Hope

Located in the popular east side of Providence, Hope is a walkable neighborhood integrated with the city’s downtown. Neighbors walk to festivals and farmers markets on the weekends, hop onto a bike trail that runs parallel to the Seekonk River and grab coffee at funky locally owned eateries in this vibrant residential area. Streets have well-preserved Victorian homes with front lawn bushes and flower gardens, and sidewalks give the neighborhood a homey, inviting feel. “It’s mostly beautiful Victorian multifamily properties with 9-10 ft. ceilings, big windows and natural light,” says Rhode Island Realtor Albert Hajdaraj.

Some neighbors in Hope are homeowners, says Hajdaraj, but the area is especially popular with investors, who scoop up properties as soon as they hit the market. “You’re looking at $350,000 to $400,000 per unit,” he says. Houses sit right next to each other, behind wooden fences and underneath tall trees, and most have driveways for parking. Condominium units can cost $500,000, 1920s colonials can go for $650,000, cottages can cost $225,000 and bungalows can go for $515,000. One of Hope’s selling points is its walkability, says Hajdaraj. “You can walk to restaurants and coffee shops,” he says. People start their days with coffee and a muffin at Seven Stars Bakery, a neighborhood favorite with locations in Providence, Rumford and Cranston. At lunchtime, people crowd around the Sandwich Hut, a sub shop in a nondescript hut serving Italian grinders and muffuletta sandwiches on focaccia. Live bands perform at the Parlour, a local music venue featuring a variety of genres, like reggae, rock, jazz and metal.

East of Hope is Blackstone Boulevard, a major east-side thoroughfare known for its ample green space. Along the street is a paved pathway used by neighbors for biking, dog walking or an afternoon stroll. The path connects to the Blackstone Park Conservation District, a 45-acre forested area that separates city streets from the Seekonk River. People go to the conservation area to fish, run, bike and enjoy the woods. Hope itself has community gathering spaces like Kerry Kohring Park, which has a playground and swings for small children. Lippitt Memorial Park has walking paths, a playground and a fountain. On Saturdays from May to October, Lippitt Park is home to the Hope Street Farmers Market and the Providence Artisans Market. Neighbors can browse through paintings and locally made jewelry while sipping a kombucha or frozen lemonade.

In the fall, Rhode Islanders head to the riverfront for PVD Fest, a festival over a weekend in September. Held on the Providence River at 195 District Park, PVD Fest is a free arts, music and dance festival featuring a beer garden and some of Rhode Island’s most popular restaurants as vendors. Hope is a walkable area, but public transportation is also available to take people across the city. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority operates bus routes throughout Providence, and residents of Hope can easily take the bus downtown in about 30 minutes. Grocery stores like Stop & Shop are about 1 mile away or a 5-minute drive. Neighbors can pick up prescriptions at the local Walgreens. Providence Place, the premier shopping mall in the city, is 2 miles south. Department stores like Macy’s and novelty stores like Newbury Comics have a presence at the shopping center.

Children in Hope can enroll in the Providence Public Schools, a district with about 22,000 students. Providence offers school choice, meaning families can ask to have their child sent to a school other than the one in their neighborhood, though placement at the choice school is not guaranteed. Public schools near Hope include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School (rated C-minus by Niche), Nathan Bishop Middle School (rated C) and Hope High School, the alma mater of writer H.P. Lovecraft. Hope High School, which has a C-minus Niche rating, offers a variety of clubs and organizations for its students, including culinary academy and improvisational comedy.

Hope touches Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, making it a convenient spot for commuters. The beaches of Newport are 36 miles south and Boston is 48 miles north. Commuter rail trains to Boston are available from the Providence train station 2 miles south of Hope. With its charming streetscapes, walkability and lively local businesses, Hope has many amenities.

Written By

Laura Finaldi

Photography Contributed By

Anselm Molina

Video By

Alex Finneran