PLYMOUTH-Until October 10th students will be feeling the crunch of a shortage in parking spaces due to the Langdon Woods construction project.
The University’s latest housing project, Langdon Woods, is set to be completed by August of 2006. However, delays in property closings and construction have slashed Residential North parking lots by 130 spaces, causing students to either buy permits for the Holderness parking lots or wait until October 10th to bring their vehicles to campus. However, once the Langdon Woods project is complete, there will be a total of 345 new spaces.
Construction began for Langdon Woods student housing in May of 2005. When it is complete, it will consist of a 347 bed facility. It will include a sophomore wing with 218 beds and a junior/senior wing with 129 beds. The room plans include double and single hotel style rooms and 4 room suite-style housing. The common areas will include a computer cluster, exercise room, Residential Life offices, lounge areas, and food service areas.
Planning began in December of 2004 when the University’s Planning committee began an evaluation process to select both architectural and construction firms to complete the project. The architects chosen are Cannon Design from Boston MA, the engineering firm is Rist-Frost Shumway (RFS) Engineering of Laconia, NH and the construction firm is Engelberth Construction from Colchester, VT. Englberth and RFS also completed the Lamson library addition and renovation.
According to the Physical Plant office, the Director of Residential Life is pleased with the project, feeling that it will fit the needs of the University. It is hoped to appeal to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors who do not want to live in dorms, but do not want to move off campus.
However, the project hit problems with delayed closings on the 9 acre lot it is utilizing. According to Ellen Shippee, this caused the current shortage in Residential North parking because the an adjacent lot of 145 spaces has not been completed. According to Sgt. Clark, of the University police, parking lots need a lot more work than most people assume. They need proper lighting and wiring under the ground. A new parking lot will be ready by October 10th, at which time more permits will become available to students. They will also be offered at a 20% discount for those who wait until October 10th to bring their vehicles to campus. However, until then many students who could not wait to bring their cars to campus have purchased Restricted parking permits for the Holderness lots.
Junior, Nick Austin, who lives in the student apartments was inconvenienced by the lack of permits available for residents in the student apartments. “I was really irritated that I couldn’t get a parking permit. I have been here for 3 years now and there is no reason I should have to park at the PE center.”
Austin continues, “The shuttle doesn’t even make a stop near the student apartments and that is a problem for me. I have to park my car in Holderness, wait for the shuttle and then walk home from the cafeteria.”
He is also concerned because he works off campus at night and cannot park hear his apartment when he gets home from work late. Often, when he gets home from work the shuttle isn’t running anymore: “So then I have to walk or wait for someone to come and get me. If the shuttle is running it isn’t very reliable.”
However, according to campus police, students have been cooperative regarding the new parking situation. Says Sgt. Clark, “Everyone has been very good about it. Students have been very compliant.”
Students who purchased restricted permits but qualify for Residential North permits can exchange them for Residential North permits once more become available after October 10th. However, according to Sgt. Clark, preference will be given to those who waited until October 10th to bring their cars to campus.