Potomac Mills Issues and possible action

I am asking that we pass the word to boycott the mall for the entire day of 7/26/08. We should continue to do this once a month until the policy is changed.

I don't think the mall is to blame. My suggestion

Contact the County and attend county council meetings to voice opinion. The county planners are allowing the developers to develop the land with no additional commuter lots (not to mention that the streets are too narrow and the feeder streets are inadequate and who ever heard of THREE left turning lanes.... but i have to find another forum for those complaints)

If we are going to petition, we need to petition for the county to establish commuter lots when they approve new developments.

http://www.pwcgov.org/default.aspx?topic=040050000940000442

Chairman At-Large
Corey A. Stewart
McCoart Administration Building
1 County Complex Court
Prince William, VA 22192
Phone: 703-792-4640
Fax: 703-792-4637
Aide: 703-792-5626
cstewart@pwcgov.org

Woodbridge District
Frank J. Principi
Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building
15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 140
Woodbridge, VA 22191
Phone: 703-792-4646
Fax: 703-792-4993
Aide: 703-792-4647
fprincipi@pwcgov.org

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Originally posted by ceejay2

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Originally posted by Late rider
Why do you even bother wasting your time posting in here if you have no business there?[:D]

We are trying to save the slug system at Potomac Mills that worked just fine for many years.
You go ahead and pick up and drop off whatever at Horner Rd.

Thank you

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Late Rider, I want to save the slug system too. It's a system I have participated in as both a driver and a rider for 16 years. I make the point that I don't use the Potomac Mills lot to show that I am not personally invested in that one lot. But I AM invested in the system. And calls to boycott the Mall that has granted use of nearly 1,000 parking places is short sighted at best, and counter productive at worst.

There is no agreement with the county for slugs to use those spaces. They are a "donation" from the management company that operates the mall to the community. What do you think you will gain by complaining to the BOCS? The board can't compel Simon Properties to turn over an ever-increasing amount of parking spots to commuters.

Having worked in private industry, I can just about predict what will happen if those here advocating a boycott succeed. The parking lot at Potomac Mills is privately owned. You are threatening their business. If they start to see even the slightest decrease in their business, whether it's from economic downturn or perceived effects from a boycott, they will retaliate by closing the lot to all commuters. And they'll have the perfect excuse to make it seem like it is NOT retaliation. They've already announced expansion plans, right? Where will they be expanding to? Parking lots. It will be the most natural thing in the world for them to close the lot (or drastically slash the amount of spaces allotted to commuters) on the basis that during construction of the expansion, they need all available spaces for mall customers. And no one with a lick of business sense could disagree.

I remember what happened when the owners of the defunct Incredible Universe closed their lot to commuters. Signs went up stating the lot was closed to all parking and towing would commence on Such and Such date. And guess what…towing commenced on Such and Such date. It was private property, and they were within their rights. Simon Properties is within their rights to enforce the guidelines for the commuter parking lot, whether commuters like it or not. I would not be a bit surprised, nor would I blame Simon if they started towing every car that was parked outside the allocated spaces.

I only ask that those who want to place leaflets on cars, advocate a boycott, involve the BOCS, and go to the media, to stop and think. Think past this week, and consider next year. You have a small group who might join a boycott…those who can't fit into "blue lines". No one else will care. The possibility exists to cause great harm to the slug system with very little gain, and the chance to lose much. Perhaps someone could speak to the mall management before rushing headlong into a boycott that might have consequences that you like even less that what is happening now.

Oh and Late Rider? Thanks ever so much for your concern about me wasting my time. That was just so....sweet of you.

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You keep on shopping there, that's your choice but we have our choice too. I've already started with my families and friends and told them not to shop there anymore, I have so many, believe me. Either it will make any difference or not.
It wouldn't kill them to give us 350 space more during the day while there are no shoppers anyway.
Don't they want to see their empty mall look like they are full of shoppers for those visitors?
We all know that people don't go shopping as much as they used to anymore. It's all because of the economy caused by those giant CAPITALIST corporations anyway and when something beneficial to the society, environment and etc.. like this work, they just want to kill it because it does not generate profit. I am sorry I meant many of us sluggers go to mall right after work, right...

Bottom line, let's boycott Potomac Mills or until PWC at least propose solutions. [;)]

As an employee in a store at Potomac Mills as well as a regular shopper at the mall, I am disgusted by the self-serving and whining concerning the enforcement of the commuter parking spaces at Potomac Mills.

They only have to “Contractually” give 275 spaces for commuters to use, yet Mall Management allows 950 spaces to be used. The mall has a contractual obligation to its tenants to have a number of spots available for shoppers. After all, shoppers spend money at the mall where as commuters do not on a daily basis. You drive there, park and then leave your car there for 8 to 10 hrs a day, free of charge, and they are secure due to mall security watching over the entire property.

If you are so upset that the entire parking lot isn’t set aside for commuters, then go talk to mall management and ask and see if they will allow you to pay to have a parking spot. I’m sure they would; after all, the mall’s primary purpose is to make money, not help you save a little on gas cost and be a convenience for you, though by them giving freely an additional 675 spots is more than generous in my opinion.

I’m sure your place of employment wouldn’t allow me to come in and, say, use your restroom facilities, or your break room because I’m tiered and need to sit down for a moment and take a rest, especially if I was going to be there 8 to 10 hrs. Now would they?

Think about it from the mall’s point of view as opposed to only thinking about your own selfish needs and wants.

I personally think the mall should only allow the 275 spots it has a contract/proffer with the county to provide and no more. Or they should charge a reasonable fee, say $1 per day, to park and then they can have 1300 commuters parking a day and would make something off of people like you who want to whine and cry because you can’t have it your way. And legally, the mall can go back to only having 275 spots and there’s nothing you can do, it’s a legal and binding proffer with the county. Would you care to see that happen?

The mall has no legal, moral or ethical obligation to make your life easier because your too cheap to drive a reasonable vehicle (I’ve seen many SUV’s in the lot) or to suck it up and drive to work and pay the cost of fuel. If your main argument is the cost of fuel and food, then elect those who will do something about it and not be salves to the Oil industry. Perhaps you should contact the county government and demand they build several leveled parking garages for commuters to use.

If you want to see some action, please sign the petition.

http://www.slug-lines.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9109