New parking deck to be built spring 06

by Rebecca Walton, contributing writer

A new parking deck will be constructed starting in May 2006 to better accommodate the Performing Arts center that will be built.

The parking deck will be located on the west side of Main Street where the gravel lot is currently located, Director of Parking Services Tara Armentrout said. Currently the gravel lot is used for Anthony-Seeger Hall and the University Services building.

The new deck will hopefully draw greater attention to the new Performing Arts Center.

“There has been a major problem with on campus performances and accessible parking,” said Marilou Johnson, associate interim dean of visual and performing arts. “Most people do not go to a nice performance center expecting limited parking that is far away,” she said.

Not only will the center allow for easier parking during performances but now people will be able to drive up and purchase tickets for performances.

The center will be the home to theatre and dance programs. It features two music performance areas as well as practice spaces.

The parking deck may also help alleviate some of the current parking issues at JMU. The deck could possibly have 750 spaces with an elevator. The number of levels and who will be able to park there regularly has not yet been determined.

Sophomore Lee Brooks said, “Parking is an ongoing problem at JMU.  As long as the new parking garage isn’t too far from campus for commuter students it will be a stepping stone to solving the parking problem.”