84 replies to this topic

[Frankie811]

runawayjim, on Sep 12 2006, 04:08 PM, said:

according to the agenda for tomorrow's board of licenses meeting, the tim horton's that's opening on douglas wants to be open until 4am!

Why not. The Dunkin Dounuts around the corner on Smith St is open 24/hrs.

[runawayjim]

Frankie811, on Sep 12 2006, 07:28 PM, said:

Why not. The Dunkin Dounuts around the corner on Smith St is open 24/hrs.

that's a 24hr dunkin? i didn't know that.

[Frankie811]

A slice of life on Smith Hill.

[glassandsteel]

Although I'm glad to see that this business is actually expanding, I've always wished for the building that they're expanding into to be turned into a rave club. The building and location would have been perfect and Providence definitely needs a good rave venue within reasonable walking distance to hotels. I suppose this is a good move forward though, Bath street has a lot of potential (IMHO) and seeing this building reused for any purpose instead of being torn down makes me breathe a little easier.

[Frankie811]

Supermarket plans announced for Smith Hill.

Smith Hill is getting the supermarket it has long pined for, after ALDI Supermarkets announced yesterday that it will take over the vacant Valueland property on Smith Street.

[runawayjim]

Frankie811, on Nov 27 2007, 07:11 AM, said:

Supermarket plans announced for Smith Hill.

Smith Hill is getting the supermarket it has long pined for, after ALDI Supermarkets announced yesterday that it will take over the vacant Valueland property on Smith Street.

thanks frankie! lots of info in that article. not only will smith hill be getting a grocery store, but they're also hoping for a bank and a pharmacy in that location as well. unfortunately, it looks as though this will end up becoming a shopping plaza/strip mall. hopefully one of the doors will be at the sidewalk since the building is already built that way.

in addition, there's a blurb at the end of that that says that the price rite in olneyville sq is going to move to eagle sq and take over the shaw's location (though i thought the shaw's location was too big for a store like price rite).

[jencoleslaw]

interesting that that is only 22K square feet. I wonder, with the parking, if it will go before the CPC.

also interesting is that tidbit about PriceRite and eagle square. I cannot fathom for one instant how they will afford the lease on that property. I sure hope the city isn't subsidizing this in any way... an earlier quote on this issue said that they were not going to subdivide the space so...what's changed?

[matt]

but im still going to call it Valueland

[jencoleslaw]

btw, if this isn't the most damning quote...

Quote

“Although it took almost five years in a very difficult economy to identify the right buyer, PC has achieved what no public or private interest had been able to do previously — find a suitable developer that would use the property to address important retail needs in the Smith Hill neighborhood,” Caron said.

[Cotuit]

Good news on Aldi, though I wish I could walk to Smith Hill because I'd really like to use that store, but the Dean Street Expressway sits between me and Smith Hill.

This whole Eagle Square Pricerite thing is just weird.

Quote

Price-Rite Supermarket is expected to move from Olneyville Square to Eagle Square to replace the Eagle Square Shaw’s, according to City Councilwoman Josephine DiRuzzo, but that will leave a hole in Olneyville Square that will be tough to fill.

I agree with the Councilwoman, it will be hard to fill that hole in Olneyville Square, but in a perfect world we'd see Atlantic Mills and the Pricerite plaza redeveloped and we'd have useful buildings and parkland right up to the river, instead of a surface lot like we do now. Of course that would open a whole host of gentrification issues, but only if not done thoughtfully. I'm not holding my breath on any of that right now.

[Liamlunchtray]

jencoleslaw, on Nov 27 2007, 08:50 AM, said:

also interesting is that tidbit about PriceRite and eagle square. I cannot fathom for one instant how they will afford the lease on that property. I sure hope the city isn't subsidizing this in any way... an earlier quote on this issue said that they were not going to subdivide the space so...what's changed?

Price-Rite manages to afford the rent on Rt2 in Warwick, which I assume must be pretty steep. I just hope that in a larger store they will have more cashiers. I'm tired of spending 30-45minutes in line to check out.

[Frankie811]

Liamlunchtray, on Nov 27 2007, 10:11 AM, said:

I just hope that in a larger store they will have more cashiers. I'm tired of spending 30-45minutes in line to check out.

It's almost as bad at Save-a-Lot. Here's ALDI's website: http://www.aldifoods.com/us/html/service/s...or_ENU_HTML.htm

[TheAnk]

Raze the old Price Rite.. A Park is a good idea for the spot.. Clean up the river there, open it up.. Keep the square intact as a hub, but toss a park behind it.. Its genius.. I admittedly have never been in the store.. What is it comparable to.. While it seems like a cheap crappy store, I think anything is better than a huge ghost big box in Eagle Square..

I have also noticed a bunch of retail vacancies lately.. Mildly concerning.. In between Staples and the mattress store.. Maybe it was HR Block and was only seasonal.. Not sure..

Also I am terrified of Cotuit's nutcrackhead picture... nightmares.. not even kidding.. Pure evil..

