Toni Ortivez
The Paw Print
Last weekend an update about the campus improvement project was presented. The update was headed by President David Svaldi, Bill Mansheim, vice president from the office of finance, and Erik van de Boogaard, the vice president for facilities and planning. This session addressed the plans to update existing buildings, change street layout, and incorporate five new parking lots, which was one of the major concerns of the community.
The meeting was attended by members of the community living near campus. Cynthia, who lives on Monterey, said, “The parking is only one of the problems, but it’s bad enough to where I’ve had to call the police on numerous occasions because my drive-way was blocked.” Children and pedestrian safety was also a concern.
The issue of congested and dangerous intersections was addressed and current plans are being discussed to alleviate these issues. However, because of the many different stages that this project must go through in its evolution, such as whether to close streets or to make them two-ways, the change will not be immediate. Most of the construction and changes in street layout won’t begin until May of 2011**.
However, the current absence of sufficient parking was addressed in the new plan to improve the campus. A 120-car parking lot will be constructed on Richardson Avenue, in addition to the already-existing 121-spot parking lot by the library. A 90-car lot in front of the new student housing complex, a 26-car parking lot near Plachy, and a 140-car lot to the north of the dorm buildings are also part of the plans. The lot on Richardson, however, will close the street from First to Second Street and will divert traffic into the neighborhood. The lot in front of the new student housing complex will be reserved for resident students and for events at the stadium. With the addition of a soccer and lacrosse field to replace the old practice field, the 140-car parking lot will be designated for students and for spectators of the soccer and lacrosse games.
Overall, 497 parking spots will be added to campus. With these new lots, a new plan, which could include parking decals for specific lots, is under consideration to enforce new parking regulations. These changes, along with the updates in the ES building, music building, and Leon Memorial Hall, leave many community members excited about the construction. Many welcome the change both for the level of increased safety, as well as the growth that the campus is undergoing.
The consensus of this session was that this project is not only designed to benefit our students but also to serve the community. In anticipation of the increasing student population, construction will hopefully make campus safer, more pedestrian friendly, and give ASC a competitive edge against larger universities. Tim Walters, Trustee and Chairman of the Board, said, “Being an institution in Colorado, we have to be competitive and it’s time to change.” Mr. Walters encourages questions to the board in order to clarify any confusion which may exist about the ongoing campus construction.
**Correction: Street changes could be completed this summer if the City approves them. Some of the new parking should be in place this coming fall.
Please note that street changes could be completed this summer. If the City approves those changes, some of the new parking lots should be in place by fall.
– Julie Waechter, Office of the President