Vision for plaza reminder of what’s possible

CHANGE IN STORE: Joe Haskett, senior associate at Union Studio Architecture and Community Design, is seen at Kennedy Plaza, which he says could be revitalized by design and programming. / PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS
CHANGE IN STORE: Joe Haskett, senior associate at Union Studio Architecture and Community Design, is seen at Kennedy Plaza, which he says could be revitalized by design and programming. / PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

Kennedy Plaza often has a lot going on there, which is one of its strengths, and one of its greatest challenges.

“There’s always been this struggle. There’s a lot that goes on in here. From a pedestrian standpoint, from a vehicular standpoint, from a transit standpoint and a wayside standpoint. It’s got civic, private, public – you name it. It’s got everything going on,” said Joe Haskett, senior associate at Union Studio Architecture and Community Design.

He’s been thinking about how to redesign the downtown district for years, after being commissioned by the city. In 2013, he proposed, among other things – extending Burnside Park out toward the bus hub, improving signage, raising the roadway up to the same level as the sidewalk and expanding commerce options.

Much of that proposed work remains undone, though he’s hopeful his ideas will still be used by civic leaders looking to make the plaza more welcoming to business and community interests.

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“It’s the main gathering hub for the people of Providence,” Haskett said during a recent presentation for DESIGNxRI, a weeklong event dedicated to design.

The week is put on in partnership with a number of different organizations, including Rhode Island School of Design, the American Institute of Architects Rhode Island and the city.

Haskett, in a sixth-floor conference room of the “Superman building,” which overlooks Kennedy Plaza, detailed how design and programming could help fuel a revitalization of the area that’s become a hot-button issue in recent months due to increased panhandling and crime.

“The problems are … complex and multifaceted,” said Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, at a recent press conference.

Some of the more recent problems stem from a decision earlier this year to stop enforcing an ordinance that gave police the authority to crack down on “aggressive panhandling.” First Amendment advocates have successfully argued that panhandling is a practice of free speech and thus constitutionally protected. At the same time, the city stopped enforcing a law prohibiting loitering on bus line property.

“These ordinances raise significant constitutional concerns by impinging on the First Amendment rights of the homeless and the poor,” wrote Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU Rhode Island, in a Jan. 26 letter addressed to Elorza.

Elorza and former Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr., a member of the downtown business community and chair of the Downtown Improvement District, have proposed separate – but similar – plans to address the issue and crime in the area that are still being rolled out.

Paolino’s plan includes aspects of the redesign detailed by Haskett, including the need to move bus berths from Kennedy Plaza and redevelop the downtown district. Paolino similarly stressed the need for strong programming as a way to revitalize Kennedy Plaza.

Elorza’s plan, on the other hand, focuses largely on improving social services for people who frequent the downtown area, and does not strongly address how the downtown district could change materially.

Haskett thinks his ideas could draw a more diverse group of people to the area and curb criminal activity.

“If you don’t have the people, it’s not going to be successful,” he said.

His design – which he says was created as a guide – has given decision-makers a blueprint for what’s possible in the area.

“There’s been a lot of work that’s been going on, and I know it doesn’t look exactly like the vision we had, but we never expected it to look exactly like that,” he said.

He’s encouraged by some signs of improvements in various parts of the downtown district, including the improvement of some sidewalk bump-outs, which have improved visibility and the flow of walking traffic, along with evidence of businesses being interested in using the park. Haskett says creating economic engines in each part of the downtown district would draw more people into the area who’re not going there for nefarious reasons.

“Commerce is key,” he explained.

North Bakery, a Federal Hill bakery at 70 Battey St., recently opened a new location at 2 Kennedy Plaza, taking over space previously used by WJAR-TV NBC 10.

“Programming,” Haskett said. “If you get programming, a little bakery, a little coffee shop, all of that can multiply itself to bring people in and having multiple visits and creating commerce.”

Haskett was encouraged during the last election when Rhode Island voters approved Ballot Question No. 6, which gives the state authority to issue $35 million in bonds to fund enhancements and renovations to mass transit hub infrastructure.

Requests for proposals are expected to be sent out in 2019, and once built, a travel hub could reduce the number of bus stops needed in Kennedy Plaza, which in turn would allow for more space for programming, businesses or open space.

“You’ve got a lot of ridership, a lot of people using the buses, a lot of people choosing to use the bus and not get in a car, and some people using it by necessity, and that’s something we can’t forget,” Haskett said. “The buses are going to be lessened … opening up more opportunity for other things to do in the park.” •

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