Stadium’s new complex eats up student parking
The KU parking department expresses concern about lost lots
Construction of the new Anderson Family Complex south of Memorial Stadium has robbed the area's parking lot of 222 spots.
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
Students will lose 222 parking spots as a result of the newly constructed Anderson Family Complex south of Memorial Stadium.
Although the Athletics Department and the Design and Construction Management Department had originally guaranteed the replacement of all 667 parking spots, only 445 spots will be replaced said Donna Hultine, director of the parking department.
“It was presented to me that they would replace spot-for-spot what they took,” Hultine said. “My understanding was that we’d be getting them all back.”
The problem is that there are no sites for additional parking available said Dennis Crupper, project manager of the DCM department.
“If someone could find a suitable site that blends in with the topography and the land then it would be considered,” Crupper said. “That hasn’t happened yet.”
Hultine said she receives an average of two phone calls per day from students who complain about the lack of parking.
Chance Management Associates, a nationally renowned parking consultant, released a study in April 2005 that said student parking on campus was inadequate and the University had the tendency to build or expand buildings without thinking about parking until later, or not at all. This information was released before the construction of the new football complex began.
Since the beginning of the project, the DCM department has built three lots to the west and southwest of the stadium, which have a total of 227 parking spots to replace the ones that were lost.
Hultine said the DCM department estimates that it will also be able to keep 218 additional parking spots once the Anderson Family Complex is complete. Mark Reiske, DCM associate director, said he expects these spots to be available by next fall.
“Right now it’s sort of being used as part of the construction site, but a lot of that will come back,” Hultine said.
Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said he didn’t think parking was a big issue on campus.
“I’ve never really heard anyone complain about it,” he said.
Marchiony said he’d rarely seen lot 94, east of the stadium, filled to its capacity.
“I’d be interested to see someone take pictures of the lot to see if it ever fills up,” he said. “If those spots aren’t being used then I kind of see it as a non-issue.”
Hultine said that’s only true during the spring semester.
“It doesn’t fill up that often during the spring, but it usually fills quickly up during the fall,” she said.
Construction changes Memorial Stadium parking lot
Parking spots lost: 667
Parking sports already replaced: 227
Additional parking spots expected to be replaced by next fall: 218
Total parking spots that will be replaced: 445
Crupper said one potential site for a parking lot is the area northeast of the stadium.
“If the track and throwing area moved to a different location, that could open up some suitable land for parking,” he said. “However, I don’t think there are any plans to do that at this point.”
While Hultine said she was disappointed that the Athletic Department and DCM department wouldn’t be able to follow through with their stated goals, she said she wouldn’t hold it against them.
“I don’t blame them for wanting to have a great facility,” Hultine said. “It just happens to take up a bunch of our parking lots.”
—Edited by Sasha Roe
Discussion
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More evidence of how much the Athletics Department cares about the KU student population. Time to cut the student athletics fee.
"Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said he didn’t think parking was a big issue on campus."
Wow, you have to be kidding me, especially on nights where there are basketball games. However, I have a solution. . . Have Athletics build a parking garage over a portion of lot 90 (the large yellow lot south of Robinson and west of the Rec Center). This would add a lot of additional parking to campus which will help students be able to get to class on time, and Athletics can use it to park all their fans in for basketball games. Good for the students, and good for Athletics!
Hendrix, I see where you are coming from in wanting to cut the student athletics fee, but that will not do anything except hurt our women and non-rev athletes while substantially raising student ticket prices.
It's been quoted before, and I think it warrants quoting again:
"Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said he didn’t think parking was a big issue on campus."
That may be the single most... insane statement I've ever read. Athletics really has no clue about this University.
Also, cutting that fee wouldn't hurt women's sports at all, thank you Title IX. Fear-mongering... ugh. It will, however, greatly raise ticket prices; and that issue is one of those, "should everyone have to subsidize for the few?" kinda issues.
It's called a parking garage. Athletics needs to replace those lost spots and if they have to build a garage to do it, then that's what they should do.
I think athletics would be happy to build a parking garage if the University would allow them to operate it. Not only would this allow their employees a place to park but also would allow them to generate more revenue at their sporting events. I doubt the parking department will allow this.
I also don't think Mr. Marchiony's quote was taken correctly. If you read further he says parking is not a problem in Lot 94. Can anyone say this is not true?
"Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director, said he didn’t think parking was a big issue on campus.
“I’ve never really heard anyone complain about it,” he said."
Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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