I don't know why it wasn't mentioned in the article, but the city has applied for $54 Million in federal money to acquire and clean another site closer to the State Pier. If this money is awarded to NB, it will be used to turn the location into another major shipping pier.
New Bedford Developments
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That is fantastic news. I'm a big supporter of investing in sea/short-sea shipping. It isn't just a boost to the economy but a boost to civic pride to have a healthy shipping industry (especially for a city with a rich history of one.) It's also great for the region to have less truck traffic clogging highways. Southern Mass is a great place for a big rail-transfer station.
I'm a bit ignorant of the geography of State Pier, is it above or below the Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge?
I'm a bit ignorant of the geography of State Pier, is it above or below the Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge?
^Yeah, it's real good news. I'm all for Short-Sea shipping too. New Bedford has been talking about it for years and has actually done something to make it happen (Fall River on the other hand has all but spurned it). New Bedford really is in a prime location to be a shipping hub. It's at the mouth of the Cape Cod Canal, close to the Islands and closer to Boston than the current Island shipping hubs (Hyannis and Falmouth).
The $20 Million in stimulus money that's being touted as a "victory" for the commuter rail project is actually going to benefit the shipping industry in New Bedford sooner than any potential passenger rail. It will repair bridges allowing for larger trains to travel in/out of the city faster. It's a good connection and will only help.
The State Pier is right at the intersection of Union and Route 18. Just South of the Fairhaven/NB Bridge.
Oh, and the city is working on potentially expanding the airport again. It's zoned for international trade but the runways are too short currently to really accommodate the aircraft involved with such trade. About 10 years ago, DHL wanted to use it as a hub, but neighbors opposed expansions and the noise from additional traffic. The current administration is working on opening up these discussions again. The increased sea shipping and improved freight rail will be great compliments to air trade. NB will likely never see too much passenger traffic (Cape Air will still serve the city and potentially a shuttle or two in the future, but not much else with PVD and BOS so close), but the airport is zoned for trade so why not take advantage of it?
The $20 Million in stimulus money that's being touted as a "victory" for the commuter rail project is actually going to benefit the shipping industry in New Bedford sooner than any potential passenger rail. It will repair bridges allowing for larger trains to travel in/out of the city faster. It's a good connection and will only help.
The State Pier is right at the intersection of Union and Route 18. Just South of the Fairhaven/NB Bridge.
Oh, and the city is working on potentially expanding the airport again. It's zoned for international trade but the runways are too short currently to really accommodate the aircraft involved with such trade. About 10 years ago, DHL wanted to use it as a hub, but neighbors opposed expansions and the noise from additional traffic. The current administration is working on opening up these discussions again. The increased sea shipping and improved freight rail will be great compliments to air trade. NB will likely never see too much passenger traffic (Cape Air will still serve the city and potentially a shuttle or two in the future, but not much else with PVD and BOS so close), but the airport is zoned for trade so why not take advantage of it?
palindrome
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What exciting news! Good for NB.
Ron Newman
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but presumably not with DHL, which has exited the US market entirely.
No. They're working on expanding the runways in order to be more attractive as an international air shipping destination. DHL (or UPS, USPS, Fed Ex, etc) haven't been mentioned. There's no evidence that a company is even involved. It's simply a matter of working on expanding the airports capacity.
palindrome
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They might have more luck courting a smaller air cargo carrier such as ASTAR, which currently flys out of both Manchester and T.F. Greene. Congestion is probably not a real issue at either of those airports, but they could provide cheaper landing/takeoff fees and combine with the sea and rail shipping aspects, NB could be quite attractive to them.
Disclaimer: I know nothing of the air logistics industry!
Disclaimer: I know nothing of the air logistics industry!
palindrome
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DeLeo has just proposed 2 casinos in MA and slots at tracks. I would love to see the New Bedford one constructed (Did the fed port money get approved?) I would certainly visit every once and a while.
I much prefer the NB one also (as opposed to Middleboro), because the land has already been developed.
The port expansion would be ideal, but i wouldn't be mad at the casino either.
http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1237218
I much prefer the NB one also (as opposed to Middleboro), because the land has already been developed.
