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For all of you who CARE about the preservation of the historic fabric of Providence:
Next Tuesday, the Providence City Plan Commission (CPC) will vote on a proposed amendment to the Brown University Institutional Master Plan (IMP) that will add a new performing arts center (PAC) between Waterman and Angell Streets, adjacent to "the walk."
PPS learned about the possible PAC site in 2016. We expressed our opposition and suggested alternative sites. Brown then confirmed the location in May 2017 and presented their IMP Amendment to PPS this past September.
The plan for the new PAC involves the demolition or removal of five historic structures, dating from 1849-1885, in the College Hill National Historic Landmark District, one of only four such districts in Rhode Island:
129 and 127 Angell St
Norwood/Benjamin Stevens House- 82 Waterman
a house at 86 Waterman
Leonard M. Blodgett House- 127 Angell
Edward J. Cushing House- 129 Angell
Lucien Sharp Carriage House- 135 Angell, home to Brown's Urban Environmental Lab (UEL) for nearly 40 years.
PPS fully appreciates Brown's undertaking of a state-of-the-art performance space that will serve the university and community at large. However, respecting the characteristics of the College Hill neighborhood along the Waterman/Angell corridor is important to the entire community. The demolition of these contributing buildings erodes the "Brown Scale" and streetscape, as well as defies the University's commitment to sustainability.
PPS remains opposed to the continual erosion of historical buildings on College Hill. By our count, more than two dozen historic structures were demolished between 1995 and 2015: Some for new facilities, including Brown's new engineering and life sciences buildings, and others for parking.
135 Angell Street
Regarding the UEL building (at left), it has been written, "With commendable energy and a sense of mission, Brown students ingeniously transformed a Victorian carriage house into what is arguably one of the nation's first 'green' buildings" (Brown University: An Architectural Tour, 2014). The sacrifice of this building and its legacy would surely be an ironic and unfortunate outcome.
We strongly urge Brown to consider an alternative site for a new performing arts center.
We strongly urge the CPC to deny this application for amendment of the IMP.
We strongly urge YOU to voice your concern to the CPC:
In person
December 19, 4:45pm
444 Westminster Street
^^^^^^
If this horrible application for amendment is approved, no historic building can be safe in PVD. They need to show some respect & find an alternate site - off of College Hill, if necessary. Nothing less the the fabric & scale of College Hill is at stake. Shame on Brown!
We really need stronger legislation on this and fewer exceptions being made. Once a historic house is gone- there's no do over and Providence continues to loose its biggest tourist asset.
Does Brown not have an auditorium already? How about building it on one of their underused surface parking lots on Brook Street?
It has two small theaters:
Leeds Theatre is located in Lyman Hall. Ii is a flexible theatre space that seats 140.
Stuart Theatre is located in Faunce House. It was originally built in 1931 as the Faunce House Theatre. It seats 240.
The new proposed fine arts center would have have a main performance hall and a slightly smaller performance and rehearsal hall. It would be able to accommodate large ensembles — including full orchestras, choruses or opera companies — as well as mid-sized dance and theater performances and more intimate, immersive multimedia experiences. I would expect that these will have significantly higher seating capacities than the two existing spaces listed above.
Leeds Theatre is located in Lyman Hall. Ii is a flexible theatre space that seats 140.
Stuart Theatre is located in Faunce House. It was originally built in 1931 as the Faunce House Theatre. It seats 240.
The new proposed fine arts center would have have a main performance hall and a slightly smaller performance and rehearsal hall. It would be able to accommodate large ensembles — including full orchestras, choruses or opera companies — as well as mid-sized dance and theater performances and more intimate, immersive multimedia experiences. I would expect that these will have significantly higher seating capacities than the two existing spaces listed above.
Yes, and anything that big should be in their areas of previously stated and planned expansion like the jewelry district.
Why do they keep going back on their word not to expand on the East Side?
However, if they want to demolish historic buildings in the heart of their campus (that part surrounded by the Van Wickle gates) maybe they should do that to create a large theatre.
What's even more galling is that their tax payments to the city (signed by Angel Tavares) actually went down! Wish my property taxes would go down!
II. Payments to the City
Provided that the "Conditions to Payment" (hereafter defined) have been satisfied and at all times during the term of thi s Agreement remain satisfied, Brown shall make the payments (in readily available funds) as follows:
June 1. 201 2 - Three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars June 1,2013 - Three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars June 1,2014 * Three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars June 1,2015 * Three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars June 1, 201 6 - Three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars
June 1, 2017 - Two Million Dollars June 1, 2018 - Two Million Dollars June 1, 2019 - Two Million Dollars June 1,2020 - T\vo Mi II ion Dollars June 1,2021 - Two Million Dollars June 1,2022 - Two Million Dollars
Here's a Google street view looking from Angell Street.
I don't get it. Drafty old mid-19th century residential structures in New England aren't historically important. They're everywhere.
Your'e absolutely right- you don't get it. Brown continues to tear down and expand into a residential neighborhood against their own stated policies. This is becoming a pattern of behavior. The College Hill Neighborhood Association is opposed.
Last edited by Hollytree; 12-20-2017 at 07:35 AM..
For all of you who CARE about the preservation of the historic fabric of Providence:
Next Tuesday, the Providence City Plan Commission (CPC) will vote on a proposed amendment to the Brown University Institutional Master Plan (IMP) that will add a new performing arts center (PAC) between Waterman and Angell Streets, adjacent to "the walk."
PPS learned about the possible PAC site in 2016. We expressed our opposition and suggested alternative sites. Brown then confirmed the location in May 2017 and presented their IMP Amendment to PPS this past September.
The plan for the new PAC involves the demolition or removal of five historic structures, dating from 1849-1885, in the College Hill National Historic Landmark District, one of only four such districts in Rhode Island:
129 and 127 Angell St
Norwood/Benjamin Stevens House- 82 Waterman
a house at 86 Waterman
Leonard M. Blodgett House- 127 Angell
Edward J. Cushing House- 129 Angell
Lucien Sharp Carriage House- 135 Angell, home to Brown's Urban Environmental Lab (UEL) for nearly 40 years.
PPS fully appreciates Brown's undertaking of a state-of-the-art performance space that will serve the university and community at large. However, respecting the characteristics of the College Hill neighborhood along the Waterman/Angell corridor is important to the entire community. The demolition of these contributing buildings erodes the "Brown Scale" and streetscape, as well as defies the University's commitment to sustainability.
PPS remains opposed to the continual erosion of historical buildings on College Hill. By our count, more than two dozen historic structures were demolished between 1995 and 2015: Some for new facilities, including Brown's new engineering and life sciences buildings, and others for parking.
135 Angell Street
Regarding the UEL building (at left), it has been written, "With commendable energy and a sense of mission, Brown students ingeniously transformed a Victorian carriage house into what is arguably one of the nation's first 'green' buildings" (Brown University: An Architectural Tour, 2014). The sacrifice of this building and its legacy would surely be an ironic and unfortunate outcome.
We strongly urge Brown to consider an alternative site for a new performing arts center.
We strongly urge the CPC to deny this application for amendment of the IMP.
We strongly urge YOU to voice your concern to the CPC:
In person
December 19, 4:45pm
444 Westminster Street
Thank you Hollytree. What is going on in PVD?!?!? All of those buildings are worth preserving; in particular, the Greek Revival house at 135 Angell is spectacular (and the brick one on Waterman is also pretty special, if only because very few Victorian brick homes exist in Providence). I can't believe that Brown needs to put this facility where it wants to put it. Sadly, I read this too late, but I might even have driven down from Boston for this. What was the outcome of the meeting?
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