New entrance into Safeway Center

As much as I like the idea, I share the same concerns. It would have to be an additional lane adjacent to the exit lane to the Greenway or I see many rear-endings in the future.

What we need is a huge flyover with multiple exits to the Greenway, back onto Claiborne and Broadlands and a special exit just for Starbucks.

 

Well, I am a civil engineer, and I agree that would pose a safety issue

"Shake and Bake...."

 

I believe sharse was referring to a 4-way stop at Demott by the current entrance into the center, not this turn lane.

 

The MGM Sport's Book in Vegas is giving 2 to 1 odds ... against !! :agree:

 

that's a fantastic idea!

 

As a follow-up, the HOA Board voted by a vote of 6-1 (Keirce opposed) to officially take a position of neutrality on this issue. By that, I mean that if asked, our response is that we do not support or oppose the proposal.

 

How very brave!

I smell a Profiles in Courage award.

 

Hehehe ....

FWIW ... if I was still there, I'd have voted for the proposal.

 

Then we would have lost 5-2!!

 

Ah ... but we'd still be right !

 

http://www.broadlands.org/community/siteplan.swf

I agree that the Southern Walk parking situation is going to be a disaster. The shopping center is so drawn out that there is no practical way to go to the Harris Teeter at one end a store or restaurant at the other end without getting back in your car and driving to other end. If you do try to walk you'll become a SUV hood ornament going past the McDee's drive throughs. Looks like they are going/need to put in a overflow parking lot on the south side of Wyndridge. That means that there will be pedestians dashing back and forth across Wyndridge. Compare the size of the parking lot at the Safeway Center to the one at Harris Teeter and you'll see. I appreciate that they kept the stand of trees infront of the new Bank of America in front of the Harris Teeter. However, that could have been more parking space. Next time you go by that site, drive through and see how tight its going to be once all stores/restaurants are opened.

Makes me wonder why they didnt align Windridge farther to the south to make more room for parking. Too bad since the Southern Walk shop center could have been designed to be more pedestrian friendly like the Brambleton Town center. That would have reduced the need for nearby residents to drive to the Southern Walk shopping center. I've still dont see how Longleaf (townhouse neighborhood north of Southern Walk shop center) residents will safely walk Harris Teeter. The distance between the retention wall and driveway is narrower than a baby stroller.

We'll see..

 

The problem is that it was designed back in the late 80's. The current rage "town center" wasn't around back then.
Van Metre disagrees with my assessment about the parking lots. They think they're plenty big enough. We'll see...........................

 

Here is a air photo highlighting where a new entrance to the Broadlands Shopping Center might be located.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/420029287_c95948cdc3_o.jpg

I'm not a traffic engineer but I think it would be a good idea. However it would mess up the landscaping that currently exists in front of the Center.

 

Based on the plans presented to the county that is not the location of the entrance. The turn lane and entrance would enter the center and you would pretty much be heading straight down in front of the starbucks towards safeway.

 

I am going to disagree that shopping centers dont make money in parking lots. They may not think about it as a money maker...but it sure can be a money breaker. I myself along with a lot of people I know will go the extra mile(literally) or two to go to a shopping center with larger spaces. With the influx of people with huge suv's (sequioa's and suburban's) people are looking for places that have larger sized spaces. The harris teeter near where I used to live is losing alot of business to the harris teeter a mile away simply because of the difference in parking spot sizes.

 

I know the Safeway shopping center loses my business during the busy times of the day and evening because of the parking lot. I do not visit those stores or restaurants. I go to other shopping centers instead.