A New York Times article of February 27

A New York Times article of February 27 comments on the revival of Downcity Providence, Rhode Island, in the last decade. The article gives substantial credit to new urbanist Buff Chace, a developer who has restored eight buildings at a cost of $80 million. Chace, of Cornish Associates, helped bring in Andres Duany, who has led three urban design charrettes for Downcity, the 36-block downtown of the state capital, since 1991. The revival was assisted by substantial tax credits, the Times reports. The city is blessed with three universities — Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island University, and Johnson & Wales — that own property downtown, in addition to numerous cultural institutions. Nevertheless, in 1990 “you could have thrown a bowling ball down Westminster Street,” according to Thomas Deller, director of planning and development for the city.