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PROPOSED: Redesigned LaSalle Square


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i like the target idea the best. a target and a supermarket would be great for downtown. they'd both have a pharmacy most likely (it's not a dedicated pharmacy, but it's something). if there's a target in downtown stamford, i think it can easily work here (probably do better than the one in stamford).

best buy would just be a big box, although i do think an electronics store woudl be great for downtown, but i think it'd be best in the mall (is there room for a best buy in there?).

that BCBS building looks like a building you'd seen in smithfield (actually for some reason it looks like it could fit by the NEtech campus ni warwick). tear it down and build new, or add on to make it look like it fits.

as for what makes a "square", i think it's just a major intersection that gets a lot of foot traffic (and usually a lot of auto traffic as well) and has a bunch of shops and restaurants and stuff to do. that's how i'd describe it, although currently lasalle sq lacks the stuff to do. :lol: but that's what all the ones in boston are... i imagine it was originally something else back in the day before cars were popular.

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It certainly wouldn't be bad to have big box downtown but I would hate to lose office space for the sake of more retail. Providence can't market itself as a suburb of Boston, which is the direction it will go if we start sacrificing office space to create more neighborhood services. A grocery in the bottom of the Empire Strikes Broadway seems like a good idea. But I think something like a Target might be a better fit at a place like ALCO which will have more built in residents already.

I'll admit surprise that Target didn't try to fill the Lord and Taylor space at PPM. I really thought they would.

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It certainly wouldn't be bad to have big box downtown but I would hate to lose office space for the sake of more retail. Providence can't market itself as a suburb of Boston, which is the direction it will go if we start sacrificing office space to create more neighborhood services. A grocery in the bottom of the Empire Strikes Broadway seems like a good idea. But I think something like a Target might be a better fit at a place like ALCO which will have more built in residents already.

I'll admit surprise that Target didn't try to fill the Lord and Taylor space at PPM. I really thought they would.

didn't think of that one... that would be awesome if target moved to alco... but an office supply store downtown would still be nice.

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It certainly wouldn't be bad to have big box downtown but I would hate to lose office space for the sake of more retail.

It doesn't have to be at the expense of office, you put the offices on top of the box.

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It doesn't have to be at the expense of office, you put the offices on top of the box.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. This specific proposal to knock down a healthy office building to put in some retail doesn't make sense to me. You either have to go through the expense of knocking down the building and then building a bigger building, or you have to lose the office space by gutting the building.

I don't like the BCBS building very much either, not by a longshot. But, rather than knocking things down, put some big box into ALCO or, if it should be DownCity, fill up one of the surface parking lots streets, for instance the huge one bounded by Fountain, Washington, Clemence and Mathewson (although that would probably mean the end of that little dunkin donuts building), or maybe even better for location the one at the corner of Weybosset and Empire.

So I guess my real point is that viable office building is more desirable than the seas of surface parking around, and I think we can all agree on that. And I'm not sure what is particularly attractive about that spot for retail.

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Sorry, I should have been more clear. This specific proposal to knock down a healthy office building to put in some retail doesn't make sense to me. You either have to go through the expense of knocking down the building and then building a bigger building, or you have to lose the office space by gutting the building.

I agree, I can't see the numbers working on knocking down a building that is perfectly functional, if a bit ugly.

I don't like the BCBS building very much either, not by a longshot. But, rather than knocking things down, put some big box into ALCO or, if it should be DownCity, fill up one of the surface parking lots streets, for instance the huge one bounded by Fountain, Washington, Clemence and Mathewson (although that would probably mean the end of that little dunkin donuts building), or maybe even better for location the one at the corner of Weybosset and Empire.

Yes, I like those locations too, also the lot at the corner of Fountain and Eddy at Emmet Square. Also, the gas station lot across from the Holiday Inn.

So I guess my real point is that viable office building is more desirable than the seas of surface parking around, and I think we can all agree on that. And I'm not sure what is particularly attractive about that spot for retail.

Yes, I'm more of the thought that an empty lot is the best and most realistic option for bringing larger retail to the area. I think the attraction of LaSalle Square will be the parking garage at E@B, also it's relative proximity to the mall. One could park at the mall and walk to LaSalle to do more shopping, or park at LaSalle and walk to the mall. It's also attractive for being to the west and capturing the residential market on the West Side, and is on or very near several westward bus lines.

Also, on the pharmacy front. I think a pharmacy would be good for the convention center. Having worked a number of trade shows, I know we always made a big trip to a pharmacy (usually Duane Reade in NYC) for trade show essentials, bottled waters, hard candy, Tylenol...

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Also, on the pharmacy front. I think a pharmacy would be good for the convention center. Having worked a number of trade shows, I know we always made a big trip to a pharmacy (usually Duane Reade in NYC) for trade show essentials, bottled waters, hard candy, Tylenol...

you can get all those things at 711 (although not if you're in a wheelchair since their handicapped accessable door is never working) or CVS.

