Off-Campus Parking Crackdown
With limited spaces for on-campus parking, some students turn to
parking lots and side streets near and around campus to park before
classes.
This is turning into a significant problem for businesses
surrounding campus. People parking illegally should be aware of
parking crackdowns, such as towing, as the holidays approach.
“Lots of people have been parking in the Holiday Inn for years,
but nothing ever happens, so they keep on doing it,” said Peter
Carlson, a senior music theory major.
Holiday Inn is located at 425 W. Prospect Road, across the
street from campus. Students continue to park in the hotel’s lots
for their classes every day despite a sign that prohibits non-guest
parking.
“I parked in the lot until I saw the sign one day,” said junior
speech communications major Megan Turpin. “I was afraid that my car
would be towed and that is so expensive.”
Fred Warren, the hotel’s general manager, said students coming
and going in the hotel lot is common, especially between 7:30 and 8
a.m., right before classes.
“It’s always packed,” Carlson said.
Though towing has been an infrequent consequence in the past,
Warren said that next semester could see an increase in towing.
Woody’s Woodfired Pizza and Watering Hole, 518 W. Laurel St.,
tows anywhere from two to 10 cars each week, said Bill Mahaffey,
general manager.
“Kids park early in the morning and I try to give them time to
come back and get their car before we open at 11 a.m.,” Mahaffey
said. “We are not a CSU parking lot.”
Warren said the Holiday Inn needs the 400 spots for its 258
rooms that are often full.
“The problem is prevalent and growing,” Warren said.
There are also local groups that meet at the hotel and a hair
salon inside with a wide local clientele as well.
“Word must get out that we are not student parking,” Warren
said. “We are not the only business affected.”
Mahaffey said the main problem with parking violators is that
Woody’s often has parties of anywhere from 20 to 80 people.
“I get a lot of attitude,” he said. “If I need that space for my
guests I won’t hesitate to tow.”
Students can find alternatives to parking in other
organization’s lots.
Warren recommends parking in the university-provided dirt lot
behind his hotel. “What’s another 100 yards?” he said.
Mahaffey suggests asking for permission if a student truly
cannot find a spot on campus.
Rather than park off campus, Michael Rose, the director of
University Parking Services, suggests buying a day pass for $2 or
using a meter that runs at 50 cents an hour. New to students this
year is the one-semester commuter pass for $44. It can be purchased
on or after Dec. 15. Students can still purchase a yearlong
commuter pass for $75.
Both Warren and Mahaffey said that their businesses are
committed to the university but need their lots for their
guests.
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