It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic The Little Red Shop Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Hopedale, MA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a past client of this provider We worked with Always Best Care to provide”
“I can’t say enough great things about Always Best Care Senior Services! We used them”
“I am a current client of this provider I can’t say enough great things about Always”
“Always Best Care was very knowledgeable and compassionate to my families needs. With their”
“Fantastic care Holly is a great hire for the company. always best care is a”
“My mom is 93 and had COVID-19, requiring hospitalization for shortness of breath and treatment”
“My mom is 93 and had COVID-19, requiring hospitalization for shortness of breath and treatment”
“I am a past client of this provider My mom is 93 and had COVID-19, requiring”
“I would like to thank you for your professional care and handling of my Mom’s”
“Kingsley, first may I say what a wonderful person Aggie has been during this week”
“I would like to take sometime to commend our caregiver Holly for the wonderful job”
“I am a past client of this provider Our 85 year old mother needed overnight care”
“Their professionalism and response to questions and concerns. They were the only agency that said”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care of Greater Worcester is wonderful.”
“It's a great company to work there. I have learned a lot from this company.”
“Staff was very professional during consultation.”
“The Schedulers are very professional and respectful. they work with the caregivers very well and”
“Always Best Care is a great place to work where they really care about their”
“Your loved ones will be in great care with Always Best Care of Worcester.”
“I am a past client of this provider We worked with Always Best Care to provide 24-hour care for our parents who needed additional help to stay in their home. The care workers were helpful, caring, and provided the support and peace of mind needed. In addition to the care workers, office staff were regularly reachable and patient with multiple questions! Although it was a short term placement, about 3 months, I'd recommend and would use them again if the need arises.”
“I can’t say enough great things about Always Best Care Senior Services! We used them to help move my aunt from Boston to Phoenix, and I literally couldn’t have done it without them. From my first interaction with Ron to set things up to Kingsley helping (that word doesn’t begin to describe his patience and calmness) to the most amazing caregiver I’ve ever encountered, Sarah, they handled her every need while also ensuring me it would all be okay. Another passenger on the plane even commented how amazing Sarah was with my aunt! They were truly Heaven sent, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone for any health care they provide!”
“I am a current client of this provider I can’t say enough great things about Always Best Care Senior Services! We used them to help move my aunt from Boston to Phoenix, and I literally couldn’t have done it without them. From my first interaction with Ron to set things up to Kingsley helping (that word doesn’t begin to describe his patience and calmness) to the most amazing caregiver I’ve ever encountered, Sarah, they handled her every need while also ensuring me it would all be okay. Another passenger on the plane even commented how amazing Sarah was with my aunt! They were truly amazing, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone for any health care they provide!”
“Always Best Care was very knowledgeable and compassionate to my families needs. With their assistance and guidance we were able to provide my family with much needed home and respite care. They were also able to work with my family to find ways to defray the costs. The home health aids are wonderful. They provide a high level of professional service as well as companionship for my family.”
“Fantastic care Holly is a great hire for the company. always best care is a top of the line company that really cares about its clients. I highly recommend them.”
“My mom is 93 and had COVID-19, requiring hospitalization for shortness of breath and treatment with oxygen. I would have cared for my mom, but I got sick. I contacted ABCSS twelve hours before I started caring for my mom. My mom had some brain fog and some fluid balance issues. They responded that they could provide my mom with 11 hours of care a day, starting the day I was to be there. The next morning, an aide came with a supervisor to see my Mom. My goals for that day were small: to coax my mother to see the hairdresser, wash her hair, and ensure she took her medications. The aide was able to do that, to give my mom medication that was set out, to encourage her to drink and to walk in the halls. The following day, the aide encouraged her to shower and get dressed. My mom left her apartment to go to the dining room and eat with her friends. My mom might have required another hospitalization without the aide coaxing her to eat and drink reliably. Having an aide helped my mom regain some of her independence despite her brain fog and helped reinstitute the daily schedule that my mom had before her hospitalization. I had initially been contracted for 8 days, but with my mother's progress, I could terminate one-to-one care in just 6 days! I helped by setting daily goals, but the aide coaxed my mother toward health. I highly recommend this agency. I thank Georgianna for her care of my mother.”
