Spring Break
Parking Garage is summer progress
Issue date: 6/19/09 Section: NEWS
The empty Union Circle parking garage is a sign of summer progress.
The 20-year-old garage is closed until August for a $504,000 renovation which includes painting, cleaning, replacing stairwells and strands in concrete, as well as repairing and replacing drainage.
"We are hoping to open the garage again by August 12th if not sooner," said Scott Kangas, UNT associate director of parking services.
The cost of renovations is paid for through an accumulation of meter violation fines and permit sales rather than student tuition fees.
"Parking is a separate entity from the University," Kangas said. "We are self-served and receive no funding from NT."
However, English graduate student Jason Parker who has used the garage once said he believes that half a million dollars is too much to spend on repairs.
"Isn't a garage supposed to be dingy? People are not living in it. They're just letting their cars sit there for a while," Parker said. "I can't see how half a million dollars is necessary for fixing a garage."
Until those changes are made, parking services have offered lot 54 on Chestnut Street as an alternative parking area.
"While people may have to walk a block or so more than what they are use to, they will also be paying a reduced fee," Kangas said.
A day of parking in lot 54 costs $3 a day compared to the $10 day fee that is required to park in the Union Circle parking garage.
Yet while it may be cheaper to park in lot 54, the area is not covered from the summer sun, as is the case with the Union Circle parking garage. Lot 54 also has an estimated 288 fewer parking spaces than the circle parking garage offers.
Kangas said that this should not make a difference due to the fraction of individuals who require campus parking in the summer is less than those who require it during the fall and spring semesters.
"This should not come as a big shock due to the fact that the garage was closed last summer as well for the same reason," Kangas said. "Last summer, we began renovations and this summer we plan on finishing them."
Philosophy senior Sarah Gillespie said she believes the change in parking won't make much of a difference to those who visit the university over the summer.
"I work on campus and take summer school, but I usually walk from my apartment which is not far from campus," Gillespie said. "There is always parking over the summer. I see empty parking lots all the time."
For this reason, Gillespie said she believes that summer is the ideal time to close the garage for repairs.
"If repairs are needed, than I don't see anything wrong with closing the garage for the time being," she said. "This is probably the best time to make changes anyway."
Kangas said the garage will be back open before the fall semester begins and that students may notice a positive change.
"The average parker may take notice that the garage is cleaner and brighter," Kangas said.
The 20-year-old garage is closed until August for a $504,000 renovation which includes painting, cleaning, replacing stairwells and strands in concrete, as well as repairing and replacing drainage.
"We are hoping to open the garage again by August 12th if not sooner," said Scott Kangas, UNT associate director of parking services.
The cost of renovations is paid for through an accumulation of meter violation fines and permit sales rather than student tuition fees.
"Parking is a separate entity from the University," Kangas said. "We are self-served and receive no funding from NT."
However, English graduate student Jason Parker who has used the garage once said he believes that half a million dollars is too much to spend on repairs.
"Isn't a garage supposed to be dingy? People are not living in it. They're just letting their cars sit there for a while," Parker said. "I can't see how half a million dollars is necessary for fixing a garage."
Until those changes are made, parking services have offered lot 54 on Chestnut Street as an alternative parking area.
"While people may have to walk a block or so more than what they are use to, they will also be paying a reduced fee," Kangas said.
A day of parking in lot 54 costs $3 a day compared to the $10 day fee that is required to park in the Union Circle parking garage.
Yet while it may be cheaper to park in lot 54, the area is not covered from the summer sun, as is the case with the Union Circle parking garage. Lot 54 also has an estimated 288 fewer parking spaces than the circle parking garage offers.
Kangas said that this should not make a difference due to the fraction of individuals who require campus parking in the summer is less than those who require it during the fall and spring semesters.
"This should not come as a big shock due to the fact that the garage was closed last summer as well for the same reason," Kangas said. "Last summer, we began renovations and this summer we plan on finishing them."
Philosophy senior Sarah Gillespie said she believes the change in parking won't make much of a difference to those who visit the university over the summer.
"I work on campus and take summer school, but I usually walk from my apartment which is not far from campus," Gillespie said. "There is always parking over the summer. I see empty parking lots all the time."
For this reason, Gillespie said she believes that summer is the ideal time to close the garage for repairs.
"If repairs are needed, than I don't see anything wrong with closing the garage for the time being," she said. "This is probably the best time to make changes anyway."
Kangas said the garage will be back open before the fall semester begins and that students may notice a positive change.
"The average parker may take notice that the garage is cleaner and brighter," Kangas said.
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