Space across from Bass Building to become parking lot
More room for commuters could be available by summer 2002

By John Weyand
Staff Reporter

The Brite Divinity School now plays a larger role in parking than most students would have guessed.

A lot across the street from the Bass Building, formerly occupied by Brite housing, will be used for construction storage for the William E. and Jean Jones Tucker Technology Center before being turned into a parking lot, said Larry Garrison, director of facilities services.

Photo by Tim Cox - Skiff Staff The empty lot near the Bass Building will be used for construction storage for the William E. and Jean Jones Tucker Technology Center before being turned into a parking lot.

Garrison said the Physical Plant tore down the Brite housing quads last week and plans to fence the now vacant lot to contain construction materials for the Tucker Technology Center, which is scheduled to be completed by April 2002.

Garrison also said the timing of the technology center construction coincided with the completion of the new Brite housing development.

“The Brite unit came into (the Physical Plant’s) hands when the ones down (McCart Street) were finished,” Garrison said.

Garrison said the lot is approximately 16,000 square feet and will be ready for parking by summer 2002.

Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said tentative plans exist for parking facilities along Princeton Street. Mills said the lot along Princeton, which contains the Extended Education building and an apartment complex, belongs to Brite and will later be used for a new Brite academic building.

Mills said Brite would build on the Princeton Street lot, but plans were “two to three years away.”

Mills said the university was looking at possibly putting some parking lots on Princeton.

“Of course, we couldn’t start on them while people were still in the Extended Education and TCU Press buildings,” Mills said.

Mills said McGee’s confusion about the parking along Princeton was probably due to the fact that a final decision regarding the Princeton possibilities has not been made. Mills said that if TCU goes ahead with the changes, provisions will begin later this spring.

Mills said Extended Education and TCU Press would be evacuated in April.

Molly Mitchell, a sophomore education major and commuter student, said the new lots will improve parking on campus, if only slightly.

“It’ll still be crowded, but every little bit helps,” Mitchell said. “I’m glad they’re doing things to change the (parking) situation.”

John Weyand
j.h.weyand@student.tcu.edu