“My mom is 93 and had COVID-19, requiring hospitalization for shortness of breath and treatment with oxygen. I would have cared for my mom, but I got sick. I contacted ABCSS twelve hours before I started caring for my mom. My mom had some brain fog and some fluid balance issues. They responded that they could provide my mom with 11 hours of care a day, starting the day I was to be there. The next morning, an aide came with a supervisor to see my Mom. My goals for that day were small: to coax my mother to see the hairdresser, wash her hair, and ensure she took her medications. The aide was able to do that, to give my mom medication that was set out, to encourage her to drink and to walk in the halls. The following day, the aide encouraged her to shower and get dressed. My mom left her apartment to go to the dining room and eat with her friends. My mom might have required another hospitalization without the aide coaxing her to eat and drink reliably. Having an aide helped my mom regain some of her independence despite her brain fog and helped reinstitute the daily schedule that my mom had before her hospitalization. I had initially been contracted for 8 days, but with my mother's progress, I could terminate one-to-one care in just 6 days! I helped by setting daily goals, but the aide coaxed my mother toward health. I highly recommend this agency. I thank Georgianna for her care of my mother.”
“I am a past client of this provider My mom is 93 and had COVID-19, requiring hospitalization for shortness of breath and treatment with oxygen. I would have cared for my mom, but I got sick. I contacted ABCSS twelve hours before I started caring for my mom. My mom had some brain fog and some fluid balance issues. They responded that they could provide my mom with 11 hours of care a day, starting the day I was to be there. The next morning, an aide came with a supervisor to see my Mom. My goals for that day were small: to coax my mother to see the hairdresser, wash her hair, and ensure she took her medications. The aide was able to do that, to give my mom medication that was set out, to encourage her to drink and to walk in the halls. The following day, the aide encouraged her to shower and get dressed. My mom left her apartment to go to the dining room and eat with her friends. My mom might have required another hospitalization without the aide coaxing her to eat and drink reliably. Having an aide helped my mom regain some of her independence despite her brain fog and helped reinstitute the daily schedule that my mom had before her hospitalization. I had initially been contracted for 8 days, but with my mother's progress, I could terminate one-to-one care in just 6 days! I helped by setting daily goals, but the aide coaxed my mother toward health. I highly recommend this agency. I thank Georgianna for her care of my mother.”
“I would like to thank you for your professional care and handling of my Mom’s extended home care. When I called you for assistance with Thelma’s home care needs you were such a good listener and I could feel your warmth and good spirit over the phone”
“Kingsley, first may I say what a wonderful person Aggie has been during this week helping my wife on her return from Knollwood. She is most attentive, helpful and pleasant. It is hard to find a nicer person to have sharing ones home. We are very pleased you chose her to be with us.”
“I would like to take sometime to commend our caregiver Holly for the wonderful job she is doing with my dad by providing in home care. She is caring, engaging , and provides professional services and the best companionship for my Dad !! Great job to Always Best Care !!!!”
“I am a past client of this provider Our 85 year old mother needed overnight care following repeated hospitalizations over a 9 month period and ensuing hospice care. We called Kingsley, the Director, who was kind, gracious, professional, and knowledgeable. Flexible scheduling was also a priority and we always received immediate attention. The Director even brought over the PCAs personally to introduce them and would visit to ensure our mother’s needs were being met.The office staff and PCAs were kind and professional. Overall would highly recommend this agency.”
“Their professionalism and response to questions and concerns. They were the only agency that said they could help us for the care of my husband. The care takers are responsible, and really care for the person and caretaker. Their secretary is very professional and helpful and always gets back to me. Kingsley is fantastic, professional, caring, and goes over an beyond his call of his profession. We are very thankful for Always Best Care and I have recommended them to friends and rehab centers.”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care of Greater Worcester is wonderful. The person who answers the telephone (her name is Donna), and she's older like we are. She has a clue about what we're talking about when we're asking for help and why, so it becomes a very personal conversation. I was introduced to the director. He is an RN, plus a few other things. When he comes in to do the assessment for what you need, he works really hard at putting together the right caregiver with the person asking. He was just absolutely lovely. We needed somebody who could drive to do errands, and then I needed help with the laundry and occasional meals. The caregiver picks up and tidies around. She does bathing for my husband, who is almost bedbound. She does other simple health-related things for him. For me, she helps with my bathing because I have a bad back and bad knees. She's nice, and she's sweet. She can be a little tough when she needs to be, which is what we wanted. Not to be abusive, but just someone with a firm hand. When you don't feel well, you tend to act like a 7-year-old; it doesn't matter how old you are. She is just lovely. We couldn't ask for anything better.”
