[RunD1987]

Oh never knew about the Center or Blue Back just googled it.

[smackfu]

Yeah, I wish they had put that REI somewhere else. It's a big store, it doesn't really benefit from being in an area like Blue Back Square. And I definitely don't go there as much due to the parking situation.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by WouldLoveTo

Corbin's Corner? That wasn't pay years ago but maybe it's changed. But the center.... !!!

Corbin's Corner is a strip type shopping center across from Westfarms Mall. It has free open parking. Jay

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

Oh never knew about the Center or Blue Back just googled it.

West Hartford Center has had paid parking for a long time. When they built Blue Back Square and the garages for it, they put in parking meters for on-street parking and the garages charge $0.75 for each 30 minutes up to a maximum of $7.00. This kind of makes the rates for shoppers at Stamford look like a bargain. Jay

[CTbrooktrout]

Originally Posted by JayCT

West Hartford Center has had paid parking for a long time. When they built Blue Back Square and the garages for it, they put in parking meters for on-street parking and the garages charge $0.75 for each 30 minutes up to a maximum of $7.00. This kind of makes the rates for shoppers at Stamford look like a bargain. Jay

Paying for such parking is still a turn off. I'm thinking about people who go to the mall b/c it's a large place for people to go check out, socialize in, and possibly get something to drink or eat, meet up with friends, etc. If you're going for those reasons, I don't see people willing to pony up $7 without knowing if they will actually buy something there. Seems like you would need a purpose to spend a large amount of money to make it worth it. Stamford is still cheaper but it's quite a shocking increase for the normal users. Quite frankly the stores in Stamford are not even that great. For me it's a place to walk around at lunch rather than shop. But just sad that mgmt there doesn't seem to have an understanding of what they just did.

[AntonioR]

Most of the time Stamford's mall is not full and I would say its not even half full. This is going by the impressions I get judging from how empty the parking garage looks. Granted that there are several parts of the garage and they are not all accessible, so it's possible it would be fuller in other parts from where I park.

Anyway, the mall doesn't seem to be full judging by foot traffic

Then comes the holiday season and especially the week before its hard to find a convenient parking spot.

[wtby4000]

Stamford mall is an ugly anti-pedestrian anti-urban temple to consumerism. Raising the parking rates is a good start but it's not enough. What they really need to do is tear it down.

[CTbrooktrout]

Originally Posted by wtby4000

Stamford mall is an ugly anti-pedestrian anti-urban temple to consumerism. Raising the parking rates is a good start but it's not enough. What they really need to do is tear it down.

Less likely than them building a tower or complex ON TOP of it to salvage some of the vertical prime real estate area.

[dazzleman]

I hear that Stamford Town Center isn't doing too well right now. Did I hear right?

If so, it seems like a bad time to raise parking rates, and discourage people from coming there.

[GoHuskies]

Not a big deal IMO. Over here in NJ parking at the Newport Mall costs $2.00 an hour yet I never see a shortage of cars within the garage.

Shoppers close to Stamford would waste more money in gas traveling up to Westfarms or other distant malls.