2008 Woodie Awards
Plans for new parking garage underway
By: Chris Rosacker
Issue date: 6/25/07 Section: News
With the estimated loss of 860 on-campus parking spaces because of renovation projects and contruction sites at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the next few years, plans for another parking garage are in the works.
As part of the university's master plan, a parking garage is slated for construction just east of of the Abel-Sandoz Residence Hall.
While the plan would open up more parking spaces, the proposed garage is set to be built where the Campus Recreational Facility recently constructed basketball courts and horseshoe pits, which were open for use in Fall 2005.
When construction for the garage begins, the basketballs courts will be moved to a yet-to-be-determined location on campus, said Rod Chambers, associate director for business operations at Campus Rec.
UNL administrator and Campus Rec officals both have said the current courts were built knowing they would eventually have to be torn down to makes space for the garage.
Officials estimate the parking garage will be built from 2009-2010. No bids for designs or architects have taken place, said Christine Jackson, vice chancellor for business and finance.
Not only does the future garage site have relatively new facilities, but the university has also added fences, lights and foliage (sod, bushes and other plants) around the courts.
"We want (the area) to look nice until it is relocated," said Chambers.
And even with the impending construction, John Marker, associate vice chancellor for facilities management and planning said it was important to keep up the appearance of the university's campus with these landscaping efforts.
"Shortterm space could be used to perhaps serve a generation of (UNL) students," he said.
Marker said that with the limited space availiable on both UNL campuses current use and appearance are always an element for consideration.
Construction of a new parking garage will race another hurdle - the Antelope Valley project.
The Antelope Valley project will construct a major roadway and water drainage system to divert traffic away from the UNL campus.
The project also places the proposed location for the parking garage in a flood plane. An area under this classification is subject to flooding - making it difficult to attain a building permit.
As for now, the basketball courts are getting plenty of use.
But whatever the future for the garage's location may be, officials seem to agree that decisions on its fate can wait as the construction plans are still a few years away.
"Its way off, everyone has looked at the plans," said Chambers. "But its in the proposal stage."
As part of the university's master plan, a parking garage is slated for construction just east of of the Abel-Sandoz Residence Hall.
While the plan would open up more parking spaces, the proposed garage is set to be built where the Campus Recreational Facility recently constructed basketball courts and horseshoe pits, which were open for use in Fall 2005.
When construction for the garage begins, the basketballs courts will be moved to a yet-to-be-determined location on campus, said Rod Chambers, associate director for business operations at Campus Rec.
UNL administrator and Campus Rec officals both have said the current courts were built knowing they would eventually have to be torn down to makes space for the garage.
Officials estimate the parking garage will be built from 2009-2010. No bids for designs or architects have taken place, said Christine Jackson, vice chancellor for business and finance.
Not only does the future garage site have relatively new facilities, but the university has also added fences, lights and foliage (sod, bushes and other plants) around the courts.
"We want (the area) to look nice until it is relocated," said Chambers.
And even with the impending construction, John Marker, associate vice chancellor for facilities management and planning said it was important to keep up the appearance of the university's campus with these landscaping efforts.
"Shortterm space could be used to perhaps serve a generation of (UNL) students," he said.
Marker said that with the limited space availiable on both UNL campuses current use and appearance are always an element for consideration.
Construction of a new parking garage will race another hurdle - the Antelope Valley project.
The Antelope Valley project will construct a major roadway and water drainage system to divert traffic away from the UNL campus.
The project also places the proposed location for the parking garage in a flood plane. An area under this classification is subject to flooding - making it difficult to attain a building permit.
As for now, the basketball courts are getting plenty of use.
But whatever the future for the garage's location may be, officials seem to agree that decisions on its fate can wait as the construction plans are still a few years away.
"Its way off, everyone has looked at the plans," said Chambers. "But its in the proposal stage."
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