Two new parking structures on the U campus are scheduled to begin construction summer 2014.
The Northwest Parking Terrace is estimated to be complete by March 2015. It will have three to four floors of covered parking with more than 350 stalls. The location is between the Naval Science and Sutton buildings by President’s Circle to cater to some of the performance overflows at Kingsbury Hall and Libby Gardner Hall.
The second structure is expected to provide more than 550 stalls in the Business Loop parking lot. It is anticipated to open in April 2015.
Shireen Ghorbani, communications specialist in the U’s facilities management, said parking spaces have been disappearing because of new buildings and projects on campus.
“We’re aware that it is in need, so that’s where the idea came from,” Ghorbani said.
The original plan proposed a single parking structure providing approximately 1,000 stalls, but Ghorbani said the two separate lots on campus was more logical.
Alex Cannon, a junior in finance, said he is happy to find a parking spot after going around a lot multiple times.
“If we could get more parking, that would be great,” Cannon said.
Leading up to the new developments organized by Facilities Management, there has been an increase in frustration from students because of a lack of parking. Mariah Ramirez, a junior in sociology, commutes to and from campus multiple times each day because she is part of the U’s softball team. She said it is difficult to find a spot to park because of this.
“If I want parking, I have to be here, like, two hours before I begin class,” Ramirez said. “It’s hard because if I have practice, I have to come extremely early just to be on time. It’s an inconvenience because it takes time away from us doing other stuff.”
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