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Neighborhood Report

Upturn in store plan is a downer for residents

Some think putting a Publix above a parking garage is a bad idea.

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published August 11, 2006

The plans to plop a Publix down off Armenia Avenue near SoHo are topsy-turvy right now.

Literally.

Though RMC Property Group originally conceived the Publix as a supermarket with two stories of rooftop parking, the latest plans place the grocery atop the parking garage.

That change, along with other potential parking and traffic issues, concerns some residents who live near the proposed site, on the east side of Armenia between Azeele and Platt streets.

Members of the Courier City/Oscawana Civic Association met Aug. 2 to plan strategy before a second meeting with RMC representatives later this month.

In a previous meeting with RMC, residents said they expressed concerns that placing the supermarket above the garage makes it far less friendly to pedestrians.

They also asked whether the garage could be used after hours to alleviate some of the parking congestion caused by weekend nightclub patrons. The developer said that wouldn't work, resident Paula Stahel said.

Gina Space, who lives at Cleveland Street and Melville Avenue, said the Publix seems unnecessary.

Publix has two stores within 2 miles of the proposed site, one at Platt Street and Bayshore Boulevard, the other on S Dale Mabry Highway at Neptune Street.

The site also is less than a half-mile from the Swann Avenue Kash n' Karry/Sweetbay Supermarket, and a couple of blocks from independent Whaley's Market.

"I have a couple of real fears when you're taking a store that's almost the size of the one at Neptune and Dale Mabry and putting that at Armenia and Azeele," Space said. "We don't want this neighborhood to be like Dale Mabry."

The most recent plans for the SoHo Publix would make it almost as large as the 47,000-square-foot S Dale Mabry store.

Space said she wasn't necessarily opposed to having a grocery store at the site. But she'd like to see the developer reduce the size and add some first-floor retail to the structure. RMC president Michael Leeds could not be reached for comment.

The Publix would neighbor the Madison at SoHo condominiums. RMC officials met with some residents Tuesday evening.

Bill Orr, president of Madison's Phase II board, said Wednesday that the board was not ready to take a position on the Publix. However, he said he personally is concerned about the size of the proposed store.

City zoning officials will review the project before it moves on for City Council consideration next month.

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or 226-3431.

[Last modified August 10, 2006, 08:25:22]