Broadway could revive

Broadway could revive if landlords and homeowners are willing to see what a good community Broadway could be. I live near Central Avenue; and I see people who gather in restaurants wishing for a community center or comfortable coffee shop to gather. There has to be something to challenge the styrofoam atmosphere of Dunkin Donuts to complement Pleasant View.

Positive Developments

Arthur and fellow neighborhood interests,
The outlook in Pleasant View is not nearly as bleak as it may appear.
There are a lot of positive developments occurring now and in the near
future. First, Scott and Rae Davis are spending in excess of $1 million
dolllars to turn the old Jabbour Electronics building on Fountain St.
into a regional antiques mall. Second, the former Our lady of
Consolation School on Webster St. is being rehabilitated into 12 condominiums and
four new townhouses in the adjacent parking area. Third, the
Redevelopment Agency will be using $600,000 in EPA funds to undertake a complete
brownfields clean-up on three riverfront parcels on Front St. This
will allow for new development and provide a riverside route for the
planned bikepath. Fourth, and most important, there is a small but committed
group of residents who still meet on a regular basis to promote the
interests of the neighborhood.
Thanks for the opportunity to respond.
Barney S. Heath
Assistant Director
Department of Planning and Redevelopment
City of Pawtucket, RI
175 Main Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Phone 401-724-5200 ext. 17
Fax 401-726-6237



By Barney Heath

Thanks for response, Barney

The most interesting piece of remodeling in Pleasant View is the conversion of the former Our Lady of Consolation School into affordable apartments. Workmen on the project have told me the top floor has murals of heaven on the ceiling. This is one of the great Diocesan Projects in recent years. What is going into the old State Line Pharmacy?

More on Pleasant View

Hello all,
I'd like to add some thoughts to the extremely valuable comments made by Luke, Barney and James.

In addition to what Barney mentioned, the thriving Pawtucket Farmers' Market is located in Pleasant View. This was started and continues to be cultivated by allot of hard work by members of the PVNA & Weed and Seed.

This year we also had the addition of 20 community garden plots at Good Shepherd Church, go see them, they're outstanding.

There are a few good things already on Broadway besides the Farmers' Market and the community
garden. But I agree we need more. There's Churrasqueira Da Beira, (the Portuguese restaurant across from Dunkin, now reopened), Matos bakery, Carlos Miranda's karate studio, Cat's rock club, Krysia's and Luke's, just to name a few. I'm listing all of the above to raise the point that I believe many people in this neighborhood (including those who come to community meetings or used to) sometimes lack engagement in what's immediately around them or more importantly with who is around them. It's not unusual, I've been guilty of this myself, having commuted out of the area for work for many years, it's an easy disconnect.

There are a few of us who have been trying to improve Pleasant View for the last few years, but at times it's been difficult. We've discussed our dreams of community centers and vacant lots turned greenspaces, yet trying to organize and engage this diverse and disconnected community, let alone set a clear plan with attainable goals has come with more than it's fair share of hurdles. That being said, we must never stop trying.

I'd love to see those vacant storefront windows near Dunkin Donuts become art gallery spaces, It's been done in Providence and Boston and is a great way to support the visual arts and uplift the appearance of depressed areas. Of course the landlords need to be involved, this might be a challenge.

Barney, maybe it's time to dust off the Broadway
streetscape plan and see if we can't start working
on some of the small sections of it. Perhaps Broadway & Central is a good place to start.

I'll wrap up this all too long response with a reiteration and expansion of Lukes statement. I hope that people get involved and try to stay involved in any small way possible, despite any past or future differences. Pick up that piece of trash on your way down the sidewalk even if it isn't on your property and patronize the local businesses we already have.

The next Pleasant View community meeting is on Oct. 25th, at Good Shepherd church, 490 Broadway, 7:00 pm, all are welcome.

Thanks for the opportunity to join the discussion,
Pamela Haase
Pawtucket Farmers' Market manager and part time
cheerleader for the underdog that is Pleasant View.