CONCLUSION
This analysis of urban development in Providence reveals that there is little interaction in the politics of the city. The city's urban planners have decided to put "all their eggs in one basket": Downtown. This does little to help Providence's other neighborhoods, such as Smith Hill and College Hill.
Downtown receives the majority of the funds and grants for developments. For 1997, HUD gave $200,000 just to the Providence Performing Arts Center. HUD gave all of Smith Hill just over $208,000. This is disturbing at best and could result in severe problems for underdeveloped neighborhoods in the future.
More focus is needed in the urban politics of Providence.
-College Hill is an affluent community. They don't need any extra
funding for developments or projects.-Smith Hill is in need of developments (structural and economic,
especially), but doesn't receive enough funding.-Downtown receives most of the attention, but who benefits?
-Who can afford $50 tickets to the PPAC?
Affluent suburbanites who also happen to be the
decision makers.
If all the funding goes to Downtown, then the profits made from these investments should be spread throughout the entire city.
LINKS:
Advocates of Responsible Urban Policy
Department of Planning and Urban Development
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
AUTHORS' EMAILS:
Michael O'Brien: mobrie99@providence.edu
Jennifer Ferencko: jferen98@providence.edu
Elizabeth Downey: edowney@providence.edu
Copyright 1997 Michael O'Brien, Jennifer Ferencko, and Elizabeth Downey
Site prepared as a student project at Providence College.
Political Science 303 - Urban Politics - Fall 1997
Prof. Tony Affigne