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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Work, Economy and Organizations

Rhode Island College

Series

Social life and customs

Articles 1 - 18 of 18

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

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."


Sprawl Is The Enemy; Victory Might Need A March In Reverse, Chester Smolski Apr 2000

Sprawl Is The Enemy; Victory Might Need A March In Reverse, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"SPRAWL--the word even sounds ugly Webster's definition is "to spread out carelessly or awkwardly," and it might have added inefficiently and expensively. And that is exactly what is happening as development takes place in the suburbs of Rhode Island and throughout the country."


James Rouse--A Man For All Seasons, Chester Smolski Apr 1996

James Rouse--A Man For All Seasons, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, said it best: he 'did more to revitalize American cities than anyone this century.' Recognition of this fact came last September when President Clinton awarded him our nation's highest civilian honor--the Presidential Medal of Freedom. James W. Rouse, died at the age of 81, just 17 short days before his 82nd birthday on April 26--a long life with long-lasting achievements by a humanist and an urbanist, a man often referred to as a 'real Christian' and an 'urban visionary.' Where does one begin?"


We All Benefit From A Clean Providence, Chester Smolski Jul 1994

We All Benefit From A Clean Providence, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Walking along the newly relocated Woonasquatucket River and observing the new walks, roadways and bridges, one cannot help but be impressed by this continuing evidence of the revitalization of the capital city's downtown. Equally impressive is the general overall cleanliness of this area and the rest of the city center. It was not always so."


Development Is Different For Cities, Chester Smolski Dec 1993

Development Is Different For Cities, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It is one of the most powerful trade organizations in the country. The 13,000 members come from the legal, realty, building, financial, governmental, academic and development sectors, and many are CEOs and presidents of their companies and corporations. Most are or represent the decision-making leaders of their various constituencies, and they are the ones who make things happen in the land development of this country. So when the Urban Land Institute (ULI) meets to discuss the issues affecting this nation, one is well-advised to be there."


Bringing Conventions To Ri, Chester Smolski Sep 1992

Bringing Conventions To Ri, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"On time and under budget: It's not often that one can say that about a government-sponsored and government-built project, but to date, that is exactly the status of the Rhode Island Convention Center. Assuming this pace of development continues, the center will open in December 1993 below the $290 million projected cost."


Gigantic Malls Bring Downtown To Suburbia, Chester Smolski Sep 1992

Gigantic Malls Bring Downtown To Suburbia, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The recent opening of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., has probably received more publicity than any other shopping center in the nation. This behemoth of shopping malls is certainly something to experience, but the real question is whether this $650 million investment has a future."


Public Is Walking Away From Street Malls, Chester Smolski Jul 1990

Public Is Walking Away From Street Malls, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It seemed a radical idea: Close off a street to vehicles in the heart of the downtown and open it only to a single use, that of the pedestrian. In today's parlance, this user-friendly pedestrian street or mall would make the shopping experience more enjoyable, safer, lead to more socializing and make it easier for the pedestrian to shop and buy more. And for a while it worked."


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."


Cluster Battle Is Over, But The War Rages On, Chester Smolski Dec 1987

Cluster Battle Is Over, But The War Rages On, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The Chinese have a saying: 'Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think.' For Americans, the same could be said for zoning in the seemingly never-ending war between residents and developers over land development."


Downtown Shopping By The Elderly, Chester Smolski Jun 1981

Downtown Shopping By The Elderly, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It was their last meeting of the year. Some came to hear a lecture on United States foreign policy, some to study French or Shakespeare, some to hear a discussion on Iran, and some came to do line dancing. It was also an opportunity to meet friends, have lunch together, and, perhaps, do some shopping. Who are these actively involved people? They are the elderly."


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.


Saving The Arcade Isn't Easy, But It's Worth All The Trouble, Chester Smolski Sep 1979

Saving The Arcade Isn't Easy, But It's Worth All The Trouble, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The word tradition, when associated with an historic Providence, conveys a feeling of continuity and sensitivity to the past. To return to one's community after an extended absence and find the same drugstore, record shop and bank in the same location of familiar old buildings is somehow reassuring. Hometown signifies unchanging, comfortable and memories."


Right Mix For Successful Downtown Renewal, Chester Smolski Aug 1979

Right Mix For Successful Downtown Renewal, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It is sometimes called a 'big, small town.' It has all the trappings of a large urban center: from outdoor concerts at the Civic Center to a Go-Go lounge; parking problems and traffic congestion, to a Worthinton Street where bars and prostitutes prevail; and vacant old buildings , to new, high-rise office blocks. Sheer numbers alone in this city bring visible evidence of the activities and characteristics common to the downtowns of most large American cities."


Housing Rehabilitation Working In Hoboken, Chester Smolski Jun 1979

Housing Rehabilitation Working In Hoboken, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"One may not believe the argument but George Kohn, executive vice president of Applied Housing Associates, makes an interesting point. His business is housing, and he raises the question of where one should live--Manhattan or Hoboken. Why live on Manhattan's West Side, he asks, and pay $1,000 a month to wake each morning and view the flat, industrial ad boring New Jersey landscape across the Hudson? Why not live in Hoboken, at a $250 monthly rental, and view the fantastic, and only one like it in the world, Manhattan skyline to the east? Thirty cents and a 12-minute PATH subway …


Ah, Toronto, You Care About People!, Chester Smolski May 1979

Ah, Toronto, You Care About People!, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"They had a band winter here this year and the sunshine and warmer temperatures of Spring did not arrive until April 17. Spring is called a myth here because it comes so late, yet even with severe and long winters there is not one single pothole to be found in the well-maintained streets of the downtown. (Would that Providence could say as much!) This is just one of the many unusual aspects of Canada's largest city, a city decidedly different from those in the U.S. Toronto also offers proof that cities can work, that they have a future, that people …


Cleaning Up The Litter, Chester Smolski Feb 1979

Cleaning Up The Litter, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The last time the Environmental Protection Agency checked the numbers, it determined that eight million tons of America's annual municipal solid waste load was in the form of bottle and can beverage containers. Much of this was picked up from highways before it eventually reached municipal landfills."