The port expansion would be ideal, but i wouldn't be mad at the casino either.
http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1237218
^Thanks for the link. I don't know if one of DeLeo's proposed casino's is in New Bedford? I like the one near downtown; I just think it would add a lot to the area. It's proposed for the same site that the city wants to use as an additional shipping hub, so either one of those would be good. I'd rather see the casino there as I think it would be great to have that big of a destination right there. The Federal money hasn't been awarded yet, and the casino developers have purchased the right to the land on the condition that legislation passes and they are allowed to build. Essentially, if the legislation passes and New Bedford is a selected site for a full casino, they're going to build.
I'm not nearly as fond of the other casino proposal just off of I-195. It's designed like and island and won't bring people into the city. The tax dollars would be good, but it will do very little in terms of increasing tourism.
I'm not nearly as fond of the other casino proposal just off of I-195. It's designed like and island and won't bring people into the city. The tax dollars would be good, but it will do very little in terms of increasing tourism.
Nothing like a late-night pizza joint after bar hopping. This one actually has a beer/wine license too which is awesome. The building is pretty and was an underutilized office before. This sits directly across from the National Club which has been a fisherman/hooker haven for as long as I've been alive. The owner of the Waterfront Grill recently purchased that and is going to turn it into a more "upscale" bar. New Bedford is quickly getting a very decent downtown nightlife selection. This will make 6 new downtown bars in the last 1.5 years. Furthermore, the pizza by the slice will be a big hit. Anywhere with late night pizza by the slice does well. Bill's in Portland, Via Via in Newport, Antonio's in Providence, etc. "Pizans" sounds dumb, but it's a welcome addition.
Full Story
Full Story
An interesting article using New Bedford as an example of how to use the arts to boost the local economy.
Full Story
Full Story
Just stumbled across these today. I am such a sucker for this type of stuff:
This is downtown Fall River (looking South along Main St.). You can see the St. Anne's spires in the distance and the Academy Building (both still around) on the left. The image is depressing though. First, much of what you see here is lost completely (the photo was taken from the Old City Hall area which is now Gov't Center/ I-195) or marred terribly. That's one hell of an urban environment and it's long gone.
Downtown Fall River again:
Downtown New Bedford. This area is almost entirely intact. This photo shows what it could look like with continued growth. There are serious thoughts into reintroducing at least two streetcar lines in New Bedford, but the focus now is on commuter rail. It would be awesome to have streetcars downtown again.
This is one of New Bedford's theatres. It was located on Acushnet Ave in the North End but was demolished to make way for I-195. There's still another theatre that's currently serving a retail purpose near where this one was. The Orpheum in the South End is a candidate for restoration (big interest) but it hasn't been done yet. The Zeiterion, downtown is in great shape and hosts a ton of great bands, plays, ballet's, symphonies, etc. There's a market for at least one more theater in town.
This is downtown Fall River (looking South along Main St.). You can see the St. Anne's spires in the distance and the Academy Building (both still around) on the left. The image is depressing though. First, much of what you see here is lost completely (the photo was taken from the Old City Hall area which is now Gov't Center/ I-195) or marred terribly. That's one hell of an urban environment and it's long gone.
Downtown Fall River again:
Downtown New Bedford. This area is almost entirely intact. This photo shows what it could look like with continued growth. There are serious thoughts into reintroducing at least two streetcar lines in New Bedford, but the focus now is on commuter rail. It would be awesome to have streetcars downtown again.
This is one of New Bedford's theatres. It was located on Acushnet Ave in the North End but was demolished to make way for I-195. There's still another theatre that's currently serving a retail purpose near where this one was. The Orpheum in the South End is a candidate for restoration (big interest) but it hasn't been done yet. The Zeiterion, downtown is in great shape and hosts a ton of great bands, plays, ballet's, symphonies, etc. There's a market for at least one more theater in town.
Ron Newman
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Is that bus terminal (left side of photo #3) in the same place where today's bus terminal is?
Great news. This one of of the complexes worth saving. It joins the Victoria Mills (Construction just began), and the Fairhaven Mills site (under construction) as another major riverside redevelopment along the river in the city's North End. Wamsutta Place is just South of these new projects and just opened last year and is at or near 100% occupancy.
The casino bill just passed the House vote and KG Urban Enterprises is really hoping to get one of the state's two casinos. They have purchased the rights to the Cannon Street Station power plant site just south of Downtown NB.
I posted some of their renderings a few months back, but they've since added more (including the following two) as well as a few videos of their proposal in their slide show which you can see here. I REALLY hope they get one of the two bids.
