Urban Expert Renn Critical of "Top-Down" Approach of Development on 195 in Providence

Urban Expert Renn Critical of "Top-Down" Approach of Development on 195 in Providence

Self-described "Urbanophile" Aaron Renn, a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, took Providence -- and the State of Rhode Island -- to task for trying to micro-manage the development the former 195 land in Providence.

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"The track record of, 'if you build it they will come,' is pretty poor," said Renn, who said he couldn't speak specifically to the proposed Wexford development, which has controversially touted hundreds of jobs being created -- by seats being filled in the Cambridge Innovation Center space -- for more than $30 million in taxpayer assistance. 

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"It's hard to force the market through a big government project," said Renn. "The 195 plan -- you don't want it to be master-planned like Woodlands, Texas -- cities have to have a little more chaos. You want to be careful not to treat it like a mall, or planned district."