I have not driven down to Riverside Gateway yet.. Has anyone else? I think the swap meet type thing currently in the mill there actually works.. If they graded the parking lot and repaved it its really not that bad as a functioning wholesale/retail/compton & watts swap meet..

[Cotuit]

TheAnk, on Nov 27 2007, 04:56 PM, said:

Also I am terrified of Cotuit's nutcrackhead picture... nightmares.. not even kidding.. Pure evil..

I'm glad you approve.

[Liamlunchtray]

TheAnk, on Nov 27 2007, 04:56 PM, said:

Raze the old Price Rite.. A Park is a good idea for the spot.. Clean up the river there, open it up.. Keep the square intact as a hub, but toss a park behind it.. Its genius.. I admittedly have never been in the store.. What is it comparable to.. While it seems like a cheap crappy store, I think anything is better than a huge ghost big box in Eagle Square..

Man, I would love to see the old Price Rite come down. Beyond being ugly and awful it is in pretty tough shape - Lots of leaks in the roof - just tired. A big box that has outlived its welcome.

The store itself is kind of comparable to those old Wonderfood Warehouse stores or Big-D. Pallets of super low priced stuff, limited selection, lots of house brand, super cheap.

[Jerry2]

TheAnk, on Nov 27 2007, 04:56 PM, said:

I have also noticed a bunch of retail vacancies lately.. Mildly concerning.. In between Staples and the mattress store.. Maybe it was HR Block and was only seasonal.. Not sure..

Mildly concerning? I would say it's a big concern...even bigger for the schmucks that bought condos in that poorly designed complex located in a HUD flagged declining market. I've said before that the layout of that entire "complex" or plaza or whatever you want to call it doesn't scream attention from anyone passing by...let alone the residents of the area. In an effort to appease everyone from the ridiculous outwardly vocal "preservationists" to the "concerned citizens" with zero retail knowledge, they've managed to construct a hideous design that is not conducive to any type of retail growth that would benefit the neighborhood. The whole project is a flop. It could have been an anchor for the entire area and provided desperately needed services in a tasteful way without destroying all of the historic buildings. However, it was overly designed and messy. I, too, noticed all the vacancies but expected it nonetheless from my last trip.

While I liked the signage from the highway, I feel that the American Locomotive neighbor will suffer from the same fate. I can see that, in some parts, it appears overdesigned. The retail mix that they are trying to attract will not fare well in Providence either. Feldco explained what they thought would work from the very beginning, based on their expertise, and everyone challenged them from the bottom up. Was it possible to save a few buildings and construct an easily accessible self-serving neighborhood retail center without constructing multi-freestanding buildings that block access in an effort to appease a few nutjobs? I think so. Now it appears that the city will be stuck with a hulking mass of vacant undesirable space. Where does it give?

[TheAnk]

Jerry2, well done.. I do think the layout is mix matched.. I don't share the same dire outlook though.. I think the fault of the project was trying to jump start gentrification.. They tried to skip steps.. For anyone who was familiar with the area before views the project as a boon... I would like to get the opinions of those who can or do view the project simply on aesthetics.. I cannot take this third party view, because regardless of the layout, I see it as positive..

As evil as this may sound to people, Staples and Shaws and the like may have been a few phases early.. There is positive going on for sure, but you can't force it.. You can't just toss a Capital Grille in the ghetto; you have to start with an Applebee's, then go to an Outback, etc, as the resident population "improves"..

A quick notice of the stores who are staying notes that these stores cater to current population; Cingular, Mad Rags, Pay/Half, Popeyes, laudromat, RadioShack Hair/nails, etc..

I think that the ALCO project and PUENTE/Calendar Mills will provide the missing piece, daytime working folk.. Rising Sun is nice, but the amount of workforce there isn't large..

I will agree with you that the space where Radio Shack and the mattress place are is undesirable.. The rest of the buildings are ok.. Coincidentally, the most undesirable space is the exact building that housed Fort Thunder if I am not mistaken.. So we agree on this point completely..

[mr2448]

matt, on Nov 27 2007, 08:59 AM, said:

but im still going to call it Valueland

How about "Great Scott". The original market!

[mr2448]

the area still needs a businessman's organization to organize street trash pickup along that part of Smith Street and the intersection of Chalkstone Ave all the way to Orms Street. It alwaya looks a mess in that area. Litter flies all over the place, mostly from 7-11, and noone seems to care. GI Joes cleans in front of its store, but the abutters could care less. Patricks also does a good job.

[runawayjim]

mr2448, on Nov 29 2007, 08:02 PM, said:

the area still needs a businessman's organization to organize street trash pickup along that part of Smith Street and the intersection of Chalkstone Ave all the way to Orms Street. It alwaya looks a mess in that area. Litter flies all over the place, mostly from 7-11, and noone seems to care. GI Joes cleans in front of its store, but the abutters could care less. Patricks also does a good job.

that bit of smith street from chalkstone to orms (and even a little bit north of chalkstone and south of orms) is actually very vibrant and active. you've got the bars and the post office and restaurants and shops. it's an awesome little commercial zone. i just wish the earthen vessel didn't close. i had been meaning to check it out and when i got around to it, it was too late.