Bayshore Shopping Centre Expansion | 250000 sq ft | U/C

[Richard Eade]

EGAD! I just had to endure the worst parking structure I have ever had the mis-pleasure of being in – Bayshore’s new multi-level parkade. I sincerely hope that the person who designed that piece of garbage has had is credentials stripped from him (or her).

I had been in it ages ago when the first part opened and it was a mess then. I decided not to go back to Bayshore because of the parking – and it is my closest mall. Since then, I have spent time, and money, in other malls instead of Bayshore.

Not long after I had that bad experience, the media wrote that there had been some ‘teething’ pains with the new structure; but that those had been solved with new signage. I was still very hesitant and didn’t return – until today when my wife needed to go there. I agreed to drop her off.

Huge mistake!

What designer would have people enter off a ramp onto a parking level that has direct bridge access to the mall, only to force them down one floor to park on a level that requires people to walk up or down a flight of stairs to get to the mall? Sheesh! And then, after dropping off my wife, I spent an inordinate amount of time running around the maze to try to find the way out. The new signage is WAY too small and in places mounted up in between the beams so that you can’t see them from more than 10 metres away.

This design is pure trash. Even the standard pick-up truck that entered the parkade ahead of me just barely cleared the MAX HEIGHT barricade – something that many other vehicles had obviously not managed to do, based on the dents all along the bottoms of the barricades. What a great way to welcome customers; give them a good whack on the top of their vehicle – but do it after they have started up the ramp.

This has strengthened my resolve to not go back to the Bayshore Mall while they have that parking structure. In my opinion, the best thing they could do for the mall is to sue the company who designed the structure and use the money to tear it down.

[Kitchissippi]

If you think that's stupid, try going there via the Transitway. From the station you exit a covered pedestrian walkway onto an open, roofless part of the parking garage and then have to cross the path of vehicles twice before getting into the mall.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

If you think that's stupid, try going there via the Transitway. From the station you exit a covered pedestrian walkway onto an open, roofless part of the parking garage and then have to cross the path of vehicles twice before getting into the mall.

Ya, Bayshore's transit integration sucks compared to St. Laurent and what Rideau will be with the Confederation Line. Even Place D'Orleans is better although the walk through the pedestrian bridge is rather long.

[J.OT13]

They better introduce a much better integration once they extend the O-Train to Bayshore.

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

If you think that's stupid, try going there via the Transitway. From the station you exit a covered pedestrian walkway onto an open, roofless part of the parking garage and then have to cross the path of vehicles twice before getting into the mall.

You're exactly right.
Went to Bayshore one time, never going back for that very reason!

[MountainView]

Bayshore used to be my closest mall but no longer is but I still frequent it. I used to park in the old garage beside The Bay but they recently closed it. The new one is terrible. But after going a few times you can realize the tricks to it and where to park easily. The problem is there are far too many one-ways, low height, and terrible signage. After you park you have no idea where to walk to get inside. I think they crammed as many spots as they could in there. This is definitely a major complain I'm hearing from everyone.

I used to take the 2 to Bayshore all the time. I didn't mind the Transit access via the two bridges at all. It would be difficult to integrate a bridge directly into the building because The Bay occupies that entire western area.

[Schattenjager]

This is the best entrance for parking at Bayshore and there's surprisingly quite a lot of parking available on the uncovered parking sections in front of the The Bay.

I've gone through the parking garage once before the renovations and once after and never again.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Schattenjager

This is the best entrance for parking at Bayshore and there's surprisingly quite a lot of parking available on the uncovered parking sections in front of the The Bay.

I've gone through the parking garage once before the renovations and once after and never again.

That garage is closed now because they are connecting it to the newly constructed garage. I tried parking behind Bayshore by Homesense/Winners...that was also a nightmare.

[rocketphish]

Renovations continue to cause parking nightmares at Bayshore

Emma Hyde, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: March 21, 2015, Last Updated: March 21, 2015 6:37 PM EDT



While renovations on the parking plaza at Bayshore Shopping Centre are expected to be finished soon, the facility continues to be a maze for drivers trying desperately to get in or out of the busy structure.

Saturday’s snowy morning didn’t help matters, as car after car lined up at an entrance stop sign, drivers waiting to be told which direction to go in order to find a spot and go about their shopping.

Inside the structure, security personnel wrote up tickets for those who parked more than four hours, directed traffic at almost every intersection inside and out on mall property, and cars were seen driving the wrong way down one-way parts of the garage.

Some vehicles circled the entire mall, navigating through the narrow passageways before settling on a spot.

