3445 Alma Street - Alma Village [Midtown] 2007

Nice curb appeal here at Alma Village with some solid amenities. But look more closely and you will find some room for improvement. From this angle, this charming small park almost looks like Paris. And, at the far end there is a really nice playground that seems well cared for.

This lawn looks like the perfect play area and is well clipped. However, when I asked the neighbors in the townhomes that were also part of this project, whether they played on the lawn - they replied “Oh no! There is way too much dog poop!” So there’s that. Room for improvement both by the dog “owners” and the Owner’s maintenance company.

I don’t usually like to focus on this but indeed there seems to be a parking shortage here. The Grocery Outlet, other businesses, the Community Room (another truly under the radar Public Benefit due to this issue) and those who want to use the Alma Village park and playground are all vying for a few 1 hour spaces - for retail use only.

This POPOS came pre-named: Alma Village. This well lit 0.2-acre park was part of the entire development and one of the main Public Benefits in exchange for a much larger, denser project than the existing zoning would have allowed. It’s best for those that can walk there as Parking for anything but retail is not permitted. That begs some questions. Right up front, here is the Ordinance. Again, this one has potential. I suspect a neighbor survey and a conversation with the property manager could reveal issues and opportunities.

HOURS: 24/7 as far as I can tell. It’s a residential area so no raucous concerts at all hours. But this POPOS seems underutilized, so I don’t think that’s an issue.

WHAT’S THERE: A picnic table cluster at one end of the long rectangular park with Parisian lights and mature olive trees creating shade. (Maybe it’s more Italian…) An extensive lawn stretches to the other end of the park where there are more picnic tables and a well-cared for playground. There are benches and other seating available. Pleasant. The first row of townhomes look over the park and the other side is lined by the “retail only” parking. Across the parking lot is the Grocery Outlet, the “Community Room” (you have to know it’s there, whom to call to use it and you can’t park there.) There’s also Holy Sushi and PNR Rehabilitation & Sports Therapy.

WHAT’S AROUND: In addition to the townhomes (which you can cut through on pleasant paths with Jasmine arches to the residential neighborhood via Ramona Street, the businesses in Alma Village, and the hidden Community Room, there are mainly apartment complexes next door on Alma.

WHAT YOU CAN DO THERE: You can have a picnic, take your kids to the playground, have your dog play on the grass (again, at your peril re the dog poop, and I am not sure what the leash situation is - no signage or mention in the ordinance about that.) It’s a green space in a dense area and worth enjoying. I have not witnessed much life when I have been there.

WHAT I HAVE DONE HERE: I have created chalk drawing messages on the sidewalk, talked with the neighbors, and installed a Compliment Dept. tent card. (more on that “later”.) I also hunted down the Community Room which I found and entered on my own.

WHAT YOU CAN’T DO THERE: You can’t park your car there to go to the POPOS park. You apparently can’t play on the grass without encountering dog poop.

WHAT YOU COULD DO THERE: You could organize a group to clean up the park and/or advocate to get a dog poop bag dispenser and receptacle there with the owners/management company. You could do sidewalk chalk art. You could have a picnic. Plus all the “park things” listed above. But what else? How about a wild idea that is perfectly within the Ordinance rules? Put on a play and invite all the Grocery Outlet people to come to part of it when they take their breaks and the customers when they are done shopping?