Search for parking spaces heads underground

Friday, January 22, 1999

Search for parking spaces heads underground

CONSTRUCTION: Lot 4 expansion, Janss Plaza

structure to ease crunch

By Lawrence Ferchaw

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Transportation officials may have found a way to bring some
relief to the campus’ parking crunch by going underground.

To make up for a lack of space above ground, going below may be
the only alternative for a campus community in need of more parking
spaces.

Construction is complete on the expansion of Lot 4, while
construction continues on the Janss Plaza parking structure – both
are underground. The Janss lot should be open for cars in April
with the above-ground plaza complete in May, according to Mark
Stocki, director of Transportation Services.

"If you look around campus, there’s not a lot of space to put
above-ground structures," Stocki said.

The expansion of Lot 4 adds over 700 spots to the expanded
structure under the soccer field. The Janss structure will
accommodate about 520 more cars and create an above-ground plaza
between Men’s Gym and the Dance Building.

The total projected cost for the expansion of Lot 4 and
construction of the Janss Plaza parking structure is over $33
million. The Janss lot and part of the new underground ramp are
being paid for by funds allocated for the construction of the
medical center.

The demolition of Lot 14, which could happen as early as this
summer, will make room for the new medical center. The Janss lot is
intended as a replacement for some of the spaces that will be
lost.

"Janss is the first increment of replacement space that is being
paid for by the hospital," Stocki said.

The Lot 4 expansion was planned before the decision to demolish
Lot 14, but because of it, Stocki said Transportation Services is
about even in the number of parking spaces even with the impending
loss of about 1,500 spots.

Officials cite more than the added parking as a benefit of the
construction, though. One of the features of the project is the
outdoor plaza area, which makes more open space available to the
campus.

"When it’s finished, you won’t know there’s a parking structure
underneath," said Marc Fisher, director of design for Capital
Programs.

The plaza will resemble what was in that space before Towell, a
temporary building, took its place in 1993.

The plaza will feature a concrete and brick sidewalk with grass,
trees and new plants along Men’s Gym and the Dance Building.

The elevator towers in the plaza, like those built for Lot 4,
will be similar in design to Men’s Gym.

The plaza will be larger in size than the original plaza,
according to Fisher, and will add half an acre of useable open
space to the campus.

One student, who began using Lot 4 this year, said she
appreciates the large number of parking spaces, especially from her
past experience with Lot 8.

"You can always find a space," said Grace Ho, a third-year
economics student.

In fact, Ho said the size of the structure caused her to get
lost her first time parking there.

Stocki said he expects the expanded Lot 4 and the Janss lot to
be among the most popular parking areas because those two lots are
so close to the center of campus.

"The purpose of building them there is to provide core campus
parking space," Stocki said. "Remote parking is not as popular as
core campus parking."

With the completed expansion of Lot 4 there are about 22,000
parking spaces on campus, according to Stocki. About 50,000 people
come to campus each day.

Transportation Services is in the process of examining other
locations for new parking lots. One plan, which is still under
consideration, would place another lot at Strathmore and Charles E.
Young Drive West, according to Stocki.

The proposed parking structure would have one level underground
and three levels above ground, adding between 400 and 600
spaces.

"Any further development, with the exception of the (Strathmore
and Young lot) will be underground or under buildings," Stocki
said.NICOLE MILLER

Construction continued Wednesday on the Janss parking structure,
which is underground between the Dance building and the Men’s
Gym.

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