|
Renovations block off 28 parking
spaces By Julie Ann Matonis The sight of metal fences and construction crews is as familiar to the TCU campus as student complaints about parking, but one may actually alleviate the other. The renovation of Waits Hall actually improves the parking situation on Main Campus despite the inconvenience, said TCU Police Chief Steve McGee. “Instead of negatively impacting parking, you’ve positively impacted parking because you’ve moved out residents that had vehicles and normally parked there,” McGee said. Work crews are using North Drive as a staging area for the Waits Hall renovation this spring. The street is closed to traffic, and 28 Main Campus parking spaces are blocked off due to the construction. Students are still able to parallel park along Cantey Street. Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the Physical Plant made an informal request to the city to rent the street, but it would have cost $30,000. Instead, North Drive is being used as the staging area. Mills said students will see fewer parking spots, but they should remember two key points. “There are fewer students on Main Campus (due to the renovation), and there are usually fewer students enrolled in the spring,” Mills said. According to Institutional Research figures, there were 7,551
students enrolled in the fall 1999 The renovation of Waits Hall also relocated about 200 female residents. Nancy Grieser, coordinator of housing assignments, said 69 women moved to Worth Hills, 36 women had other arrangements and the rest stayed on Main Campus. McGee said there are already limitations on parking permits. Only students living on Main Campus can obtain a Main Campus permit. The same rule applies for residents of Worth Hills and commuter students. McGee said construction will cause parking limitations, but it will result in progress for the university. “I think that it will be a little less convenient for some people, but the benefits of getting a renovated dorm and newer buildings will outweigh the inconveniences,” McGee said. “People will get used to it.” McGee said parking at TCU is closer than at many other universities, but people still want to see their building and park closer to it. “We have ample parking, but not ample close parking,” McGee said. Aimee Lavoie, a sophomore business major, said she had difficulty finding a place to unload her car when she returned this week. “It’s annoying that maintenance and renovation vehicles are taking over parking spaces and loading zones,” Lavoie said. “I live in Jarvis (Hall), and when I was moving in, I couldn’t get anywhere near the building to unload.” Katherine Moring, a freshman graphic design major, said she gets frustrated when she has to make a quick stop at her dorm and is forced to park in the freshman lot. Mills said the university will have to continue looking at the parking situation. “There are no answers right now,” Mills said. “We hope to look for some this spring.” Students who have moved can get their parking permits exchanged for no charge. Old stickers need to be scraped off and brought to the TCU Police at 3025 Lubbock St. If students do not have a sticker, a new permit for the semester will cost $30. Julie Ann Matonis
|