(10-25-2018 03:04 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 01:00 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 08:04 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  I would say reconfigure the parking lot and the old tennis courts into a field event area that could also serve as campus green space in a bit of an asphalt jungle.

I'd love to see some lots (particularly Lots, 4, 9, and 18) turned into parking decks so you can do things like what you suggest here. Same goes for expanding the deck by the Field House and Honors Village. The biggest thing against that is the cost associated with building a deck versus cheap asphalt paving of a lot, but it would be a huge help with the long-term potential and functionality of the campus.

Multi-level parking decks cost millions to build and expensive annual repairs and maintenance, experiences with east and west parking garages (require annual summer closings for repairs) suggest there will not be any more parking garages on main campus nor is there need for the extra parking.

Parking decks are only a problem when they're shoddily built. Lets just say we almost had a 60 Minutes type issue in the East Garage two years ago because a contractor didn't sheath post-tension wire the way he needed to and the concrete mix produced way too much spalling where there could be issues (that wasn't remedied when it needed to be).

Outside of cost (which is an issue), I have always wondered why we don't lean into sub-grade parking facilities, specifically around Engineering and/or Rocket Hall, which are both above flood grading limitations for doing such work. Campus Beautification committee is so worried about what color drapes to hang in Libbey Hall that they forget what we could do with a bit more well landscaped green space. The amount of landspace to surface parking is ridiculous. My Alma Mater twice over had a similar situation and corrected it to the extreme (and are now winning campus beautification awards every year because of it), yet we still seem to be sitting on asphalt surface lots as the solution.

OMG
These are old costs but will give a relative comparison from a study done in 80s.
Surface parking space $1500 each
Garage space $7500 each
Toledo does not have the land problem that UC has. Plenty of room for necessary parking.

As for underground please note the river running through campus that is controlled by a rather significant dike. During large rain events the lots south of the river flood out.
So no, underground is not an option.

I do think a parking deck would be a nice idea on the lot south of Savage behind Fetterman to provide climate protected parking for the basketball games

(10-26-2018 07:56 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 03:04 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 01:00 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 08:04 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  I would say reconfigure the parking lot and the old tennis courts into a field event area that could also serve as campus green space in a bit of an asphalt jungle.

I'd love to see some lots (particularly Lots, 4, 9, and 18) turned into parking decks so you can do things like what you suggest here. Same goes for expanding the deck by the Field House and Honors Village. The biggest thing against that is the cost associated with building a deck versus cheap asphalt paving of a lot, but it would be a huge help with the long-term potential and functionality of the campus.

Multi-level parking decks cost millions to build and expensive annual repairs and maintenance, experiences with east and west parking garages (require annual summer closings for repairs) suggest there will not be any more parking garages on main campus nor is there need for the extra parking.

Parking decks are only a problem when they're shoddily built. Lets just say we almost had a 60 Minutes type issue in the East Garage two years ago because a contractor didn't sheath post-tension wire the way he needed to and the concrete mix produced way too much spalling where there could be issues (that wasn't remedied when it needed to be).

Outside of cost (which is an issue), I have always wondered why we don't lean into sub-grade parking facilities, specifically around Engineering and/or Rocket Hall, which are both above flood grading limitations for doing such work. Campus Beautification committee is so worried about what color drapes to hang in Libbey Hall that they forget what we could do with a bit more well landscaped green space. The amount of landspace to surface parking is ridiculous. My Alma Mater twice over had a similar situation and corrected it to the extreme (and are now winning campus beautification awards every year because of it), yet we still seem to be sitting on asphalt surface lots as the solution.

Campus Beautification has also been involved with landscaped green space issues for years, as far back as the creation of Centennial Mall, but they are advisors not a decision-making or approval body. If we would like to see less paved surfaces and more green spaces-an applaudable cause-your efforts need to be directed at the UT Administration, recent efforts by the Committee to increase green space, most notably during the public meetings during the master plan process were not successful-not from any lack of trying (I know members of that Committee personally).

(10-26-2018 01:51 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-26-2018 07:56 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 03:04 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 01:00 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 08:04 AM)indianasniff Wrote:  I would say reconfigure the parking lot and the old tennis courts into a field event area that could also serve as campus green space in a bit of an asphalt jungle.

I'd love to see some lots (particularly Lots, 4, 9, and 18) turned into parking decks so you can do things like what you suggest here. Same goes for expanding the deck by the Field House and Honors Village. The biggest thing against that is the cost associated with building a deck versus cheap asphalt paving of a lot, but it would be a huge help with the long-term potential and functionality of the campus.

Multi-level parking decks cost millions to build and expensive annual repairs and maintenance, experiences with east and west parking garages (require annual summer closings for repairs) suggest there will not be any more parking garages on main campus nor is there need for the extra parking.

Parking decks are only a problem when they're shoddily built. Lets just say we almost had a 60 Minutes type issue in the East Garage two years ago because a contractor didn't sheath post-tension wire the way he needed to and the concrete mix produced way too much spalling where there could be issues (that wasn't remedied when it needed to be).

Outside of cost (which is an issue), I have always wondered why we don't lean into sub-grade parking facilities, specifically around Engineering and/or Rocket Hall, which are both above flood grading limitations for doing such work. Campus Beautification committee is so worried about what color drapes to hang in Libbey Hall that they forget what we could do with a bit more well landscaped green space. The amount of landspace to surface parking is ridiculous. My Alma Mater twice over had a similar situation and corrected it to the extreme (and are now winning campus beautification awards every year because of it), yet we still seem to be sitting on asphalt surface lots as the solution.

