[Summit] LA Fitness Design Meeting is tomorrow

Tue Apr 22 18:18:54 UTC 2014

James,
Very well stated.  There has to be better use for the old Sears space.  Recently, someone comments that he didn't want North Main to before another Bald Hill Rd.  I don't think that we are in danger of that.  We has Sears, we had Anderson-Little, we had Sullivan's bowling.  All enjoyable and easily walk-able.  Maybe the Sears parcel can be broken up and used for several smaller projects.
Peace,

Linda

From: barfootjim at gmail.com
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 11:43:05 -0400
To: mfraenkel at gmail.com
CC: north-main-merchants at googlegroups.com; summit at sna.providence.ri.us
Subject: Re: [Summit] LA Fitness Design Meeting is tomorrow

To LA fitness developers:
Perhaps you haven't realized that Providence is different from LA. We value walking, not only driving.  We value the small city residential ambiance of the East Side far more than a place to park our cars (or pahk our cahs, if you must). The aesthetics of architecture are very important, and a large, flat expanse of blacktop fails that test miserably. This is not suburbia, and we don't want it to become that. The old Sears building is not an architectural gem, and a new building, a new business, could be an improvement, but a parking lot is a lurch in the wrong direction. 
On that site, you have the advantage of a slope that would allow parking to be tucked in under a building, with good access from below. Along North Main Street, you have the opportunity to create a truly pedestrian-friendly façade, including street-facing store fronts for small businesses. This would be highly advantageous to your clientele, to the neighborhood, to small business development, and, by creating a multiple-attraction destination, to your bottom line.
We urge you to create  an appropriate, non-cookie-cutter solution for this business. Done right, it could be a wonderful addition to the area. Done wrong, it would look like life-deadening blight.

On Apr 22, 2014, at 11:23 AM, Martha Fraenkel <mfraenkel at gmail.com> wrote:

    i suggest that everyone ask that the city plan
      commission separate the master plan review (for consistency with
      the city's master plan) from the preliminary plan review (which
      fleshes out the proposal) and require that the developer come back
      for a separate preliminary plan at a second hearing with a
      response to the comments from city staff and citizens.

      otherwise, we have no further opportunity to comment after tonight
      and no opportunity to review any changes the developer may make in
      response to our comments.

      martha fraenkel

    On 4/22/2014 8:57 AM, Schmeling, Thomas A. wrote:

      Dear Summit Neighbors,

Last night, the Board of the Summit Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to send a representative to both the Providence and Pawtucket meetings today with a letter from Board expressing views very similar to those that Coryndon expresses below.

More emails like Coryndon’s will help make the views of residents clear to the commissioners. Thanks for the nice model, Coryndon.  

best,
Thomas Schmeling
Secretary
SNA

On Apr 22, 2014, at 8:41 AM, Coryndon Luxmoore <coryndon at luxmoore.com> wrote:

        My email for others to use if they desire:

Commissioners,

I am writing as a longtime Providence and Summit Neighborhood resident to express my opposition to the currently proposed LA Fitness project. It is a bad use of land and a poor deal for the providence taxpayers.

While I am certain all of the local residents are excited to see the eyesore of the old Sears building demolished the current proposed development has serious issues that makes it inappropriate for responsible urban development.

- The removal of a building from the lot and the addition of a surface parking lot is detrimental to Providence's tax base
- It faces the parking lot further degrading the pedestrian streetscape of North Main
- The size of the lot along the street create a large hole in the streetscape making it unappealing to pedestrians
- The car orient development is in direct opposition to and undermines the RIPTA's bus rapid transit investment along the street
- It damages the investments being made by responsible urban developers Jordan Durham, of D+P Real Estate, and Peter Gill Case, of Truth Box Inc. just across the street
- It continues to erode the value of the adjoining residential houses in the summit neighborhood by creating a unappealing and hostile environment for residents

I urge you to ask LA Fitness to return with a plan that is appropriate for the neighborhood and responsible urban development.

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