Tech addresses parking lot construction plan
Eleven acres of land are slated to be converted into parking lots by Fall 2011
Jenda Wilson
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: News
Parking at Tech is expected to grow by 550 spots by Fall 2011. These new spots will occupy land on the east side of campus in the area around Prescott Central Middle School.
The Tennessee Technological University Foundation- a non-profit corporation with the purpose of providing guidance and assistance for the program of private gift support for Tech-purchased PCMS, along with the 14 acres of surrounding land, for roughly $2.6 million last fall. The University plans to purchase roughly 11 acres of this land to convert into the new parking lots.
"Our parking isn't as bad as a lot of places, but this new property will really make it better," President Bob Bell said. "It should also take the pressure off of parking in the center of campus, which is really strained right now."
The Putnam County Schools system still occupies the property-and rents it from the TTU Foundation-while it finishes construction on the new PCMS building, located where South Jefferson meets Highway 111. The PCS system will vacate at its earliest convenience.
"They haven't set a date yet, and when we purchased it from them-this was a government purchase that happened fairly quickly" Bell said. "I assured the County School Board that the building was theirs until they occupied the new PCMS building."
Glenn Binkley, assistant director of Facilities and Business Services, says that the county will probably move PCMS over to its new location early next spring.
Since the spring weather will probably be inclement, it may be summer before they can begin developing the property into parking lots. Binkley estimates that the University will finish this project by next fall.
"This fall and next spring will be a tough time for us on campus," Binkley said. "The residence hall phase two will open up without any additional parking. That hurts; but if we can make it through that year, we will really be helping by opening up this additional parking. It is extremely congested on the east side of campus, so this should be an improvement Fall 2011."
The Tennessee Technological University Foundation- a non-profit corporation with the purpose of providing guidance and assistance for the program of private gift support for Tech-purchased PCMS, along with the 14 acres of surrounding land, for roughly $2.6 million last fall. The University plans to purchase roughly 11 acres of this land to convert into the new parking lots.
"Our parking isn't as bad as a lot of places, but this new property will really make it better," President Bob Bell said. "It should also take the pressure off of parking in the center of campus, which is really strained right now."
The Putnam County Schools system still occupies the property-and rents it from the TTU Foundation-while it finishes construction on the new PCMS building, located where South Jefferson meets Highway 111. The PCS system will vacate at its earliest convenience.
"They haven't set a date yet, and when we purchased it from them-this was a government purchase that happened fairly quickly" Bell said. "I assured the County School Board that the building was theirs until they occupied the new PCMS building."
Glenn Binkley, assistant director of Facilities and Business Services, says that the county will probably move PCMS over to its new location early next spring.
Since the spring weather will probably be inclement, it may be summer before they can begin developing the property into parking lots. Binkley estimates that the University will finish this project by next fall.
"This fall and next spring will be a tough time for us on campus," Binkley said. "The residence hall phase two will open up without any additional parking. That hurts; but if we can make it through that year, we will really be helping by opening up this additional parking. It is extremely congested on the east side of campus, so this should be an improvement Fall 2011."
The Oracle encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The Oracle also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Web Editor at wahousley21@tntech.edu.
Be the first to comment on this story