WCC trustees approve new 600-space parking structure
Staff Writer
Washtenaw Community College’s board of trustees has unanimously approved an $11 million, 600-space parking structure to help alleviate one of the college’s most glaring problems.
After years of debate over the need for such a structure, the board decided on Tuesday, Nov. 9, and in doing so expressed a sense of urgency.
“We plan to move as quickly as we possibly can,” said President Larry Whitworth, who hopes to see the structure finished before the fall of 2011.
“I would like to think we could have it done in eighteen months, maybe two years,” he said. “Eighteen months would be our target.”
Plans for both the parking structure and additional surface lots were presented to the board by the associate vice-president of facilities development and operations Damon Flowers. Although adding on to the existing surface lots would be a faster and cheaper solution, according to Flowers, the board made its decision with long-term effects in mind.
“Instead of more asphalt, the board voted to go vertical,” said Flowers, explaining that the structure will initially be built at three stories, and includes an elevator, three stairwells, and access to multiple school buildings. But the design will also allow for further expansion. Another level can be added if necessary and the existing levels will also have the ability to be extended laterally, giving the potential parking structure a total of around 900 spaces.
The estimated cost, according to Flowers, of the new structure comes in at around $17,000 a parking space.
The proposed location of the structure is directly behind the Occupational Education Building, next to the Liberal Arts and Science Building, so the parking structure can’t just be thrown up.
A road would have to be formed connecting the structure to both the Clark road entrance parking lots, and the parking lot located behind the Morris Lawrence Building for access. Additional sidewalks would also be required in order for students to walk to the buildings.
“It’s a big project,” admits Whitworth.
And it’ll take the college more than a decade to pay for it, according to Flowers.
But to start construction, the college has a series of hoops to jump through, including what Flowers believes will be the most difficult: getting the plans approved by the zoning commission.
After the design team is chosen, a plan is formed and that blueprint must be approved by zoning. Then, only natural roadblocks have to be overcome. The area the administration had picked was covered in an invasive species – a problem that may eventually help in deciding on a location to add the parking structure.
“We had a lot of buck-thorn and invasive trees,” said Whitworth. “So there’s a big, open space there where we took those trees out.”
Specific details such as the architect to be hired, designs for the structure as well any short-term parking fixes the college will provide current students are still be determined.
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