Parking has proven to be a challenge in the early weeks of the new Uptown shopping centre on north Douglas Street this summer.
Confusion and congestion have at times stymied drivers heading into and out of the parking lots at the former Town and Country shopping centre, where anchor stores began opening last month.
One problem has been construction continuing as customers arrive at the centre, said Geoff Nagle, director of development for Morguard Investments in Western sa国际传媒.
The first phase is expected to be finished early next month, and the second phase of the massive retail-office project will begin.
"The extremely successful openings of the anchor stores to date have led to periods of congestion on the site," said Nagle, noting directional signs have been improved, and traffic-control and customer-service personnel added to deal with the problem.
At peak times when the anchor stores opened, as many as 1,200 vehicles were counted per hour, he said.
Drivers have three main lots to choose from, totalling more than 1,300 parking stalls, he said. "There's ample parking."
Victoria's Jennifer Stubbs ended up with a $121 traffic ticket last week for making an illegal right turn onto Carey Road off Douglas Street while trying to follow an Uptown sign.
Stubbs said Friday that she made the mistake because she was "flustered" and had other drivers behind her.
She discussed with a Morguard official how to make it easier for motorists to figure out where to turn. Other drivers are making the same mistake, she said.
Shortly after the first July anchor store openings, shopper Darryl Perry found himself caught in a parking crunch in one of the lots.
"It was like a zoo," he said at the time, figuring it took more than an hour to inch out of the area.
Lots are below Walmart and under Uptown Boulevard, and off Blanshard Street.
On-street parking is also located at ground level on the boulevard and next to Douglas Street.
Parking lots below Walmart and Uptown Boulevard are connected. Drivers can enter from Douglas Street or Oak Street, via Saanich Road.
The Blanshard lot is only accessible from that street for now, although that will change when the second phase is finished, Nagle said.
Parking confusion will disappear as drivers become used to the site, he said.
"It's getting better as people get to know where they are going."
The grand staircase running from the Blanshard Street lot to grade is not yet open.
Its completion was delayed by about a month because stone was late in arriving, Nagle said.
Shoppers using the Blanshard Street lot, where Shoppers Drug Mart is among the anchor stores, can use an elevator.
The project includes 226 bike racks, said Nagle, adding Uptown continues to develop into a "true urban mixed-use neighbourhood."
"There will be challenges and growing pains along the way, but the process will continue to be monitored and all efforts made to ensure as smooth and efficient an experience as possible."
Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard said the municipality granted occupancy permits to allow stores to open, people to work and to stimulate the economy, despite some inconvenience.
"I think every other municipality in sa国际传媒 would have a parade to have this kind of infrastructure development and these kinds of jobs created in a recession."
Uptown's contributions include $550,000 toward a $3-million Tattersall Road improvement package including traffic calming, he said.
Morguard is also putting in $125,700 for Galloping Goose-Lochside Trail improvements, $100,000 for transit stops, and two cars and parking space for the Victoria Care Share Co-op.
Infrastructure upgrades are worth $1.9 million, total transportation improvements are valued at $2.7 million, and Saanich will get $2.5 million in tax revenues annually from Uptown, Leonard said.
