By the fall of 2005 the current Lambda Chi Alpha and Sigma AlphaEpsilon houses will be gone.
The houses have been there for more than 55 years, and a newparking garage will fill their places.
Some wonder if it’s worth tearing down some of the mostdistinctive buildings SMU has for more parking that is less thanconvenient at the north end of the campus.
“I hate leaving early for class and end up being latebecause I could not find a spot to park,” said Erin Juhl,junior finance major.
“There must be something the school could do about theparking problem we have.”
Juhl doesn’t see the new lot as much help. “Idon’t see how putting up a garage on the side of campus wherethere is no classes around is going to help. No one wants to walk amile to class.”
SMU officials say the new parking garage will dramaticallyimprove campus parking.
Roy Knull, project management consultant for the campus planningand plant operations, said there are going to be some big changesfor SMU parking.
“We notice there is a problem with parking, and we aretrying to do something about it as fast as we can,” hesaid.
The total number of parking spaces on the SMU campus iscurrently 5,697.
Each parking garage has approximately 500 spots for students.This new garage would be able to house 625 vehicles.
The new fraternity houses will be ready for fraternity membersto move in for the fall 2005.
Then work can begin on the new parking garage. The houses willbe on Dyer Street, next to the Pi Kappa Alpha house.
Kyle goss, president of Lambda Chi Alpha, said he will miss hisfraternity’s house.
“You either love it, or you’re scared ofit.”
Blake Adams, house manager for Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said he hasmixed emotions about the house’s relocation.
“The house has been around since the ‘50s, so Ithink everyone’s ready for a new house,” he said.”The only real downside is that since the university’spaying for two-thirds of the cost, it means they will own 51percent of the house.”
Two parking lots will be built for the fraternity houses somembers don’t have to use the parking garages.
The completion date of the new garage is still undecided.