Campus Beautification has also been involved with landscaped green space issues for years, as far back as the creation of Centennial Mall, but they are advisors not a decision-making or approval body. If we would like to see less paved surfaces and more green spaces-an applaudable cause-your efforts need to be directed at the UT Administration, recent efforts by the Committee to increase green space, most notably during the public meetings during the master plan process were not successful-not from any lack of trying (I know members of that Committee personally).

I'm glad they are doing something to address the area between Wolfe and Carlson, though I feel we should do something with the river...create a riverwalk or terrace, etc. That's a beautiful resource that not many campuses are lucky enough to have, and we hide it behind unkempt trees and bushes instead of accentuating it.

(10-26-2018 01:53 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-26-2018 01:51 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-26-2018 07:56 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 03:04 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 01:00 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  I'd love to see some lots (particularly Lots, 4, 9, and 18) turned into parking decks so you can do things like what you suggest here. Same goes for expanding the deck by the Field House and Honors Village. The biggest thing against that is the cost associated with building a deck versus cheap asphalt paving of a lot, but it would be a huge help with the long-term potential and functionality of the campus.

Multi-level parking decks cost millions to build and expensive annual repairs and maintenance, experiences with east and west parking garages (require annual summer closings for repairs) suggest there will not be any more parking garages on main campus nor is there need for the extra parking.

Parking decks are only a problem when they're shoddily built. Lets just say we almost had a 60 Minutes type issue in the East Garage two years ago because a contractor didn't sheath post-tension wire the way he needed to and the concrete mix produced way too much spalling where there could be issues (that wasn't remedied when it needed to be).

Outside of cost (which is an issue), I have always wondered why we don't lean into sub-grade parking facilities, specifically around Engineering and/or Rocket Hall, which are both above flood grading limitations for doing such work. Campus Beautification committee is so worried about what color drapes to hang in Libbey Hall that they forget what we could do with a bit more well landscaped green space. The amount of landspace to surface parking is ridiculous. My Alma Mater twice over had a similar situation and corrected it to the extreme (and are now winning campus beautification awards every year because of it), yet we still seem to be sitting on asphalt surface lots as the solution.

Campus Beautification has also been involved with landscaped green space issues for years, as far back as the creation of Centennial Mall, but they are advisors not a decision-making or approval body. If we would like to see less paved surfaces and more green spaces-an applaudable cause-your efforts need to be directed at the UT Administration, recent efforts by the Committee to increase green space, most notably during the public meetings during the master plan process were not successful-not from any lack of trying (I know members of that Committee personally).

I'm glad they are doing something to address the area between Wolfe and Carlson, though I feel we should do something with the river...create a riverwalk or terrace, etc. That's a beautiful resource that not many campuses are lucky enough to have, and we hide it behind unkempt trees and bushes instead of accentuating it.

Been over a decade of efforts to improve the river including several river paths and overlooks, proposal for terrace and complete continuous riverwalk have been planned and proposed-all that is needed is $$$$

(10-26-2018 01:56 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-26-2018 01:53 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-26-2018 01:51 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  

(10-26-2018 07:56 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(10-25-2018 03:04 PM)PaulJ Wrote:  Multi-level parking decks cost millions to build and expensive annual repairs and maintenance, experiences with east and west parking garages (require annual summer closings for repairs) suggest there will not be any more parking garages on main campus nor is there need for the extra parking.

Parking decks are only a problem when they're shoddily built. Lets just say we almost had a 60 Minutes type issue in the East Garage two years ago because a contractor didn't sheath post-tension wire the way he needed to and the concrete mix produced way too much spalling where there could be issues (that wasn't remedied when it needed to be).

Outside of cost (which is an issue), I have always wondered why we don't lean into sub-grade parking facilities, specifically around Engineering and/or Rocket Hall, which are both above flood grading limitations for doing such work. Campus Beautification committee is so worried about what color drapes to hang in Libbey Hall that they forget what we could do with a bit more well landscaped green space. The amount of landspace to surface parking is ridiculous. My Alma Mater twice over had a similar situation and corrected it to the extreme (and are now winning campus beautification awards every year because of it), yet we still seem to be sitting on asphalt surface lots as the solution.

Campus Beautification has also been involved with landscaped green space issues for years, as far back as the creation of Centennial Mall, but they are advisors not a decision-making or approval body. If we would like to see less paved surfaces and more green spaces-an applaudable cause-your efforts need to be directed at the UT Administration, recent efforts by the Committee to increase green space, most notably during the public meetings during the master plan process were not successful-not from any lack of trying (I know members of that Committee personally).

I'm glad they are doing something to address the area between Wolfe and Carlson, though I feel we should do something with the river...create a riverwalk or terrace, etc. That's a beautiful resource that not many campuses are lucky enough to have, and we hide it behind unkempt trees and bushes instead of accentuating it.

Been over a decade of efforts to improve the river including several river paths and overlooks, proposal for terrace and complete continuous riverwalk have been planned and proposed-all that is needed is $$$$

And there is a river commission http://www.utoledo.edu/commissions/river/

Lots of great info and thoughts shared here. Thanks indianasniff, DetroitRocket, BearcatMan, and PaulJ!