Who woulda thunk that dropping 150,000 square feet of retail would bring traffic with it? The Stonefield shopping center is challenging at best to navigate – from Trader Joe’s to Pasture, for example, and is remarkably so for a pedestrian (I haven’t yet tried to bicycle there as 29 is scary).
If you’re curious to read some of the background, these are some of the stories I was writing in 2006 about Stonefield, which was originally called Albemarle Place.
Just for chuckles, this is a quote from 2011:
“Specifically, we believe that The Shops at Stonefield evokes the natural elements of Central Virginia, incorporating an organic and environmental feel to a much anticipated community focused retail center.â€
And this is what Stonefield looked like in August 2012.
That quote is rich indeed. And of course studies conducted by the developer suggest traffic will be manageable. To me, there’s very little difference between Stonefield and any other car-centric sprawling retail development. I work just up 29 from there and I walk, run or bike there or past there on occasion but I don’t recommend it because traffic is a major challenge when you’re on two wheels (or two feet). In fact I got hit by a car there not long ago (really just grazed by a side mirror thankfully) when I was riding my bike along the sidewalk and a car made a right turn across my path. And the primary reason for that incident was the lousy design of the sidewalks along 29 where they cross the entrances to the shopping center.
I haven’t tried to get there on bike, even though my mom lives less than 3 miles away as the crow flies. It’s not worth it.
I agree – it’s just as auto-centric as any other new generic development. Notthattheresanythingwrongwiththat
Barracks road has a rival for “biggestpainintheassparkinglot”. Hope Costco has a nice big lot.