Located in the northwest section of Providence, the Hope/Summit neighborhood is roughly bounded by Hope Street to the East and North Main Street to the West. It is principally a residential neighborhood, although Hope Street is a main commercial corridor.
Officially designated by the City as the Hope Neighborhood, many residents refer to the area as the Summit Neighborhood. An active community organization, the Summit Neighborhood Association, publishes a quarterly newsletter, encourages resident participation in neighborhood affairs, and works to improve neighborhood conditions. Today, this strong community commitment helps make Hope (Summit) one of Providence's most stable and independent neighborhoods.
Since the 1940s, a large section of the Hope (Summit) neighborhood has been occupied by the Miriam Hospital. In 1945, Miriam moved from the West End to a two-acre site along Summit Avenue. The Hospital has since expanded four times, adding wings in 1952, 1967, 1978, and 1989 and a major new medical building opened in 2008. Miriam Hospital now occupies two city blocks from Fifth to Seventh Streets. The strong presence of Miriam Hospital has not, however, weakened this neighborhood's identity.
