11-03-2020, 01:21 PM
I believe UW’s policy is to charge enough to cover maintenance expenses. As to land use, I believe the policy is to close lots when needed for construction. For example, in my memory EIT, E5, E6, and E7 have all been built on former parking lots, and before that DC and probably other buildings were built on former parking lots.
So in effect the parking lot is a land bank. I think given how much construction is going on in Kitchener, a case can be made that they should build a large building and rent it until they need the space; build in a parking garage if needed (although UW main campus to UW Kitchener campus is about as easy as it could possibly be on the LRT; with better design one could have eventually been able to get from my office in DC to Pharmacy without going outside). Certainly almost anything besides a parking lot would look nicer. But I don’t expect it to remain that way eventually. Various long-term plans for main campus already anticipate the possibility of building structured parking. I think for now they are basically using the space because it is available and it’s still not clear how much parking demand there will be in the future.
On the other hand, the University has done an atrocious job of pricing their parking, so maybe I am ascribing too much thought and intent.
On the third hand, the University bought the 5 RIM buildings on the SW corner of Phillip and Columbia when they had the opportunity. This added a bunch of parking and some immediately available low-density office space while significantly expanding the campus. Anybody who realized that was a good deal and executed on it has earned their pay.
So in effect the parking lot is a land bank. I think given how much construction is going on in Kitchener, a case can be made that they should build a large building and rent it until they need the space; build in a parking garage if needed (although UW main campus to UW Kitchener campus is about as easy as it could possibly be on the LRT; with better design one could have eventually been able to get from my office in DC to Pharmacy without going outside). Certainly almost anything besides a parking lot would look nicer. But I don’t expect it to remain that way eventually. Various long-term plans for main campus already anticipate the possibility of building structured parking. I think for now they are basically using the space because it is available and it’s still not clear how much parking demand there will be in the future.
On the other hand, the University has done an atrocious job of pricing their parking, so maybe I am ascribing too much thought and intent.
On the third hand, the University bought the 5 RIM buildings on the SW corner of Phillip and Columbia when they had the opportunity. This added a bunch of parking and some immediately available low-density office space while significantly expanding the campus. Anybody who realized that was a good deal and executed on it has earned their pay.