8 replies to this topic

[Frankie811]

What's in store for Ann & Hope? Monday afternoon, U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy and Mayor Daniel J. McKee stopped in the at the corporate offices to chat with the owners about ways they could help get a redevelopment of the complex off the ground.

[JimmyGreaves]

I'd like to see the model employed by Hope Webbing employed elsewhere.  The uses there span the spectrum from light manufacturing to restaurant space.  If it works there, hopefully other developers will emulate it elsewhere and not stricly limit the development model to residential or service.

[Cotuit]

This complex sits right next to the Woonsocket-Providence rail line, correct? I don't know the layout of Cumberland too well, but would this be a logical location for a commuter rail stop if/when that line is reactivated? It seems this could have the potential to be a premier transit oriented development, either residential allowing people to access Providence and Boston via the train or mixed use with the potential for people from points north and south to access it by train.

[Recchia]

I beleive there is already a high-rise elderly complex right near here, and a Stop & Shop plaza.  They could build from there.

[frymasterspeck]

I could swear that I read a story about a Woonsocket commuter rail study just last week, but I can't find it anywhere. It said that a Woonsocket-Providence line had the best chance of success. I've been looking into rail stuff, so I have this Google Earth screen grab that shows where this line goes and some likely stops. Mine actually goes all the way to Worcester.

[Lone Ranger]

You probably saw that commuter rail study in this thread.

[mental757]

PROJO:  "A new chapter at Ann & Hope"

http://www.projo.com...RS.2cb9079.html

[Lone Ranger]

Cotuit, on Jul 11 2007, 09:42 AM, said:

I don't know the layout of Cumberland too well,

Makes two of us.  Hey, it occurs to me that people might appreciate a link to the site on Googlemaps.  

[BigUglyCat]

Lone Ranger, on Aug 20 2007, 07:54 PM, said:

Makes two of us. Hey, it occurs to me that people might appreciate a link to the site on Googlemaps.

Nice Google map, Lone Ranger.  Boy, does this thread bring back memories!  My bargain-conscious mommy first took me to Ann & Hope probably around 1958 or 1959.  The parking lot failed to fully cover the train tracks remaining from the mill days.  Back then you entered and exited the retail site from the single-door entry that I presume the millworkers used to use.

Be sure and check that Google map, folks.  In 1978 and 1979, my wife and I lived in a third floor walkup apartment in one of those former millworker houses on Main St.  Just left of center on the bottom you can see what looks like the Cumberland Twin Drive-In.  Up and to the left of the Drive-In site, right at the intersection of Route 122 and Ann&Hope Way (formerly Mill St.) you can see the open area that was an economy gas station, drowned at least once in one of those Blackstone River floods.  As soon as the water went down, they opened again, and I sure hope the tank filler caps were waterproof.

Oh yeah, below Main St. across A&H Way from A&H you can see the roofs of two sheds that are what is left of some kind of freight terminal for the railroad.  The flat expanse around the sheds was used as overflow parking for A&H at least one year at Christmas time.  The store ran school buses back and forth from the shed area to the store entry/exit area.

Those were the days!