So the other day I decided to stop at Target (Hybla Valley store, and said to myself, boy they could really expand this store out to the side parking lot and still maintain adequate parking for its customers once Alexandria kicks out the retailers at Potomac Yards. The question for retailers looking to come to the city will have to be: Is this development temporary or permanent and do we really want to do business here if this development is only a 10-year plan/temporary?
The shopping center is great and flourishing as it is laid out. The question for Target becomes, why would they put a store at the west end of Eisenhower where it would likely flounder? Maybe in the Caryle area it would maintain enough traffic, but there is no longer an undeveloped parcel to support a store the size Target likely would want given the current location is one of their top performing stores.
Regardless, the one thing that needs improving is the northern entrance to a two-lane entrance. If not, put a island in where the inner striped out lane is on southbound Jefferson Davis Highway/Route 1 to get rid of the traffic hazard of folks forcing their way in from what is not supposed to be a left turn lane.
For the city’s Democratic leadership, everything is about building the base, looking for tomorrow and not focusing on the needs of the city infrastructure today.
Everything is centered around "small area plans." One would think when looking at redevelopment you would look at how a new project affects that area as a whole instead of a four-block radius or so.
Ruben "Bill" Duran
Alexandria