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Full-Text Articles in Urban Studies and Planning

For Providence, Another Era Of Greatness?, Chester Smolski Sep 2001

For Providence, Another Era Of Greatness?, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Providence has come a long way from just 20 years ago when a visitor coming into the city by rail would find sprayed across the walls of the nearly empty Union Station such epithets as 'Providence is the pits' and 'Welcome to dead city.' And it was. I know because I lived there."


Early Observations On The 2000 Census, Chester Smolski Apr 2001

Early Observations On The 2000 Census, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The 281.4 million residents of our country counted in 2000 exceeded census estimates of 274.5 by nearly seven million and 13.2 percent, was the largest numeric gain for a decade in the history of census taking, dating back to 1790 when the first one was taken. Swelled by immigrant numbers and holding a steady birth rate, this increase topped the previously highest increase of 28 million of the baby boom years of the 1950s."


Only In Ri: Housing Booms, Population Sags, Shifts, Chester Smolski Jan 1999

Only In Ri: Housing Booms, Population Sags, Shifts, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"House sales in the state are at an all-time high. Some towns have imposed housing impact fees and caps on building permits to slow population growth that exceeds 20 percent. Communities are trying to save open space because 26,000 acres of raw land has gone into new development over the last 20 years. And all of this taking place in one of only two states to have lost population in the last seven years!"


The Portland Of The Pacific Beguiles, Chester Smolski Sep 1994

The Portland Of The Pacific Beguiles, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When Amos Lovejoy of Boston and Francis Pettygrove of Portland sought to name the clearing in the Oregon forest called 'Stumptown' (because of the tree stumps remaining from frequent fires set by the Indians), each wanted to honor the New England city from which he came. By the toss of a coin, Pettygrove was the winner, and the Portland of the Northeast had its counterpart in the Portland of the Northwest."


Population Density Has Its Good Points, Chester Smolski Aug 1994

Population Density Has Its Good Points, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Many of us love and long for the wide-open spaces, especially when coming from this crowded Northeastern part of the nation. Whenever time and money allow, we seek quiet and serene spaces to get away from the rush and confusion of our crowded landscape."


Why Not 'Soak' The Visitors?, Chester Smolski May 1993

Why Not 'Soak' The Visitors?, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Providence Mayor Vincent Cianci has a financial problem, which is not uncommon these days for just about any mayor. Center cities are faced with a host of problems that require sizable expenditures to address. And with the downturn in an economy making a feeble effort to recover, available resources are in scarce supply."


Rhode Island Is Bigger Than Nauru, Chester Smolski Mar 1993

Rhode Island Is Bigger Than Nauru, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It's not easy being the smallest kid on the block. Taunting and joking about ones small physical stature can do an awful job on one's ego and self-esteem. In a sense, the same is true if one is a resident of the smallest state."


Now We Are Counted, Chester Smolski Apr 1990

Now We Are Counted, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"There is an unusual clock in the Department of Commerce building in Washington. Looking like an auto's mileage odometer, it records the nation's population. Another single number is added to the total every 14 seconds. On March 6, the population odometer reached 250 million, which should be the number reported from this year's tally by the U.S. Census Bureau, the 21st decennial census in our country's history."


Unlike Most Top 100 Cities, Providence Losing Population, Chester Smolski Dec 1988

Unlike Most Top 100 Cities, Providence Losing Population, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Given the recent history of population decline in Providence and other large cities throughout New England, one might think that major cities throughout the country are also losing population. Not so."


Columbia A Successful Forerunner Of New Towns, Chester Smolski Sep 1988

Columbia A Successful Forerunner Of New Towns, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When center city developments such as Faneuil Hall in Boston, South Street Seaport in New York City, Harborplace in Baltimore and others are mentioned, the name of James W. Rouse is also noted in the same breath. In fact, the word "Rousification" is applied to such downtown developments. It is a tribute to his work in creating these lively retail centers in what were previously dying downtowns."