“It's a great company to work there. I have learned a lot from this company. I was not left on my own when I started working, everyone is friendly and pleasant.”
“Staff was very professional during consultation.”
“The Schedulers are very professional and respectful. they work with the caregivers very well and find them the right cases. The pay is also very great”
“Always Best Care is a great place to work where they really care about their clients and employees! Absolutely would recommend to anyone looking for care for themselves or a loved one, or a new job!”
“Your loved ones will be in great care with Always Best Care of Worcester.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Hopedale Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Alicante Restaurant & Lounge or visit Prospect Heights Historic District (Milford, Massachusetts), don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Hopedale, MA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Hopedale, MA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Hopedale, MA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
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HOPEDALE — The town is edging closer to developing plans that will reshape the downtown of the small community in an unprecedented circumstance.Town officials are looking to formalize plans for what will become of the former Draper mill site, a massive 80-acre vacant lot that was once home to the ...
HOPEDALE — The town is edging closer to developing plans that will reshape the downtown of the small community in an unprecedented circumstance.
Town officials are looking to formalize plans for what will become of the former Draper mill site, a massive 80-acre vacant lot that was once home to the 1.8 million-square-foot Draper factory. The goal is to rezone the area as a new downtown district, and to encourage mixed-use development.
"There seems to be a consensus about mixed use at that site, which has been consistent with the plans that have been considered since the late 1990s," Town Administrator Diana Schindler said. "There have always been discussions about the mill space having some residential, some light commercial space and some open space."
Through a series of proposals, surveys and public hearings over the past several decades, the town has seen a consistent interest in redeveloping the property as part of a multi-faceted approach to reshape the community's village center. Planning Board Chair Stephen Chaplin said during a board meeting last month that the panel is working on developing a zoning proposal that would match those ambitions.
“We are currently trying to create zoning to encourage and permit mixed-use development in this area,” he said during the Aug. 24 meeting. “We are taking industrial land and we are creating a vehicle for it to become a mixed-use neighborhood.”
The mill ceased operation in the mid-1970s, then sat idle for decades as different plans and proposals were considered.
In November 2018, Worcester businessman Philip Shwachman, owner of the companies that owned the majority of the former Draper buildings, filed a lawsuit against local businesses, town boards and individuals over a downtown redevelopment plan that involved the Draper property. The lawsuit claimed the defendants conspired to take Shwachman’s land by eminent domain, and that he was not adequately consulted in the redevelopment plan.
Chronicling Draper: New book offers photographic history of iconic factory
That suit was settled a year later, with the town scrapping the redevelopment plan and agreeing to keep Shwachman in the loop on any new plan going forward.
A call to Shwachman's business, First American Realty Inc., seeking comment for this story wasn't returned. But he told the Daily News in March 2021 that there's "a vision" for open space that can "daylight the river, open it up from Freedom Street all the way to Route 16.”
Later that year, the mill was demolished, leaving a massive vacancy in the downtown area of Hopedale, which encompasses just 5 square miles.
The Planning Board is expected to draft a bylaw by the end of the year that will propose a change to the zoning map to create a mixed-use district of some kind on the former Draper site. The board will also hold a public hearing on the proposal, take public comment into consideration and then make a recommendation to Town Meeting on whether to adopt the bylaw.
Town Meeting next spring would then decide whether to make the zoning changes.
The large size of the Draper site, within such a small community, creates a unique opportunity for a Massachusetts town to reshape its entire downtown. The Draper property itself comprises about 2.5% of the entire land area in town.
"To have the opportunity to rebuild a village center, I don't know of any town around here that has had that opportunity," Schindler said. "What does Hopedale want to be now? Does it want to become a residential community? I think that with the density that will be proposed with some of the housing, people will have to ask themselves about that."
