University of Memphis students may have an easier time finding aparking space this fall, unless they're coming from Poplar.
Plans are in place to turn a fenced grassy area on either sideof the Conlee Street exit into a general parking lot capable ofholding 300 cars. The lot should be finished in the fall.
However when the project is done, to access the Central parkinglot from Poplar won't be possible.
"The concern was thru traffic over to Poplar," said Tony Poteet,associate vice president of campus planning and design. "You'll beable to walk but not drive through (Conlee to Central lot).
"We are trying to get it finished, weather permitting. We can'tguarantee the first day of fall (semester), but were doingeverything possible to get it done."
The lot will keep many of the large trees that now inhabit thearea when it is complete, said Poteet.
David Cox, president of public administration, says the plansappeal to The University and surrounding neighborhood.
"The U of M and neighborhood residents worked through designagreements for Conlee, the Central Avenue Parking lot and theCentral Avenue project," Cox said in a statement. "The designs wereselected to provide safe access and movement by students andvisitors to campus, minimize the impact of traffic on theneighborhoods and provide an aesthetically pleasing campus."
Nick Kraft, a junior journalism major, is familiar with theparking situation and has experience jockeying for parking spotsagainst other students.
"In the summer, it's fine, but during the fall and spring it'snervewracking," said Kraft. "It helped when it was mud."
Kraft said the parking project is a good use of funds, which isnot hard to believe because parking problems have long been anenemy of students who get to The University later than 9 a.m.
The change will also effect the Lipman Early Childhood Schooland Research Institute. The new lot will force Lipman School staffto enter the campus from Conlee Street instead of their currentdriveway. The Lipman School lot is also general parking and shouldhelp alleviate run off from the Central Lot. No one at the LipmanSchool could be reached for comment.