The Cities And Towns Look Ahead, Chester Smolski Aug 1988

The Cities And Towns Look Ahead, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"What do you want your community to be? Over the next two and one-half years all communities in the state will be required to address this question, and to come up with a formal statement of what these goals and objectives are to be. And it's about time."


As The Population Ages, Housing Needs Change, Chester Smolski Jul 1988

As The Population Ages, Housing Needs Change, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The housing needs for all of us change over time, depending on one's position in the life cycle. The single person needs only a room, young marrieds settle for a rented apartment, and the family with children needs more space, both inside and out. Children grow up and still more space is needed, then the children leave the nest. Their parents become "empty nesters." A spouse dies and leaves a person single again and often dependent on others. And then, perhaps, a nursing home becomes a necessity before the person passes on."


Shape Of Things To Come, Chester Smolski Nov 1987

Shape Of Things To Come, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The age-old saying is that the future belongs to the young. However, in terms of new potential markets, the business sector ought to consider changing demographics, in nation and state, because the future for the merchants of goods and services may very well be with the old."


Looking To Suburban Malls For Lesson On Envisaged Providence Company, Chester Smolski Aug 1986

Looking To Suburban Malls For Lesson On Envisaged Providence Company, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"During next month, some major decisions must be made that will have long-term effects on the future health and prosperity of our capital city's central business district. One of these decisions relates to the proposed establishment of a 'Providence Company,' a management and marketing organization for the downtown, recommended in the recently completed Carr, Lynch and Levine report on downtown Development."


Tourism's Full Potential Waiting In Wings For R.I., Chester Smolski Apr 1983

Tourism's Full Potential Waiting In Wings For R.I., Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Question: What industry in this country involves 8 million consumers daily, employs between 4 and 6 million people directly, generates nearly $200 billion in annual expenditures and is our second largest retailing activity? If you answered tourism, you are correct."


Providence: Arts Can Improve The Image, Chester Smolski Nov 1981

Providence: Arts Can Improve The Image, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Providence has an image problem. Whether one asks as state resident or a Providence native about our capital city, the response is usually negative. And the image of our city held by non-Rhode Islanders is one that should not make us proud."


Some Good Things Are Happening, Chester Smolski Oct 1981

Some Good Things Are Happening, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It is easy to be critical and to single out the wrongs of a society: the reporting of such wrongs is what sells newspapers. Too often the good things that happen are not recognized nor deemed newsworthy, and the result is they go unnoticed. So it was more than refreshing to read recently in these papers about some very positive actions on the part of a private citizen, a small business, and yes, even a politician--actions that are helping to make our communities better places in which to live."


Boost For The Downtown: Splendid New Arcade, Chester Smolski Oct 1980

Boost For The Downtown: Splendid New Arcade, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The sign hanging from the center of the building reads '7 Days to Opening.' The countdown number changes dailty to remind carpenters, electricians, tile setters, merchants, and a whole host of others that construction must be finished, stocks placed, and shops ready for the Grand Opening of America's first indoor shopping mall--the Arcade.


Stevenage--Pace Setter Among "New Towns", Chester Smolski Aug 1980

Stevenage--Pace Setter Among "New Towns", Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The British successful "great social experiment," going on for the past generation, is now coming to an end. This culmination is to be seen here in England's first, post-war new town, located 30 miles north of London in the rolling countryside of Hertfordshire, where the Stevenage Development Corporation has formally closed shop. For all pratical purposes, the construction of this urban center has ended."


Union Traditions And Economic Policy In Ri, Chester Smolski Jul 1980

Union Traditions And Economic Policy In Ri, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When compared with the rest of the nation, Rhode Island stands out as a highly unionized state. A recent study released by the Department of Labor shows that 108,000 of the 398,000 employed in the state in 1978 were union members. Membership in associations such as the National Education Association and others adds a further 11,000 persons to the list. This total of 119,000 union and association members represents 29.9 percent of total employment on non-agricultural payrolls, ranking Rhode Island 13th in the nation and highest in New England which, as a region, averages 26.6 percent, and the same figure, …


Improving Commercial Streets Is Possible, Chester Smolski Apr 1980

Improving Commercial Streets Is Possible, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It was only a small gesture, but a nice one. The two park benches were placed on the sidewalk in front of a small shop on the busy Thayer Street in Providence. Somewhat of a harbinger of Spring, the brightly painted, red benches added a little color to a street coming out of the throes of a long, dreary and colorless winter season."