Unwanted boost: Portion of Draper building collapses while in process of demolition
Jane Wyrick, a planner with the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, which is working with the town to consult on future uses of the property, said during the Aug. 24 Planning Board meeting that the Draper property could be a spot to increase the town’s housing stock — something that is challenging given the limited amount of space available in the town.
“One of the things that came out of the survey and master plan was a need for housing for people who are aging," Wyrick said. "It could be that one of the parcels in this area has senior housing, another may have it for families. With most of the town built out and other land having restrictions on it for conservation, it really limits the area that this town has had for development if we are trying to meet the housing needs. Bringing in mixed-use districts and allowing for housing downtown, hopefully that can meet some of the needs.”
'Symbol of Progress': Book depicts link between the Draper Corp. and Hopedale
Schindler described Hopedale as a "unique place," and that careful thought needs to be put into plans that will redevelop the village center. She cited the town's small size in saying that it could lead to it being culturally absorbed by larger neighboring towns.
"Hopedale is right in between Milford, Mendon, Upton, that little valley," she said. "It could just meld into a suburb of Milford, depending on what gets built here. It is critical to be really thoughtful about what this development looks like, to keep kind of that unique character of Hopedale and maintain that identity."
HOPEDALE — The town is in the process of deciding whether to grant a special permit to a Boston commercial real estate developer that wants to build a giant distribution center on Plain Street.The Zoning Board of Appeals is reviewing a proposal from GFI Partners that calls for construction of a 616,875-square-foot warehouse and distribution center at 75 Plain St. The building would be constructed on property that is currently home to Rosenfeld Concrete Corp. and across from Hopedale Airport, with the back side of the property ab...
HOPEDALE — The town is in the process of deciding whether to grant a special permit to a Boston commercial real estate developer that wants to build a giant distribution center on Plain Street.
The Zoning Board of Appeals is reviewing a proposal from GFI Partners that calls for construction of a 616,875-square-foot warehouse and distribution center at 75 Plain St. The building would be constructed on property that is currently home to Rosenfeld Concrete Corp. and across from Hopedale Airport, with the back side of the property abutting the Hopedale Country Club.
The application was first submitted to the Planning Board in September, which led to a lengthy site plan review process as the town evaluated the proposal. GFI is constructing a similar, but smaller, project at 300 Financial Park Drive in Franklin.
If the Hopedale project is approved, Rosenfeld Concrete's operations would be relocated — the company, a unit of Boston Sand & Gravel Company, has an existing plant in Walpole.
The Hopedale property eyed for development sits on 141 acres within the town's Groundwater Protection District, due to its proximity to the community’s well fields. That has led residents to express concern that it will have a negative environmental impact. Other resident concerns include increased noise and traffic, as well as the sheer size of the proposed building, which would be about three times the size of an average Walmart.
“There is nothing like this project on Plain Street. If we were building something like what is on the property already, my wife and I wouldn’t come (to speak out),” said Plain Street resident Mike Hyland during a public hearing on June 15. “I don’t believe that when this street was built, that people would envision that they would have to share that space with a 600,000-square-foot distribution space, with I don’t know how many 18-wheelers running around the clock.”
The building site would contain 139 loading spaces, 206 trailer parking spaces, 300 passenger car spaces and an expansion area for 100 trailer spaces, according to the proposal. A traffic study performed on behalf of the town suggested that the average number of weekday vehicle trips to and from the property would total 1,074.
The Planning Board has approved GFI's application, 3-1, and recommended the ZBA to approve a special permit. Planning Board Chair Stephen Chaplin, Jimmy Khokhar and Michael Costanza voted in favor of the project, with Kaplan Hasanoglu opposed. The fifth Planning Board member, Christopher Cody Chase, did not vote, although it is unclear why.
According to Town Administrator Diana Schindler, because the public hearing process could not be very informative until the site plan review was approved, the town and GFI agreed to extend the public hearing process to the next ZBA meeting on July 20.
In its decision on site plan, the Planning Board stated it was confident that any negative impact from the building would be mitigated, and would not be any more damaging than any other development built at the former concrete batch site.
“The advantages of the proposed use, as conditioned, outweigh any detrimental effects, and such detrimental effects on the neighborhood and the environment will not be greater than could be expected from development which would occur if the site plan were denied,” the decision states.
