MONDAY,AUGUST 26,2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 5A
Construction underway on church parking garage
By Aaron Passman Kansan staff writer
Students attending mass at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center can expect aisle-side parking with the completion of a new parking garage scheduled for March 1.
The center began construction June 15 on the two-level parking facility. St. Lawrence's new garage, with space to hold 174 cars, will have one underground level and one street level. The parking lot currently has 98 parking spots. KU students registered with the center will be able to obtain a free permit to park any time at the center.
Father Vince Krische, center director, said the garage cost about $3 million and was paid for by parents, alumni and friends of the center.
Until completion of the garage, the center has set up a temporary lot, with space for 55 cars, on the grounds at 1435 Engel Road. Additional parking is available
on Sundays at the KU Visitors Center with a shuttle bus running to the center for masses.
Krische said that once he secured the necessary permits from the city, his next task was to inform the community of the expansion.
"I think that every time you do something like this there's an obligation to inform the community of what you're doing," Krische said. "For the most part everybody has been very supportive of it."
Neither Krische nor David Dunfield, vice mayor of Lawrence, thought the new garage would cause an increase in traffic at the intersection.
Krische said some neighbors were initially concerned about traffic and safety concerns at the corner of 15th Street and Engel Road.
"Rather than causing an increase of traffic hopefully the garage will help solve some of the traffic problems at that intersection."
Zach Straus/Kansan
"Rather than causing an increase of traffic, hopefully the garage will help solve some of the traffic problems at that intersection," Krische said. "We're just
Workers talk at the site of the new parking garage at 15th Street and Engel Road. The building will be located on the site of the St. Lawrence Center's former parking lot.
Father Vince Krische
St. Lawrence Catholic Campus
Center director
concerned about keeping everythings safe."
The intersection is one of the busiest in the area. KU buses regularly run students to and from the residence halls, and the intersection serves as a major trafficway, including frequent traffic going in and out of the center. The Lawrence City Commission agreed to look into possible solutions to traffic problems around the center.
"That's certainly not a great intersection," Dunfield said. "There have been a number of potential solutions talked about,
including a stoplight, roundabout, or even realigning Engel Road, but none of those have been decided upon."
Dunfield said the St. Lawrence Center had offered to donate land for a turn lane if necessary.
Contact Passman at
apassman@kansan.com. This story was edited by Christina Neff and Nicole Roché.