Expert Sees A Revival Of Urban Church And The City, Chester Smolski Mar 1980

Expert Sees A Revival Of Urban Church And The City, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Douglas Walrath, recognized church consultant and author, was at the Epworth United Methodist Church in Pawtucket to address a recent conference of the Urban Ministry Division of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches on the topic of urban churches. At the end of the day, more than 100 who attended from throughout the Providence metropolitan area left the meeting considerably more optimistic about the future of their churches and of the urban centers in which they are located."


Retailing Is Key To A Strong Downtown, Chester Smolski Jan 1980

Retailing Is Key To A Strong Downtown, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The future of Providence, if Rhode Island's capital city has a future, must be keyed to retail sales, all pols and pundits to the contrary. If Mayor Cianci, the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups really want an appealing city, one that hums with activity day and night, they have to redouble their efforts to put a solid economic footing under the still-eroding retail sector."


New Federal Initiatives For City Revitalization, Chester Smolski Oct 1979

New Federal Initiatives For City Revitalization, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"'We have never really had a comprehensive urban policy in this country...and in the absence of understanding and coordinated assistance among government leaders, many of our cities are caught in a vicious cycle, a downward spiral that can only be broken by new attitudes, new initiatives, and a new partnership.'"


More Inner City Jobs, Chester Smolski Mar 1979

More Inner City Jobs, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Congressman Henry S. Reuss of Wisconsin has given the answer most succinctly: "The most straightforward way to help cities is to provide jobs...From a city's standpoint, jobless citizens make no contributions to a community's revenues. But they add greatly to its costs for welfare, crime, and assorted ills."


Keystone For Renewal: City Neighborhoods, Chester Smolski Jan 1979

Keystone For Renewal: City Neighborhoods, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"If the heart of a city is its downtown, that central area of concentrated jobs and economic activity, then there is no question that its soul is its neighborhoods, that surrounding community of people and homes. Here in residential areas, the largest, single use of land in cities, one finds the strength, deprivation, flavor and other characteristics which congtribute to the diversity of city life."


Despite The Heartaches, Urban Renewal Deserves High Marks, Chester Smolski Oct 1978

Despite The Heartaches, Urban Renewal Deserves High Marks, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The term "urban renewal" draws a mixed reaction. For some, it has meant relocated families, destroyed neighborhoods and heartache, even years after the fact. For others it has meant new construction, new jobs, increased taxes, reconstructed neighborhoods and visible signs of process."


'Down City' Has Gone Downhill, Chester Smolski Oct 1978

'Down City' Has Gone Downhill, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"There is essentially only one downtown in this city-state of Rhode Island, and it is accessible to the entire state in less than one hour's driving time. Yet over the past 10 years the Providence downtown has been in a steady decline, with a limited selection and lowered quality of goods offered from fewer shops. The familiar names of a few years ago, such as Shepards, Gladdings, City Hall Hardware and others, no longer serve as retail focal points in the captial city's central business district (CBD)."


Baltimore: A City On The Move, Chester Smolski Jun 1978

Baltimore: A City On The Move, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"On the way to Washington D.C. one drives through a part of America's seventh largest city and, based upon the popular image of this city, there is no reason to stop in Baltimore. But if one does stop, he would be surprised and impressed by the dynamism of a city on the move."


Jacksonville's Commitment To Downtown, Chester Smolski Mar 1978

Jacksonville's Commitment To Downtown, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The largest city in the Sunshine State is quite different from the cities we know in the Northeast, especially in its downtown."