After the November 13 meeting of the Design Review committee, The Agenda followed up with further questions to get a better understanding of the public comment. Friedrich St. Florian and Friedrich St. Florian, who issued public comment at the meeting, spoke with us about their perspectives. Karen Jessup provided her public letter, and Friedrich St. Florian offered his understanding as an architect in Providence.
 Lucie Searle
I feel that all of the landscape variety that we have in this state…is very precious. One of the surest ways to preserve…any of our rural areas is to make sure our cities are attractive. Putting this in context, part of what ensures the richness and diversity of our state is having healthy urban areas.READ MORE |
 Wil Yoder
I am not so concerned about the replacement of buildings that do not give a sense of community, or address the street, or provide what I think is a positive direction for urban development. The Fogarty Building has a raised profile that separates it from traffic on the street level.READ MORE |
 Karen Jessup
I feel we are near to becoming a victim of our own success in that we run the risk of removing existing buildings and replacing them with banal architecture, structures that do little to enhance Providence’s…unique sense of place. Indeed, we risk becoming just like anywhere else.READ MORE |
 Friedrich St. Florian
None of these buildings should be demolished unless there is an absolutely firm commitment by the developer that a building we know about in advance will go up. We have seen the plans…If there is a firm commitment that these new buildings will be built, then I am all for it.READ MORE |
