). RIPTA has a bus testing facility between West Exchange and the highway, move that someplace else and develop this strip. It's marginal land from a development standpoint because it is narrow and butts against the highway. But butting against the highway makes it ideal for artists. You can put large windows facing north collecting north light and that light will never be blocked by another building because the highway and the railroad tracks ensure that it will stay open. You get good activity on West Exchange, and shield it from the highway. Being state land already, means that acquisition expenses are greatly reduced, the state could even grant it to a non-profit developer. It's a win for everyone.

Along the highway between 95 and Allens Ave. is another good spot for this kind of development.

[Frankie811]

haha no, the old warehouse across the street

the 903 isnt spectacular by any means, but it sure as hell beats a empty dirt lot and a goofy looking red brick box warehouse that used to be there

http://www.artinruins.com/arch/decay/provfruit/

[Cotuit]

Here's the area on the other side of the highway on West Excahnge I was talking about. Imagine a row of 3 story studio buildings here. Galleries opening to the street with live/work above. The back of the buildings could be all glass allowing great north light for the artists living/working there. It'd give visitors to Federal Hill a nice place to stroll before/after dinner/lunch and hopefully by some local art. There could be a nice wide sidewalk to allow for sidewalk sales during the summer...

Maybe some trees...