The Triangle

Issue date: 6/2/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Karl Kuchs

The Planning, Design and Construction Department of the Division of Student Life and Administrative Services announced that the two-part parking garage expansion project will be officially completed in January 2007.

The first part of the project, which involves the addition of two new parking decks, is to be finished in November 2006. The second part of the project, to be finished in January 2007, is the addition of a second elevator to the parking facility.

"In November, one of the two elevators will always be in operation when the garage is open," said James Katsaounis, director of communications for Student Life.

Upon completion, the parking garage, which is located at 34th and Market streets, will have two additional parking levels, adding approximately 300 new parking spaces. The construction project will also involve the restoration of the existing elevator and the addition of a new elevator, along with the installation of enhanced lighting and improved safety railings.

"The Drexel parking garage project is within budget," Katsaounis said. "There have been no increases since the project's bid was awarded."

Construction on the facility began March 27. Three hundred existing spaces in the garage will be unavailable for the ten-month duration of the project.

"We are still proceeding on schedule with demolition," Katsaounis said. "Because the building is a solidly built building, the demolition is having to be done in smaller sections."

It is not guaranteed whether the elevator will be functional at all throughout the duration of the project. On May 31, the elevator was shut down to demolish the roof above the elevator shaft. This shutdown lasted through June 1.

The University is working to add temporary parking spaces at nearby lots during the construction.

"During the spring term, the University contracted with 5 Star Parking at 31st Street and JFK Boulevard for additional parking, temporarily converted metered lots to permit parking and attempted to use the Vidas Athletic Complex lot for additional parking," said David Jost, director of Parking Services.

The athletic field was not used for parking due to low student interest.

The University has modified its summer 2006 student lottery for parking garage permits in response to the expansion project. No student permits will be available for the garage this summer; instead, alternative lots will be provided. Drexel Parking Services has offered parking spaces in two lots on Chestnut Street: Lot A, located behind the Creese Student Center, and Lot E, behind MacAlister Hall. Another possibility for the summer term may involve the use of the Drexel Athletic Field Lot at 43rd and Powelton Streets. If this option is utilized, the University will provide a shuttle service for students. In addition, nearby private lots could also be leased.

"With less cars on campus during the summer term, we are currently assigning parking across the existing spaces available on campus," Jost said.

Rachel Hallowell, a freshman psychology major and commuter student, did not lose her space in the parking garage as a result of the construction, though three hundred other students did.

"It's great that they're making it bigger, because there definitely weren't enough parking spots for everyone," Hallowell said.

However, she was unimpressed with the level of communication to the students.

"They didn't really tell us in advance about the construction," Hallowell said. "I went to get my space one day and they just told us that day that they were going to start working."

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