West-end Regency Mall Closing

[cline]

That is certainly the case for the SJ Town Center. UNF has even faced some difficulty trying to get a stop for the internal shuttle out there.

The reason UNF has "difficulty" getting a shuttle stop over there is because the town center doesn't want students parking there, and taking the shuttle to class. Students would of course do this to save ~$100 (or whatever it is now) on parking.

I don't doubt that the SJTC doesn't want students doing that but it seems a little shortsighted.  They have a ton of parking and I would bet that many of the same students who parked there to ride to class, may also be more inclined to visit one of the shops at the SJTC on their way to or from class.  Seems like it might be a benefit.

[fsujax]

It is the same issue lots of transit agencies deal with doing park and rides at existing retail centers. Many will say no.

[coredumped]

They have a ton of parking...

Are we talking about the same SJTC? It's impossible to find parking there.

[copperfiend]

They have a ton of parking...

Are we talking about the same SJTC? It's impossible to find parking there.

He is technically right. They have a ton of parking. Most of it is filled by cars.

[Tacachale]

That is certainly the case for the SJ Town Center. UNF has even faced some difficulty trying to get a stop for the internal shuttle out there.

The reason UNF has "difficulty" getting a shuttle stop over there is because the town center doesn't want students parking there, and taking the shuttle to class. Students would of course do this to save ~$100 (or whatever it is now) on parking.

I don't doubt that the SJTC doesn't want students doing that but it seems a little shortsighted.  They have a ton of parking and I would bet that many of the same students who parked there to ride to class, may also be more inclined to visit one of the shops at the SJTC on their way to or from class.  Seems like it might be a benefit.

That is indeed why the SJTC balks at it, but it's silly. Not buying a UNF parking pass effectively means that you couldn't park on campus ever, and would instead have to rely on a mall shuttle that only runs periodically. In the final analysis not many students are going to do this, they're just being difficult.

This is something that would serve no other purpose besides bringing business to the Town Center, and it would be no cost to them beyond the phantom threat of parking squatters - students would pay for the service entirely.

I never liked the mall shuttle idea, but this kind of thing just shows how entrenched these places are in their autocentric planning and philosophy.

[JayBird]

Can definitely believe that west end is closing, it is practically a ghost town anyway.  Would be interested to see how they are going to redevelop.  Looked at Regency Properties web site but couldn't find any sites where this has been done before, obviously with having all of that empty retail space now I cannot imagine them doing a rebuild as solely retail.

[thelakelander]

^Regency is owned by General Growth Properties.

[cline]

They have a ton of parking...

Are we talking about the same SJTC? It's impossible to find parking there.

Really?  Yeah, it might be hard to find parking on the main strip in front of Cheesecake or Maggiano's, but there is a ton of parking elsewhere.  Oh, but that requires walking.

[JayBird]

^Regency is owned by General Growth Properties.

Thank you, yes they are ... that was my error in typing faster than thinking

[Adam W]

They have a ton of parking...

Are we talking about the same SJTC? It's impossible to find parking there.

Really?  Yeah, it might be hard to find parking on the main strip in front of Cheesecake or Maggiano's, but there is a ton of parking elsewhere.  Oh, but that requires walking.

True. I never have had problems finding a space in that bit near Target. Plenty of open spaces. Sure, it sucks walking around in the oppressive heat/flash flooding, but sometimes it's better to just find a spot and deal with it. It's also easier to get in and out of that area, as you're not dealing with lots of other motorists trying to fight for the few available spots near Barnes and Noble.