So you know where regional U-Haul offices are,  but if asked the question, your likely answer is, “it’s where Ann and Hope used to be on Post Road.” You’ve noticed, haven’t you, that the Ann and Hope is no longer on the building?

And in the no too distant future,  based on Planning Board action last Wednesday night and expectation of City Council approvals possible directions could go like this: “Remember Carvel? Well, that’s where the bank is. Or it could be, remember the Rocky Point chowder house with all those animals outside? That’s were you’ll find the city’s newest fast-food restaurants.”

What’s planned for the stretch of Post Road from the Fire Station 8 south to the intersection with Airport Road is a long-environed City Centre gateway says Warwick City Planner Thomas Kravitz. And should the four projects as proposed be built, there be a bank, but two fast food establishments , three retail outlets and a 24,000 square foot U-Haul building at the fire station end of former Ann & Hope frontage to house a U-Haul U-Box Storage warehouse owned by Amerco Real Estate Company of Phoenix, AZ. According to plans, the main access to the site will be the improved signalized entrance from Post Road for the overall development of the former Ann & Hope site. A secondary access will use existing curb cuts along Post Road and Connecticut Avenue. The plan U-Haul building calls for a total of 86 parking spaces that exceeds the General Business zone requirement of 36 based on the size of the development.

At the former Carvel site that has been the subject of several meetings since the Department of Transportation actioned parcels it acquired as formerly managing the Green Airport and the division of aviation, Premier Land Development, Inc. of Providence proposes to create two-new lots to support a commercial building of 5,040 square feet , a bank with drive-through and an additional retail tenant. There would be a total of 6 proposed parking spaces. Main access would be from an upgraded signal with curb-cut at the Post Road and Airport Road intersection. An additional two-way access point is proposed for Guilford Avenue. No access is proposed for Pell Avenue.

Development of the site has been contentious. Premier acquired the property at the auction and looked to combine it with the smaller Carvel site on Post Road directly across from the Airport Road intersection. Following demolition of homes that were considered to be in a potentially unsafe landing zone, the land became a neighborhood park where area residents walked their dogs and kids played. About half that property, roughly a 15,000 square foot lot, is to be preserved as open space for neighborhood use under an agreement worked out with the city. The planning department has suggested it be deeded to a conservation nonprofit. The neighborhood was also concerned over access to the site that was taken into consideration in establishing the proposed traffic pattern.

Crossroads Capital Fund VI, LLC. of Cranston is proposing  side by side fast –food establishments in front of  the existing Firestone on Post Road. One of the two buildings would include a retail use. Access to the site would be the same signalized entrance from Post Road for the main development. The plan calls for a total of 128 parking  space.

Based on the existing and proposed uses within the GB zone, the required parking spaces would total 153 spaces. Per the Zoning approval referenced above, the project will be allowed a reduction to 128 spaces. The sites will be served by public water and sewer.

In recommending approval of the developments, the board noted, “Other commercial activities within the city are concentrated along major arterials such as Post Road, West Shore Road, Airport Road, and Warwick Avenue. In general, these commercial areas target local residents and contain a varied mix of local retailers, grocery stores, fast food, convenience and service establishments. The corridors lack a cohesive design aesthetic, are several decades old, and have numerous vacancies. As noted by many participants during public meetings, the commercial corridors throughout Warwick look tired and “need a face-lift.”

It goes on to read, “Reuse of the partially vacant property with the proposed frontage landscaping, in excess of Ordinance, and the construction of a new building will help to modernize and update the general appearance of this segment of the corridor and therefore the proposal is generally consistent with the identified need in the Plan to upgrade the appearance of the Post Road corridor.”