Pedestrians darted between cars searching for mall entrances, with no crosswalks and the only sidewalk running beside the mall building.



Those arriving by bus are also facing hardship these days as an enclosed overpass that links the Transpo stop with the Bayshore centre has been shut for the next several months to allow for work on the upstairs parking section near the Bay store. Bus riders must now walk along an open pathway alongside the road on the centre’s south side, assisted by more security personnel who stop traffic to allow passengers to cross.

The parking situation began to draw attention a few months before Christmas, particularly via a busy Reddit thread that featured stories of waits as long as an hour of just sitting in a car, inching forward until a spot was available. A number of writers on the thread claimed they now avoid the mall completely because of the parking situation.

The parking modifications are part of a massive $200-million redevelopment of the popular west end shopping facility, begun in 2012, that features, among other things, new big-brand stores and a completely redone food court, which has been open for a while.

The new parking area will contain LED lighting, more efficient ramping and a multi-level design similar to that at the Ottawa International Airport. Three levels of the new lot will connect directly with the mall, while two others mid-levels between mall floors.

The renovation is expected to be completed by mid-2015.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...-to-cause-parking-nightmares-at-bayshore

[canabiz]

Interesting to note security is now issuing tickets for cars parked more than 4 hours there? I guess they have time to go around and scan the license plates and/or chalk the tires?

What about the people who work in the mall? Where do they park? I suppose they may have a parking pass/shield hanging on the windshield?

[ottawa89]

Looks like WHBM will be opening this Thursday.

[1overcosc]

Parking problems are not a good thing for Bayshore. The one trump card a place like Bayshore can have over Rideau is the ease of parking.

[Rob64]

I sent an email to the manager of Bayshore about the parking situation and I never got a response. It's terrible but I am happy to hear that it's temporary.

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by Rob64

I sent an email to the manager of Bayshore about the parking situation and I never got a response. It's terrible but I am happy to hear that it's temporary.

It's temporary until the next parking rebuild, in 50 years or so.

[MoreTrains]

Originally Posted by canabiz

Interesting to note security is now issuing tickets for cars parked more than 4 hours there? I guess they have time to go around and scan the license plates and/or chalk the tires?

What about the people who work in the mall? Where do they park? I suppose they may have a parking pass/shield hanging on the windshield?

When I was there this weekend, there was probably 20 security guards working, so I think they had the time/manpower.

Employees get a parking pass that hangs off review mirrors and costs $10 per year and allows 12 hours of parking unmolested. They park on level 2, and if that is full level 4.

[canabiz]

I stopped by here yesterday at lunch and there were a couple of new stores that just opened (White House - Black Market women's fashion and Steve Madden shoes)

Desigual is supposed to open sometimes this month. I counted at least 6 stores with boarded-up front on the 3rd floor, not counting the Target. Mexx is still holding its final sale and it should be closed any day now. Parking is still a mess!

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by canabiz

I stopped by here yesterday at lunch and there were a couple of new stores that just opened (White House - Black Market women's fashion and Steve Madden shoes)

Desigual is supposed to open sometimes this month. I counted at least 6 stores with boarded-up front on the 3rd floor, not counting the Target. Mexx is still holding its final sale and it should be closed any day now. Parking is still a mess!

Steve Madden has been open for a while.

I must be the only one who doesn't have a problem with how parking works at Bayshore. Every other floor of the parking garage connects directly to the mall. Stick to parking on those floors and you're fine.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Steve Madden has been open for a while.

I must be the only one who doesn't have a problem with how parking works at Bayshore. Every other floor of the parking garage connects directly to the mall. Stick to parking on those floors and you're fine.

I personally think its main problem is that the signage in place is incorrect. The signs put up are the 'final' signs that would in theory work if the rest of the parking garage was finished. Instead the current signs direct you to walls/dead-ends that will eventually connect to the rest of the structure that is under construction now. They should have put temporary signs up that directed vehicles properly.

Also, if you park on the floors that do not connect to the mall directly (levels 2 and 4 I think) where you have to walk up/down stairs to go to mall entrance levels they are less busy.

[ottawa89]

Desigual is now open.

[canabiz]

Man, Bayshore is getting hit hard! Place Bon Bon (by Winners) closed last month and Timothy's World Coffee will close tomorrow. I got a small coffee to cheer the girl up but you could tell she was pretty sad. Life goes on I guess...

The former Mexx space is now an Ecko Unltd store, well that stuff wasn't popular 15 years ago so I don't expect it to catch fire now.