Online: Students have mixed reactions over parking lot construction

With the first phase of construction of the 294-space Dykstra
Hall parking structure now visible, students residing on the Hill
are comforted by the prospect of increased parking in the near
future.

“Finally. There were only about 30 spots in the Dykstra
parking lot for everyone in De Neve and Dykstra. It’s about
time they made a bigger parking lot in that area,” said
second-year psychology student Samuel Lewis.

Construction of the Dykstra parking structure is due, in part,
to the projected demolition of the Hedrick Hall and Rieber Hall
parking lots.

Three new residence halls will be built over the sites of the
two parking lots in spring 2003. There are no plans to construct
new parking lots near Hedrick and Rieber.

Construction on the Dykstra parking structure began this past
month and is set to be completed in time for check-in in fall 2004,
said Michael Foraker, director of Housing.

Though students are worrying less about parking space
availability for next fall, they are concerned about the effects of
permanently removing two parking lots from the high-rises.

“Parking’s a hassle as it is,” said third-year
music student Stephanie Wong. “If two high-rise parking lots
are taken out, a lot of students up on the top of the Hill are
going to have to walk a lot further to get to their
cars.”

The simultaneous inaccessibility of the Dykstra, Hedrick and
Rieber parking lots has students concerned that there will be a
lack of available parking spaces next spring.

“I’m really worried about getting parking for next
year. I really need my car but I’m worried that there
won’t be enough parking permits,” said first-year
undeclared student Tina Park.

However, officials at transportation services say there will not
be a dearth of parking spaces.

In fact, due to the opening of Lot 7, located under the
intramural field, there will be more permits available for students
this fall than there were this past fall, said Renée Fortier,
acting director of Transportation Services.

And, despite the loss of the Hedrick and Rieber parking lots,
residence hall parking will continue to be provided across from
Hedrick in Lot 11 and in the Sunset Village Structure, Fortier
said.

He added that though Lot 7 ““ which has 1,500 spaces
““ is intended to provide parking primarily for commuter
students. Resident students will have access to a maximum of 150
spaces over the next few years.

Metered parking by the L.A. Tennis Center on Charles E. Young
Drive will also remain accessible to residence hall denizens. The
metered parking in front of Rieber will remain available as well
until construction of the new residence hall structure begins,
after which the meters will be removed.

When the metered parking is removed, free overnight parking will
no longer be available to visitors, and those who wish to spend the
night at the residence halls will have to pay for their parking,
Foraker said.

“It really sucks that we’re going to have to pay for
parking when we spend the night. Having to wake up at six in the
morning to put money into the meter so that I won’t get a
ticket and finding parking itself is bad enough,” said
third-year religious studies student Jason Liu.

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