Ballston Mall --> Ballston Quarter

[Anonymous]

What’s the new parking system at the Ballston mall garage? It used to be you took a ticket on the way in and pay at the kiosk before you leave… how does it work now?

[Anonymous]

Why is this in local politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the new parking system at the Ballston mall garage? It used to be you took a ticket on the way in and pay at the kiosk before you leave… how does it work now?

Like the person above you said, they switched systems recently, so instead of grabbing a ticket on the way in and paying on the way out, you now have to "pre-pay" within a few minutes of arriving, much like you would using your phone to pay for a parking meter. It's a major PITA, even if you know understand the new system, for several reasons. First, if you're running late and don't have time to screw with the mobile site or app right away, you get ticketed. Second, you have to input your expected stay when you first pay, so you either end up overpaying or you have to keep adding time and hope you don't forget. Gone are the days of just parking, doing your thing for a while, and paying the appropriate amount when you leave. Third, the rates are supposedly the same as the old system on paper, but they now charge you a "convenience fee" or some such BS. Finally, there's no one around to help if needed or to answer questions, so any screw-up on your part either results in overpaying for parking or a fine.

A business at the Ballston Mall I frequent was as frustrated with the system as the rest of us and recommended people call or email the county manager's office to register our concerns.

[Anonymous]

Even more stupid is that they don’t use the same app that we use for parking elsewhere in the county. Just ridiculous. I’m not even sure that you can pay at all without a smartphone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even more stupid is that they don’t use the same app that we use for parking elsewhere in the county. Just ridiculous. I’m not even sure that you can pay at all without a smartphone.

Now this is a legit issue. Why didn't they use ParkMobile?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, but it’s always filled with people! It’s not even a shopping mall. It’s a food and entertainment destination now. So bizarre.

Who the hell wants it to still be a shopping mall? Do you really miss having not one, but two Macy’s?

I don’t know anyone besides my mom who still shops in person at department stores. If people want to mall walk and shop in stores they go to Tysons. I live in Arlington not too far from Ballston and never went there until it started turning into a food/entertainment destination. There’s now fun stuff to do with kids like 5 Wits and Immersive Gaming. You have to actually go in person to do those so it makes sense vs. stores that you can shop at online.

The garage is still the same as always and has remained just $1 for over a decade now, so I don’t know why OP complaining about that. It’s also easy to metro there.

Nordstrom and Macys at Tysons have been packed alll week. Your observation is not reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, but it’s always filled with people! It’s not even a shopping mall. It’s a food and entertainment destination now. So bizarre.

Who the hell wants it to still be a shopping mall? Do you really miss having not one, but two Macy’s?

I don’t know anyone besides my mom who still shops in person at department stores. If people want to mall walk and shop in stores they go to Tysons. I live in Arlington not too far from Ballston and never went there until it started turning into a food/entertainment destination. There’s now fun stuff to do with kids like 5 Wits and Immersive Gaming. You have to actually go in person to do those so it makes sense vs. stores that you can shop at online.

The garage is still the same as always and has remained just $1 for over a decade now, so I don’t know why OP complaining about that. It’s also easy to metro there.

Nordstrom and Macys at Tysons have been packed alll week. Your observation is not reality.

DP. There are a lot of moms out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, but it’s always filled with people! It’s not even a shopping mall. It’s a food and entertainment destination now. So bizarre.

Who the hell wants it to still be a shopping mall? Do you really miss having not one, but two Macy’s?

I don’t know anyone besides my mom who still shops in person at department stores. If people want to mall walk and shop in stores they go to Tysons. I live in Arlington not too far from Ballston and never went there until it started turning into a food/entertainment destination. There’s now fun stuff to do with kids like 5 Wits and Immersive Gaming. You have to actually go in person to do those so it makes sense vs. stores that you can shop at online.

The garage is still the same as always and has remained just $1 for over a decade now, so I don’t know why OP complaining about that. It’s also easy to metro there.

Nordstrom and Macys at Tysons have been packed alll week. Your observation is not reality.

Sorry, I stand corrected. I don’t know anyone under the age of 65 who shops in person at department stores anymore.

Didn’t mean to offend you. Carry on with your shopping at Nordstrom’s and Penney’s.