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3 big-box retailers with levels of parking above and 5-7 stories of office space above that and trees on the roof to satisfy Jenn!

ya know what, i really like that idea

in that part of the city you would be in a "canyon" or "valley" of taller buildings and it would make for interesting views and surroundings

but maybe the top floors can be a health club and a restaurant with that serving as an outdoor courtyard for both

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http://www.northeastrebusiness.com/article...ages/TARGET.jpg

cant find anything bigger for a pic of the target in stamford

its in a bldg that reminds me of the filenes bldg in downtown crossing

I really don't think Stamford is a good comparison. I recall their downtown automotive traffic being far higher and I would bet that their downtown commuting demographic is significantly higher socioeconomically than ours...

Just a guess...

- Garris

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I really don't think Stamford is a good comparison. I recall their downtown automotive traffic being far higher and I would bet that their downtown commuting demographic is significantly higher socioeconomically than ours...

Just a guess...

- Garris

Maybe @ 5PM...and that's why I said Target and/or Marshall's Garris....We are not talking Neiman Marcus here.

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Back on topic regarding LaSalle Square...

At the very least the city needs to keep that open space in front of the BCBS building and facing the Dunk. That space does fill up somewhat during events at the Dunk; when I went to the NCAA tourney around 10 years ago Paul & Al from WHJY had a setup there and were broadcasting live, and were attracting a crowd. So, it does have it's uses. And with the retail going at ground level in the new office building, that will increase activity there so it will only get more used when the Power Block is completed.

As far as the BCBS building goes, I avert my eyes from it whenever I can. That building and the Fogarty building can go buh-bye as far as I'm concerned!

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Back on topic regarding LaSalle Square...

At the very least the city needs to keep that open space in front of the BCBS building and facing the Dunk. That space does fill up somewhat during events at the Dunk; when I went to the NCAA tourney around 10 years ago Paul & Al from WHJY had a setup there and were broadcasting live, and were attracting a crowd. So, it does have it's uses. And with the retail going at ground level in the new office building, that will increase activity there so it will only get more used when the Power Block is completed.

As far as the BCBS building goes, I avert my eyes from it whenever I can. That building and the Fogarty building can go buh-bye as far as I'm concerned!

I think the retail going in at ground level will become the host of ideas towards what should be done with the remaining street level facilities surronding the area.

B/C so much of the retail in the city is focused on PP MALL, a close alternitive would really be the key to bringing in more people. In one my post I had mentioned that it would be a good idea to pull away the convention goer and typical mall customer into the streets of city.

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I've heard a healthy amount of discussion under the Dome about the needs to make Providence more Resident Friendly (Pharmacy, S&S/Shaws, CHildren-friendly outdoor spaces, et al.). I'm thinking that there will end up being soemthing useful under The Empire Strikes Broadway (I like that name) building.

If not...I hope the lawmakers are ready to pull some strings.

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If we're gonna call it that, then I say the building should look like the R2D2 Building aka 111 Huntington. I know feelings are mixed about this building, but I love it!

it's an interesting building... another example of how a glass building doesn't have to be a bland box... i think something like that would be a nice addition to our skyline.

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If we're gonna call it that, then I say the building should look like the R2D2 Building aka 111 Huntington. I know feelings are mixed about this building, but I love it!

I worked in 110 Huntington during the construction of this building. Had a nice window that faced it and spent a lot of time looking at it. I too, really like it.

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Because the Legislature created certain commissions that govern what buildings are what design and go where (EX: Capital Center Commission). At the debacle that was GTech and even the Waterplace Condos (more GTech), politicians were talking about dismantling the CCC and returning authority of Capital Center to the City of Providence, which if that happened...well, I dont think we'd see the same projects going up in CC that we do now.

WHile the General Assembly doesn't have any real authority over Lasalle Square (Cheers @ Separation of Powers amendment), politicians still have roots within most or all of the commissions that preside over Providence. Mayor Cicilline used to be a State Representative and has alot of friends up here in the House, and I believe he has some authority in appointing the membership of the capital city's committees. I'll have to look that up.

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is this project being funded with state money? is that why Statesman believes the legislature can somehow have an influence on it?

No.

Because the Legislature created certain commissions that govern what buildings are what design and go where (EX: Capital Center Commission). At the debacle that was GTech and even the Waterplace Condos (more GTech), politicians were talking about dismantling the CCC and returning authority of Capital Center to the City of Providence, which if that happened...well, I dont think we'd see the same projects going up in CC that we do now.

If the Capital Center Commission were turned over to city control it would have a similar make up under the city and I have no doubt, the same buildings would be built.

Seriously, if the GA has so much time to critique architecture, then maybe they can actually get some real work done once in a while. Like, I don't know, not sleepwalking their way through the casino debate.

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yeah, i was kind of thinking the same stuff. I would be happy to create a long list of things i'd rather the legislative branch of state government work on before they start making themselves the self-appointed critics of buildings and site design for downtown providence...

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