I posted some of their renderings a few months back, but they've since added more (including the following two) as well as a few videos of their proposal in their slide show which you can see here. I REALLY hope they get one of the two bids.
P
Patrick
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where is the rest of the city in that picture? I like high rises, but this one looks out of place a bit. Not saying I don't support it, but is there anything else around it? Its about 30 stories in an otherwise low rise district (unless the image is misleading).
Also, the design could use some improvement. but good for NB nonetheless.
Also, the design could use some improvement. but good for NB nonetheless.
P
Patrick
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also, do you like the smoke stack look to the two high rises? I get it, but I don't think I like it from an aesthetic perspective.
You have a 16 story high-rise nearby (currently undergoing a reclad) and a few 10+ story buildings close, but these are almost twice as tall as anything else nearby. The development site is JUST south of downtown. The taller buildings are on the NORTH side of downtown. I used my top-secret high-end professional editing software to give you an idea of where these buildings will be in relation to the rest of the central city:
They're quite a bit taller than anything around, but personally I don't mind them. They're narrow enough on the East and West sides, the sides facing the city and the water (intentional... so they don't block the view of the harbor that residents already have). I don't think they're too out of scale. While there are only about 6 or so buildings over 10 stories in the downtown area, there is some "height" (I use the term loosely... 16 story mixed-use towers aren't what I consider tall) to counterbalance the waterfront hotel towers. They're certainly not on an island. The city is pretty dense all around them too (New Bedford has 93,000 people living in 20 sq. mi. for a density of 4,550 people per square mile). It's a very urban area around there too. I think that the towers will work to create an interesting scale in an otherwise boring skyline. They're also abutting the downtown core, so it's not a bad spot and they certainly wouldn't be the only buildings you see poking up there.
As far as the smokestack goes, I can take it or leave it. New Bedford's a port city first and foremost. However, it does have a period of industrial importance which means there are still some industrial facilities around the city. Many (most if you include what's being renovated at the moment) have been restored and preserved for their "historical and architectural importance." Personally, I can take or leave some of them. Certainly a few are really nice (the Wamsutta mill to name one). But many are the 1800s equivalents of "megablocks" and need to go (like Fairhaven Mills which was demolished this year and is being turned into a scale development). Thankfully, New Bedford was not a real "mill city" (like Nearby Fall River) and as such grew to size long before industry took foot in the city. This means that MOST mills are a ways outside the city's core. The smokestack is intended to be a nod to the city's industrial heritage and the building's former purpose (powerplant, actually). I don't know how I feel about it. I wouldn't be sad to see it go, I don't think; but it doesn't bother me too much either. I guess I could go either way.
Personally
They're quite a bit taller than anything around, but personally I don't mind them. They're narrow enough on the East and West sides, the sides facing the city and the water (intentional... so they don't block the view of the harbor that residents already have). I don't think they're too out of scale. While there are only about 6 or so buildings over 10 stories in the downtown area, there is some "height" (I use the term loosely... 16 story mixed-use towers aren't what I consider tall) to counterbalance the waterfront hotel towers. They're certainly not on an island. The city is pretty dense all around them too (New Bedford has 93,000 people living in 20 sq. mi. for a density of 4,550 people per square mile). It's a very urban area around there too. I think that the towers will work to create an interesting scale in an otherwise boring skyline. They're also abutting the downtown core, so it's not a bad spot and they certainly wouldn't be the only buildings you see poking up there.
As far as the smokestack goes, I can take it or leave it. New Bedford's a port city first and foremost. However, it does have a period of industrial importance which means there are still some industrial facilities around the city. Many (most if you include what's being renovated at the moment) have been restored and preserved for their "historical and architectural importance." Personally, I can take or leave some of them. Certainly a few are really nice (the Wamsutta mill to name one). But many are the 1800s equivalents of "megablocks" and need to go (like Fairhaven Mills which was demolished this year and is being turned into a scale development). Thankfully, New Bedford was not a real "mill city" (like Nearby Fall River) and as such grew to size long before industry took foot in the city. This means that MOST mills are a ways outside the city's core. The smokestack is intended to be a nod to the city's industrial heritage and the building's former purpose (powerplant, actually). I don't know how I feel about it. I wouldn't be sad to see it go, I don't think; but it doesn't bother me too much either. I guess I could go either way.
Personally