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Current Work > Providence > Case Studies > Westminster Crossing DRAFT Downcity, Federal Hill, and West Broadway – neighborhoods that front on Route 95 as it cuts through the city in a trench – will directly benefit from the New City initiative known as Westminster Crossing. Planners propose two major actions: (1) To deck over the highway corridor between Atwells Avenue and Broad Street, creating a seven-acre park on top of the deck to be called The Providence Gardens; and (2) To reopen Cathedral Square to auto traffic, thereby re-establishing the historic link between Downcity and West Broadway via Westminster Street.
The Providence Gardens will transform the environment along the highway corridor. At present, almost 250,000 cars a day pass on Route 95, creating constant noise, gasoline fumes and traffic congestion that is funneled upward. The service roads leading to and from the highway add to the environmental harm. This forbidding environment diminishes property values, reduces business investment, and discourages the growing number of tourists and convention-goers from crossing the highway to Federal Hill on foot. The City will seek funding from the federal government for the highway decking. To control costs, the deck will be used primarily for park land, which is less expensive than if buildings were constructed over the highway. New building sites have been identified primarily on solid ground to either side of the Providence Gardens. The new sites will be used primarily for a group of apartment buildings on the downtown side of the highway. The new residential buildings will take advantage of the new park setting at their doorstep. A total of 650 residential units are proposed. However, The Cecil Group does propose a 350,000-square-foot commercial building over the highway. It will be located between Atwells Avenue and Broadway, and have impressive views of Providence Place and the State House. The new building will also be on the pedestrian route between downtown hotels and the restaurants of Atwells Avenue. There will be an opportunity for a dramatic signature building at this highway site, especially because the new building will be visible from hundreds of thousands of cars streaming by on the highway. Cecil also proposes that an apartment building replace the former Gulf gas station next to the Holiday Inn. A new hotel is already planned for the police station site. Thus, new development along the Broadway/Atwells corridor will revitalize a gateway to the city that has been in decline for several years. The reopening of Westminster Street to traffic has been a prime objective of the West Broadway Neighborhood Association and the Mayor. Westminster currently dead-ends at Bishop McVinney Auditorium, which is located in Cathedral Square. Because auto traffic at present cannot travel to and from the downtown on Westminster Street, private investment on Westminster Street is discouraged. The Cecil Group proposes to reopen Westminster Street to traffic. The McVinney Auditorium will be demolished, and new building sites will fill in a substantial portion of Cathedral Square. It has long been recognized that Cathedral Square, designed in the 1960s by I.M. Pei, is an unsuccessful public space for the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul – and for the city. The Cecil Group has studied old photographs of how Westminster Street looked before the pedestrian square was created. New designs will seek to re-create the energy and vitality that many fondly recall from the earlier era. A number of new apartment buildings are proposed by Cecil for the periphery of Cathedral Square; this will further increase the energy level. The Cathedral will also benefit from the development of the Providence Gardens and the reopening of Westminster Street. For almost 30 years, the Cathedral has been cut off from its parishioner base on the other side of the highway. All together, Cecil proposes 1,000,000 square feet of new commercial development in the 163-acre Westminster Crossing project area. One thousand residential units are also proposed. Two-thirds of the new development will take place over the highway, or on the downtown side of the highway. Specific proposals for the West Broadway neighborhood, west of the highway, are still under discussion with the WBNA and other neighborhood groups. These plans will be finalized at a later date.
OSO
New Cities contact: Bob Azar, P&D Cecil Group did a great Powerpoint presentation (M Werenfels, 8/28/02) On the book for three-four years. Mayor Cianci unveils plans for three "New Cities" for Providence; June 20, 2000 Image
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