GFI projects that the building would be assessed at more than $34 million, which would lead to more than $1 million per year in additional property tax revenue to the town. The distribution center is also expected to create about 300 jobs in the community.
In addition to Franklin, GFI has also redeveloped a 735,000-square-foot industrial facility in Devens.
HOPEDALE — The Select Board is requesting a judge to provide it with more time to decide its next step in regards to a disputed land deal it made with ...
HOPEDALE — The Select Board is requesting a judge to provide it with more time to decide its next step in regards to a disputed land deal it made with Grafton and Upton Railroad — a deal the judge ruled is invalid.
In addition, the board is seeking further clarification from the judge in terms of what its options are going forward.
“Quite frankly, attorney (Brian) Riley and myself saw too many difficulties for the town and Board of Selectmen to go forward on one of those three options without further clarification from the court, particularly given the litigious nature of this matter and the competing interests of the parties that have already brought actions against the Board of Selectman on this issue,” said attorney Peter Durning during Monday's Select Board meeting.
On Nov. 10, Judge Karen Goodwin ruled that a deal made between the Select Board and Grafton and Upton Railroad to split 155 acres of protected forestland on West Street was invalid because the proposal didn't first go to Town Meeting.
At the same time, she ruled that only the board has the authority to exercise the right of first refusal to buy land that has been deemed forest, and therefore taxed at a lower rate.
Goodwin then gave the board three choices:
The judge gave the Select Board 60 days to make a decision, and also initiated a preliminary injunction preventing the railroad from carrying out further work on the forestland until Jan. 9.
Riley, who serves as the town's ligation counsel, filed a motion Monday in Worcester Superior Court seeking additional clarification on the ruling before making a decision on the matter, according to Durning.
Riley was also submitting an emergency motion to extend the 60-day period allowed by the judge in making that decision, said Durning.
After that motion is filed, Durning said the matter will return before Goodwin to give her an opportunity to clarify her ruling, to which the board can then proceed "in greater confidence" about which steps to take moving forward.
“We’re in a little bit of a holding pattern,” said Durning about holding further discussion on the matter until the town gets additional guidance from Goodwin.
The lawsuit centers on a dispute over 155 acres of forest and wetlands off West Street, through which Grafton and Upton Railroad tracks run. The railroad has been trying to expand its operations over the past year or so, and leadership says developing the tracks and the area around them is key to the strategy.
In the motion filed Monday in Superior Court, Riley wrote that it was always the town’s — and the railroad’s — position that the settlement agreement was valid, and it’s not clear why the town retains the legal right to enforce the right of first refusal because the agreement waives the town's ability to exercise that right.
The town and railroad’s view is that the agreement is the only viable option to obtain any of the property at 364 Main St., Riley said.
“We wanna get it right,” said Select Board Chair Brian Keyes during Monday’s board meeting about seeking clarification from the court. Based on the nature of the litigation, he said they’re hoping for a quick turnaround on the matter.
An executive session held last Friday about a lawsuit brought against the town by 11 residents who oppose the land split resulted in "a robust discussion,” Keyes added, but he said there’s still too much "inconsistency" that needs to be defined.
In a statement sent Tuesday to the Daily News, attorney David Lurie, who is representing the 11 Hopedale residents who filed the suit against the town back in March, questioned why the board needed further clarification.
“It’s quite sad that the board feels that it needs further guidance from the court," he said. "In fact, there is nothing in the court’s decision that needs clarification. It’s there in black and white: Because the settlement agreement was not authorized by Town Meeting, the board now has the option to continue the steps it initially took to acquire all of the forestland."
Since the court’s decision was issued two weeks ago, more than 520 residents have signed a petition requesting that the town proceed to acquire all of the forestland, as previously voted at Town Meeting, according to Lurie.
“Yet, at last night’s board meeting, attended via Zoom by over 70 residents, the board declined to allow any public discussion of this issue," said Lurie in his statement. "The board appears to be paralyzed at a time when it should be leading the charge to preserve this unique undeveloped property that the town, by statute and the court’s decision, has the right to acquire.”
Lauren Young writes about business and pop culture. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @laurenwhy__.
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