The new “Bella Terra” (with it done-to-bloody-death “Tuscan” theme) it a nighmare of traffic flow and bad planning. Instead of an easy stroll through an enclosed mall, one now must walk through a too-small, too-busy parking lot to get from one store to another.

Worse yet, *most* of the parking is around the back in a parking structure that isn’t anywhere near store entrances. It’s almost like they went out of their way to make things inconvenient.

And If you want to go from one end of the mall to the other, you’ll probably need to get in your car and drive. Without a central pathway between the buildings, one must walk all the way *around* this huge complex.

The tenants, of course, are mostly big chains that you can find within a 10 or 15 minute drive in almost any direction.

For years, community “leaders” talked up this redevelopment project like it was the second coming of Christ. I would’ve settled for a walkable environment, good parking, and some interesting shops.

Can anyone explain WHAT they were thinking when they built this mess?

It’s sad to see it so empty though, hopefully it’s outlook would improve in the coming years.

My heart is heavy…..

The former JCPenney / Current Burlington Coat Factory was never remodeled on the exterior, and is partly hidden by the parking structure.

So there you have it. That was made in summer ‘08, before the economic/housing collapse. PLANNING STAGES in ‘08, at that.