Thayer Street
Former name(s)Cross Street
Location College Hill, Providence, Rhode Island

Thayer Street in Providence, Rhode Island is a popular destination for students of the area's nearby schools of Brown University, Moses Brown School, Hope High School, Wheeler School, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence College, Johnson & Wales University, and Rhode Island College.

History

Thayer was initially designated in 1799 as Cross Street.[1] In 1823, the street's name was changed to Thayer after Dr. Williams Thayer, great-great-grandson of Roger Williams.[1] It was once the home to the Thayer Street Grammar School (built in 1866–1867), located at the corner of Thayer and Meeting streets.[2]

Neighborhood information

Thayer Street is located in the College Hill neighborhood on the East Side of Providence. Some Brown University student housing and academic buildings are on Thayer Street.

Similar to Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey, and Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California, Thayer Street hosts independent shops and restaurants that serve as a communal center for students and locals. While Harvard Square has long been dominated by chain restaurants and stores, many businesses on Thayer remain independent, such as Avon Cinema.

Starting in the mid-2000s, there has been a general increase in the proportion of Thayer Street businesses that serve food.[3] Neighborhood residents and some other community members argue that landlords should try to lease space to retail stores instead of new restaurants. This preference is due in part to the limited parking currently available on College Hill. City zoning regulations require far fewer off-street parking spaces for retail businesses than for restaurants. Residents also complain of noise late at night and the College Hill Neighborhood Association, an organization representing College Hill residents, generally fights against applications for liquor licenses on Thayer Street.[4]

Images

References

  1. 1 2 Pina, Alisha A. (June 15, 2013). "Lack of parking, congestion threaten Providence's Thayer Street". Providence Journal. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  2. ↑ Annual Financial Report. Providence Office of the City Controller. 1888. p. 120.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ↑ Park, Jennifer (January 20, 2007). "Thayer Street to be revitalized this summer". Brown Daily Herald. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved 2008-02-11. Some merchants said they fear the street is becoming less unique. Sachdev supports the renovations, but he expressed concerns that the street is "becoming more and more food, more and more restaurants," a trend that does not represent the "best use of the street
  4. ↑ Braca, Mike. "A Changing Thayer Street". Providence Media.
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