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(09-15-2017 05:23 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  But I also think UAB needs to move to a tiered parking permit structure.

This is already somewhat in place for employees and graduate students.

Should colleges think more about dedicating the ground level to parking when building new buildings.

(09-15-2017 06:11 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Should colleges think more about dedicating the ground level to parking when building new buildings.

Colleges operate like any other business in that off street parking space is just another expense to be covered by revenue. That is one factor in why Wal-Mart and its kind build outside expensive downtown areas. As UAB expands, the remaining unused land becomes more valuable and therefore must be put to a use that maximizes its return in revenue. Parking only does this if it is a source of revenue.

BTW, The BJCC and the city are including this economic factor in their calculus for the choice of a new stadium.

(09-15-2017 05:54 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Also to be kept in mind is that more students result in more faculty.

Not as much as you think. Part of the point of raising enrollment is to pack more students per class (or, better yet, add online only students) so that credit hour production per faculty member increases

Also, (regular) faculty are not entitled to any special parking perks above and beyond any other employee. They can pay for an expensive spot near their building (if one is available), or a less expensive spot on the edge of campus and ride the bus. I know of research faculty with multi-million dollar research grants on parking waiting lists riding the UAB bus to their offices. Of course, they're reasonable and rational and have actually been outside of the state of alabama so they know how cities and universities and parking work in the rest of the world so they deal with it

(09-15-2017 06:11 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Should colleges think more about dedicating the ground level to parking when building new buildings.

That is a terrible idea

When you build a new building at UAB, the city of Birmingham requires UAB that UAB set aside (used to be $12,000) per full time employee into a fund to build/by land for parking spaces. There was another formula for class rooms. These requirements are probably why UAB is a ahead of other campuses.

(09-15-2017 07:11 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-15-2017 06:11 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Should colleges think more about dedicating the ground level to parking when building new buildings.

That is a terrible idea

Why? Its done often when squeezing in a building where there is no space for parking, including many buildings in the Bimingham area(like in many of the new Railroad Park/UAB area developments). Parking not necessarily for students, but extra parking for whatever the want may be...

(09-15-2017 08:52 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  

(09-15-2017 07:11 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-15-2017 06:11 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Should colleges think more about dedicating the ground level to parking when building new buildings.

That is a terrible idea

Why? Its done often when squeezing in a building where there is no space for parking, including many buildings in the Bimingham area(like in many of the new Railroad Park/UAB area developments). Parking not necessarily for students, but extra parking for whatever the want may be...

Because who wants to walk around a city where all the ground level pedestrian levels of the buildings are parking lots instead of storefronts or building entrances and plazas? It would be a miserable existence, traffic would be insane, and for most large buildings you'd need to build 3-4 levels of such parking.

The answer is to build parking on the periphery of campus and to improve transit and walkability of the campus. Additionally, the nearby housing that is within walking distance helps. I'd suggest regional mass transit but apparently that makes Jesus mad or something so it's never going to happen in Birmingham

Also in the plans is a new beach volleyball facility next to the intramural fields and across the street from the football facility (and the open lobby). Talk about positive recruiting strategies....

(09-15-2017 08:55 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  

(09-15-2017 08:52 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  

(09-15-2017 07:11 PM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  [quote='WesternBlazer' pid='14584831' dateline='1505517074']
Should colleges think more about dedicating the ground level to parking when building new buildings.

That is a terrible idea

The answer is to build parking on the periphery of campus and to improve transit and walkability of the campus. Additionally, the nearby housing that is within walking distance helps. I'd suggest regional mass transit but apparently that makes Jesus mad or something so it's never going to happen in Birmingham

UAB already has that the students are just too damn spoiled to use it. My son being one of those.

As a Collat grad, glad the new building is going in that parking lot. It was always full anyway (except for basketball, and now that I don't live in Bham, it's your problem now ) Campus continues to grow and impress. Can't wait until we build that OCS on the intramural site. But with the crowd Week 1 we may be thinking too small!