Public Market a Success

In response to “A Public Market Divided,” the Alma Del Pueblo sales team of Village Properties would like to share our experience on being a part of this landmark development.

Construction of the 37 condos at Alma Del Pueblo was completed last summer. We received our Certificate of Occupancy to begin selling on June 10, 2014. Our first escrow closed five days later. Since then, we have sold over 60 percent of the condos and have 14 remaining, with escrows opening and closing successfully on a regular basis. Our owners are happy with their purchases. We have seen a community form before our eyes.

Last year we occupied a sales office on State Street, to grow community goodwill for the concept of this brand new, LEED Platinum, steel-built mixed-use project. We showcased architectural renderings of how the building would look, in place of the abandoned grocery store behind the Arlington Theater, and offered examples of the finishes to help potential buyers and curious locals see what this contemporary A+ location development would feel like in our neighborhood.

Our residents rave about how they love the Santa Barbara Public Market. They are regulars and feel like family. Let’s not make headlines over two disgruntled tenants within the market, when many small businesses struggle and that is the nature of business. As Rori’s Creamery so eloquently shared, would you say Paseo Nuevo is a failure if two of the shops changed hands? Never. Let’s make headlines about the happy tenants of the Public Market and residents of Alma Del Pueblo, and what an exciting cutting edge project this is for Santa Barbara. This will be a contribution to our community for years to come; we are thankful to have been a part of the process.