The streets of Providence (L) ﬁlled with people after business hours last month. Downtown Worcester (R) is fairly deserted on a recent Thursday evening. These scenes capture how the fortunes of Worcester and Providence have diverged in recent years. Globe Photos/ Stew Milne (L); Ed Collier

Two downtowns on diverging paths

Providence sails as Worcester lags

By Robert Gavin

Globe Staff / June 5, 2005

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WORCESTER -- On a warm spring day, Richard Kennedy, president of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, walked along a nearly empty street and turned into one of the few restaurants in downtown. The scene: low lights, subdued conversation, and mostly middle-aged men, save for an elderly couple or two. (Full article: 1272 words)