The Triangle

Issue date: 5/23/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Seamus O'Neil Construction has begun on the new 34th Street residence hall over the old tennis courts, but the construction of the new tennis courts at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue has been delayed.

Two campus construction projects scheduled to be completed this spring, the new tennis courts at 34th Street and Lancaster Avenue and the Powelton Green Park at 31st Street and Powelton Avenue, have experienced delays.

The tennis courts and Powelton Green are now expected to be complete by the end of July and September, respectively, according to James Katsaounis, executive director of communications and marketing for the Division of Student Life and Administrative Services.

Construction of the tennis courts has been on hold as the University secures a zoning variance from the City of Philadelphia, which is required since a 10-foot-tall fence will be installed around the courts. Also, the Philadelphia Water Department has implemented new restrictions for storm water management that needed to be incorporated into the site's design, according to Katsaounis.

Construction for the tennis courts is now set to begin May 27. Until the new courts are ready, the tennis courts at the Vidas Athletic Complex are available for student and faculty use.

The completion of the Powelton Green project has been delayed due to similar concerns from the water department regarding storm water management.

"We now have all the permits and approvals to move forward on the project," Katsaounis said.

While the new completion date for this project is now Sept. 30, administrators hope to have portions of the park open prior to that date, according to Katsaounis. Even so, many students said they are disappointed about the delays.

"Although it is disappointing and possibly inconvenient, complaining will not make construction move faster," Elise Thomson-Hohl, a freshman majoring in business administration, said.

"The delays justify the notion of Drexel being 'tiny, unsightly, or both'," Ryan Padilla, a senior majoring in civil engineering, said.

In other construction news, crews continue to work near the Daskalakis Athletic Center in preparation for the building's expansion. Currently, underground pipes that contain campus networking cables are being moved. Construction on the expanded athletic center will begin June 16 following commencement, according to Katsaounis.

Students agreed that construction can wait.

"You don't want graduates, walk-throughs, or their family, friends and relatives inconvenienced by construction while commencement is happening," Padilla said.

Walkways around MacAlister Hall and the Creese Student Center are also under construction.

"The purpose for the resurfacing of the concrete in front of the Creese Student Center and MacAlister Hall was to address many tripping hazards and sections of concrete that have been repaired multiple times that simply patching would no longer properly address," Katsaounis said.

Some students said this was unnecessary given that an expansion of MacAlister Hall is part of the five-year campus plan.

"This is a waste of time and money. I haven't seen people trip on those sidewalks near Creese. They should watch where they're going," Padilla said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools