New Parking Garage on Exchange

[scottditzen]

I want to comment on the new parking garage that is looming over Exchange like a concrete tidal wave. Unlike virtually every other campus project in the Proenza era, this one is not looking good. Not only will it be a major league eyesore, it's simply bad planning. I'll explain.Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful. It's counterproductive to a campus that is aesthetically challenged to begin with. Coming from Wolf Ledges or Grant, this structure is now by far the dominant image of our school. It simply sends the wrong message and virtually screams "commuter school." It echoes the sad realization that we may never have walkable, vibrant urban neighborhood but instead a campus that caters to cars speeding by at 45 mph. The way that it infringes upon the sidewalk is a prime example of poor planning. In a city like Akron where the downtown and the campus desperately need each other, the design of this structure will be a major impediment to connectivity. Garages fronting on city sidewalks are bad news. This area will certainly be a dead zone along the sidewalk that will not foster walking between a resurgent downtown (including the new student residences) and main campus. The University should know better; they should have had the foresight to designing this enourmous garage with ground floor retail. This would have made the stretch of campus welcoming, vibrant and useful. The school could have leased out the space for added revenues. This parking garage is a design failure, pure and simple. U of A should have done a much better job of concealing it, and its construction is testament to a huge oversight on the part of the decision-makers of the school.For an expample of how a parking garage should function in a city and need not be an eyesore, check out Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland:http://z.about.com/d/cleveland/1/0/t/C/-/-/fatfish.jpg

[ndzeigler]

Actually, they are going to be putting brick on the parking garage (they have already started on the back corner by Buckeye street) and it will look very similar to the Union, Exchange St Residence Hall, and the stadium. While it may not be beautiful, they are trying to make it look as nice as possible and parking is very necessary.

[ZachTheZip]

The deck is a necessity. We're going to lose more surface lots (including the large lot 9) to dorms in the near future.I also like the looming feeling that it gives when you're on Exchange. It's the same feeling that the dorms on Exchange and Spicer have: they're like walls or a fence for the campus. It sets a clear boundary. I wish we had more buildings with that effect. Even though it will be primarily used by commuters I think it does something to set campus apart from the surrounding area, which is more like something a residential school does instead of blending in smoothly with the city like most commuter schools.It will look better once the brick and brushed steel face goes up.

[UA Fan]

are there any photos available?

[ksu sucks]

Very well said. Although I agree with you, it might not be as bad as you think. I've heard rumors/news articles that claim the university has talked to the city about closing the part of Exchange adjacent to campus and turning it into a brick pedestrian walkway similar to other parts pf campus. I've also heard rumors that the university is/was close to buying the ZLB plasma services building as well. All of this leads me to believe that eventually this parking garage will become less of an obstruction.Besides, their options were limited. I'm interested to see just how much growth UA will take on. Eventually of the campuses resources will be expended, and they will have no choice but to implement selective admissions policies. Even if they keep open enrollment, it's practically going to be like a first come first serve kind of deal. It's a pretty exciting time to be a zip!

[Quickzips]

Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful.

Spoken like someone who has absolutely no clue what parking is like on this campus on a day to day basis. Honestly, I haven't even read the rest of your post after that. You lost all credibility with that one point right there. Parking has been a nightmare on this campus all year. It is not unusual to have a student miss a good chunk of a class because they have spent 45 minutes or more circling multiple lots just hoping that they spot someone backing out of a parking place. This deck is an absolute necessity and whatever complaints you have about it are without any type of valid reason.

[scottditzen]

Quickzips, I went to Akron for four years of undergrad in the early 90's, and then three years of law school. I never bought a parking pass, ever, yet I still managed to get to all of my classes on time by parking in the neighborhood across from Exchange St. Quickzips, I simply said "I'm not even sure it's necessary." Forgive me I graduated in 1999. No need to get upset, but is parking that much worse today than in the early 90's? Or is it that people are people just too lazy to walk for 15 minutes? And I'm not against parking garages at all. Just the placement and aesthetics of this one.

Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful.

Spoken like someone who has absolutely no clue what parking is like on this campus on a day to day basis. Honestly, I haven't even read the rest of your post after that. You lost all credibility with that one point right there. Parking has been a nightmare on this campus all year. It is not unusual to have a student miss a good chunk of a class because they have spent 45 minutes or more circling multiple lots just hoping that they spot someone backing out of a parking place. This deck is an absolute necessity and whatever complaints you have about it are without any type of valid reason.

[Jake]

I want to comment on the new parking garage that is looming over Exchange like a concrete tidal wave. Unlike virtually every other campus project in the Proenza era, this one is not looking good. Not only will it be a major league eyesore, it's simply bad planning. I'll explain.Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful. It's counterproductive to a campus that is aesthetically challenged to begin with. Coming from Wolf Ledges or Grant, this structure is now by far the dominant image of our school. It simply sends the wrong message and virtually screams "commuter school." It echoes the sad realization that we may never have walkable, vibrant urban neighborhood but instead a campus that caters to cars speeding by at 45 mph. The way that it infringes upon the sidewalk is a prime example of poor planning. In a city like Akron where the downtown and the campus desperately need each other, the design of this structure will be a major impediment to connectivity. Garages fronting on city sidewalks are bad news. This area will certainly be a dead zone along the sidewalk that will not foster walking between a resurgent downtown (including the new student residences) and main campus. The University should know better; they should have had the foresight to designing this enourmous garage with ground floor retail. This would have made the stretch of campus welcoming, vibrant and useful. The school could have leased out the space for added revenues. This parking garage is a design failure, pure and simple. U of A should have done a much better job of concealing it, and its construction is testament to a huge oversight on the part of the decision-makers of the school.For an expample of how a parking garage should function in a city and need not be an eyesore, check out Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland:http://z.about.com/d/cleveland/1/0/t/C/-/-/fatfish.jpg

In the not-so-long-run I think you will see this work out well for the campus and its image. What really makes the UA campus "scream commuter school" is if the university and downtown area blob together as an indistinguishable one. And, while I agree with you when you say downtown needs the campus, I disagree with you when you imply that the relationship works in the opposite direction. That is ABJ and Mayor Don's propaganda. UA does not need downtown at all. Politicians want us to think that but it is a lie. UA is a big fat milk gorged tit and downtown is a big fat selfish baby trying to suck on that tit at every opportunity. I think we will see Exchange Street in the area of UA be closed off just like Buchtel and Carroll. They are talking about it and they are also talking about making the UA campus have a better and autonomous identity separate from the downtown syndrome that so many Akron dinosaurs refuse to let go of. You will see more integration of the campus than you think and you strike me as someone who has the good vision that will be pleased by this integration of the campus with itself. This will include many things and among them will be a multi-purpose University of Akron Basketball Arena located conspicuously in the heart of the true UA campus near, if not east of the campus football stadium.Go Zips!

[Quickzips]

Quickzips, I went to Akron for four years of undergrad in the early 90's, and then three years of law school. I never bought a parking pass, ever, yet I still managed to get to all of my classes on time by parking in the neighborhood across from Exchange St. Quickzips, I simply said "I'm not even sure it's necessary." Forgive me I graduated in 1999. No need to get upset, but is parking that much worse today than in the early 90's? Or is it that people are people just too lazy to walk for 15 minutes? And I'm not against parking garages at all. Just the placement and aesthetics of this one.

Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful.

Spoken like someone who has absolutely no clue what parking is like on this campus on a day to day basis. Honestly, I haven't even read the rest of your post after that. You lost all credibility with that one point right there. Parking has been a nightmare on this campus all year. It is not unusual to have a student miss a good chunk of a class because they have spent 45 minutes or more circling multiple lots just hoping that they spot someone backing out of a parking place. This deck is an absolute necessity and whatever complaints you have about it are without any type of valid reason.

Parking IS that much worse today. We're at record enrollment and the parking has not kept up with that at all. It's at the point now that if you don't get to campus by 8-8:30 in the morning you can plan on spending at least 45 minutes trying to find a spot and that includes the furthest lots from campus like the Polsky deck. The deck addition is a necessity. I've been here for the last 7 years, 4 as an undergrad and now on my third of law school. I've never seen parking as bad as it was this semester.

[Zipsrifle]

I've looked at that thing several times over the season and I have to agree that I could have been put in a better place. Why didn't they put it down by the RR tracks or something? I mean, Wolf's Ledges is a main drag that seems under utilized. I totally agree that more parking is needed, but who wants to look out of their shiny new dorm room at a monstrous parking deck?

[bandzip]

I want to comment on the new parking garage that is looming over Exchange like a concrete tidal wave. Unlike virtually every other campus project in the Proenza era, this one is not looking good. Not only will it be a major league eyesore, it's simply bad planning. I'll explain.Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful. It's counterproductive to a campus that is aesthetically challenged to begin with. Coming from Wolf Ledges or Grant, this structure is now by far the dominant image of our school. It simply sends the wrong message and virtually screams "commuter school." It echoes the sad realization that we may never have walkable, vibrant urban neighborhood but instead a campus that caters to cars speeding by at 45 mph. The way that it infringes upon the sidewalk is a prime example of poor planning. In a city like Akron where the downtown and the campus desperately need each other, the design of this structure will be a major impediment to connectivity. Garages fronting on city sidewalks are bad news. This area will certainly be a dead zone along the sidewalk that will not foster walking between a resurgent downtown (including the new student residences) and main campus. The University should know better; they should have had the foresight to designing this enourmous garage with ground floor retail. This would have made the stretch of campus welcoming, vibrant and useful. The school could have leased out the space for added revenues. This parking garage is a design failure, pure and simple. U of A should have done a much better job of concealing it, and its construction is testament to a huge oversight on the part of the decision-makers of the school.For an expample of how a parking garage should function in a city and need not be an eyesore, check out Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland:http://z.about.com/d/cleveland/1/0/t/C/-/-/fatfish.jpg

In the not-so-long-run I think you will see this work out well for the campus and its image. What really makes the UA campus "scream commuter school" is if the university and downtown area blob together as an indistinguishable one. And, while I agree with you when you say downtown needs the campus, I disagree with you when you imply that the relationship works in the opposite direction. That is ABJ and Mayor Don's propaganda. UA does not need downtown at all. Politicians want us to think that but it is a lie. UA is a big fat milk gorged tit and downtown is a big fat selfish baby trying to suck on that tit at every opportunity. I think we will see Exchange Street in the area of UA be closed off just like Buchtel and Carroll. They are talking about it and they are also talking about making the UA campus have a better and autonomous identity separate from the downtown syndrome that so many Akron dinosaurs refuse to let go of. You will see more integration of the campus than you think and you strike me as someone who has the good vision that will be pleased by this integration of the campus with itself. This will include many things and among them will be a multi-purpose University of Akron Basketball Arena located conspicuously in the heart of the true UA campus near, if not east of the campus football stadium.Go Zips!

Jake, all you're going to accomplish is getting another thread locked. We know what you think about campus/downtown. Stop.

[scottditzen]

I've looked at that thing several times over the season and I have to agree that I could have been put in a better place. Why didn't they put it down by the RR tracks or something? I mean, Wolf's Ledges is a main drag that seems under utilized. I totally agree that more parking is needed, but who wants to look out of their shiny new dorm room at a monstrous parking deck?

Exactly, the garages are out of scale, even with the new large dorms across the street. That part of Exchange should be lined with small businesses that cater to the growing student population. Traffic should be slower, and the entire area made to be more, not less, pedestrian friendly. The placement and design of the garage could have been much better.

[bandzip]

Quickzips, I went to Akron for four years of undergrad in the early 90's, and then three years of law school. I never bought a parking pass, ever, yet I still managed to get to all of my classes on time by parking in the neighborhood across from Exchange St. Quickzips, I simply said "I'm not even sure it's necessary." Forgive me I graduated in 1999. No need to get upset, but is parking that much worse today than in the early 90's? Or is it that people are people just too lazy to walk for 15 minutes? And I'm not against parking garages at all. Just the placement and aesthetics of this one.

Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful.

Spoken like someone who has absolutely no clue what parking is like on this campus on a day to day basis. Honestly, I haven't even read the rest of your post after that. You lost all credibility with that one point right there. Parking has been a nightmare on this campus all year. It is not unusual to have a student miss a good chunk of a class because they have spent 45 minutes or more circling multiple lots just hoping that they spot someone backing out of a parking place. This deck is an absolute necessity and whatever complaints you have about it are without any type of valid reason.

Parking IS that much worse today. We're at record enrollment and the parking has not kept up with that at all. It's at the point now that if you don't get to campus by 8-8:30 in the morning you can plan on spending at least 45 minutes trying to find a spot and that includes the furthest lots from campus like the Polsky deck. The deck addition is a necessity. I've been here for the last 7 years, 4 as an undergrad and now on my third of law school. I've never seen parking as bad as it was this semester.

This is my third year at UA and first year as a commuter. Honestly, you can find a spot any time of day, but you have to be willing to walk to get to class. The overflow lot on Market across from the Speedway always has spots, even at noon when people are circling North Deck for hours. Quaker is another good place to check and you can ride the Roo Express to the circle by Guzzetta. This is probably more about planning for the future with the new dorms and increased enrollment then anything else. Could it be better designed? I suppose you could add some shops and such in the bottom level, but if parking has the potential to be an even bigger problem in the near future might as well add the extra floor of parking space.

[Zipmeister]

I want to comment on the new parking garage that is looming over Exchange like a concrete tidal wave. Unlike virtually every other campus project in the Proenza era, this one is not looking good. Not only will it be a major league eyesore, it's simply bad planning. I'll explain.Though increased parking may in fact be necessary, and I'm not even sure it is, the design of it is simply awful. It's counterproductive to a campus that is aesthetically challenged to begin with. Coming from Wolf Ledges or Grant, this structure is now by far the dominant image of our school. It simply sends the wrong message and virtually screams "commuter school." It echoes the sad realization that we may never have walkable, vibrant urban neighborhood but instead a campus that caters to cars speeding by at 45 mph. The way that it infringes upon the sidewalk is a prime example of poor planning. In a city like Akron where the downtown and the campus desperately need each other, the design of this structure will be a major impediment to connectivity. Garages fronting on city sidewalks are bad news. This area will certainly be a dead zone along the sidewalk that will not foster walking between a resurgent downtown (including the new student residences) and main campus. The University should know better; they should have had the foresight to designing this enourmous garage with ground floor retail. This would have made the stretch of campus welcoming, vibrant and useful. The school could have leased out the space for added revenues. This parking garage is a design failure, pure and simple. U of A should have done a much better job of concealing it, and its construction is testament to a huge oversight on the part of the decision-makers of the school.For an expample of how a parking garage should function in a city and need not be an eyesore, check out Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland:http://z.about.com/d/cleveland/1/0/t/C/-/-/fatfish.jpg

Yes, ground floor retail is a pimptastic idea. They should do the same thing with all the academic buildings. Some may rightfully criticize your idea claiming that it isn't the business of a University to be a commercial real estate landlord, but your suggestion would increase students ability to shop while going to or coming from class and perhaps give business majors conveniently located internship possibilities.

[zen]

I can't see how the city would ever let exchange get turned pedestrian like Buchtel. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the university minds aren't keen on new retail in the area. I suspect that they would prefer to gravitate toward a more residential atmosphere around the campus. Lots of retail is too cosmopolitan, and well, it might just hurt future plans to control the market.

[Zipmeister]

I can't see how the city would ever let exchange get turned pedestrian like Buchtel. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the university minds aren't keen on new retail in the area. I suspect that they would prefer to gravitate toward a more residential atmosphere around the campus. Lots of retail is too cosmopolitan, and well, it might just hurt future plans to control the market.

Yes, I forgot to mention, in addition to internship possibilities this could be the first step in the University's plans to control the market. Today, Exchange street, tomorrow the World.

[zen]

I can't see how the city would ever let exchange get turned pedestrian like Buchtel. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the university minds aren't keen on new retail in the area. I suspect that they would prefer to gravitate toward a more residential atmosphere around the campus. Lots of retail is too cosmopolitan, and well, it might just hurt future plans to control the market.

Yes, I forgot to mention, in addition to internship possibilities this could be the first step in the University's plans to control the market. Today, Exchange street, tomorrow the World.

lol@world marketSeriously though, scarcity of outside competition in a small geographical area is not a new concept. A la, a ballpark, stadium, theater, or theme park. The "captive audience" so to speak.But it wasn't my point to sound conspiratorial. Just to say, if your plans and decisions could also increase scarcity of access, it could be to your benefit.

[Zipmeister]

I can't see how the city would ever let exchange get turned pedestrian like Buchtel. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the university minds aren't keen on new retail in the area. I suspect that they would prefer to gravitate toward a more residential atmosphere around the campus. Lots of retail is too cosmopolitan, and well, it might just hurt future plans to control the market.

Yes, I forgot to mention, in addition to internship possibilities this could be the first step in the University's plans to control the market. Today, Exchange street, tomorrow the World.

lol@world marketSeriously though, scarcity of outside competition in a small geographical area is not a new concept. A la, a ballpark, stadium, theater, or theme park. The "captive audience" so to speak.But it wasn't my point to sound conspiratorial. Just to say, if your plans and decisions could also increase scarcity of access, it could be to your benefit.

Scarcity of access. One of my most favorite terms learned at the Nation. To increase scarcity of access I suggest surrounding the campus with a moat. It could turn into Ohio's answer to the River Walk.

[zen]

I can't see how the city would ever let exchange get turned pedestrian like Buchtel. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the university minds aren't keen on new retail in the area. I suspect that they would prefer to gravitate toward a more residential atmosphere around the campus. Lots of retail is too cosmopolitan, and well, it might just hurt future plans to control the market.

Yes, I forgot to mention, in addition to internship possibilities this could be the first step in the University's plans to control the market. Today, Exchange street, tomorrow the World.

lol@world marketSeriously though, scarcity of outside competition in a small geographical area is not a new concept. A la, a ballpark, stadium, theater, or theme park. The "captive audience" so to speak.But it wasn't my point to sound conspiratorial. Just to say, if your plans and decisions could also increase scarcity of access, it could be to your benefit.

Scarcity of access. One of my most favorite terms learned at the Nation. To increase scarcity of access I suggest surrounding the campus with a moat. It could turn into Ohio's answer to the River Walk.

I like it. :thumb:We can ditch my wacky monorail idea for some gondolas and paddle boats!

[Zipmeister]

I can't see how the city would ever let exchange get turned pedestrian like Buchtel. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the university minds aren't keen on new retail in the area. I suspect that they would prefer to gravitate toward a more residential atmosphere around the campus. Lots of retail is too cosmopolitan, and well, it might just hurt future plans to control the market.

Yes, I forgot to mention, in addition to internship possibilities this could be the first step in the University's plans to control the market. Today, Exchange street, tomorrow the World.

lol@world marketSeriously though, scarcity of outside competition in a small geographical area is not a new concept. A la, a ballpark, stadium, theater, or theme park. The "captive audience" so to speak.But it wasn't my point to sound conspiratorial. Just to say, if your plans and decisions could also increase scarcity of access, it could be to your benefit.

Scarcity of access. One of my most favorite terms learned at the Nation. To increase scarcity of access I suggest surrounding the campus with a moat. It could turn into Ohio's answer to the River Walk.

I like it. :thumb:We can ditch my wacky monorail idea for some gondolas and paddle boats!

Your monorail idea was not wacky. It's just that if you have a stop at lets say the football stadium, this would not increase scarcity of access. I suggest we run the monorail directly above the moat, but the only stop for it should be at the parking deck. This would give people a chance to view campus (and the moat) without decreasing scarcity of access.

[scottditzen]

Hey there Nav. If you check out the deck facing Exchange it just doesn't look like the design is compatible with retail. Perhaps a retrofit would work out? But to have the garage be this extra large dead zone on what is perhaps the most important street along campus is backward thinking. Whether small town or large city, this setup does not make for a good, vibrant neighborhood. Nor does a moat or monorail, lol.And I don't think having University buildings leasing space to retailers is at all incompatible. I mean, there always has been retailers within the campus. Just look at the student Center, new dorms or Polsky with McDonalds, Starbucks, Bike Shop etc etc.

How do we know that there won't be shops in the deck?

[goodthts]

The deck is an eyesore! Maybe it will look nicer and blend better whence a red brick front is applied. If not, then the retro, 1970's gray concrete front we will view will remind us all of the glorious days when every building on campus wa that color. Parking may be needed. Especically when enrollment is peaking like never before. But to say parking is so much worse than the mid 1990's is a joke. Enrollment isnt that much more; 28,000+ now compared to 24/25,000 in the mid 1990's. Three to four thousand more students on campus at a given time just means you have to be more creative. Park off campus like many of us did when we went there.Anyways, enjoy your new parking deck. May it outlast Shrank Hall.

[tbozeglav]

Does the parking deck stand out right now like a sore thumb? YesWill it still look like one once completed? I doubt it. In case nobody has noticed, they have renderings posted around the construction site showing what it will look like. Based on what I have seen, the parking deck will look very similar to the East Campus Parking Deck in that there will be glass-enclosed staircases and red brickwork put on all the major facades. Sure, it may have this imposing wall-like feel to it once completed, but I think it wont look as bad as many are painting it to be.

[zippy5]

geez. we are talking about a parking garage right?

[scottditzen]

Not really the point, it's the location of the garage that is the concern. The sad truth is that we're still and always may be a commuter school, which does not reflect well on the University. But to place the garage in such prominance, fronting a street that could/should be the main drag through campus, is not only bad planning but gives the appearance that Akron places a higher priority on parking rather than building a beautiful, functional, vibrant, pedestrian-centric campus neighborhood.Feel free to disagree zippy5, but I've been to beautiful cities and colleges all over the country. And it is not a good idea to have long stretches of your main street have giant parking garages aka dead zones fronting the sidewalk.

geez. we are talking about a parking garage right?