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Residents tolerant of Pima Hall construction

Pima Residence Hall residents said they are understanding about the construction of more rooms that is going on right outside their bedroom windows, but it does cause some problems.

"I suppose it is necessary," said Amy Rice, a musical performance sophomore. "It is an inconvenience."

There has been a UA housing shortage for the last couple of years, said UA spokeswoman Sharon Kha, which has resulted in a need to add 80 beds to Pima, 1340 E. First St.

With the housing shortage, there are about 500 incoming freshman who want to live on campus, but will not be able to, Kha said.

Emily Hamilton, an engineering sophomore, said she was concerned about adding on to Pima. She is afraid that adding more people to the dorm would change the dynamic of the dorm, which could be bad for the residents.

She is also concerned about whether Residence Life will keep it all women or change it to a coed dorm.

Rice also said she is concerned with making the dorm coed.

"I think that we are all pretty laid back, but there are some people who will have a problem," Rice said.

The construction begins every day at 7 a.m., and the noise causes some complaints.

"My room is on the end right by the construction and it used to wake me up in the morning, but I ignore it now," Hamilton said.

The hall director of Pima gave the residents fair warning about the construction, Hamilton said.

Construction began in early January, Kha said. The addition to Pima should be done for the fall semester.

"This is the beginning of an answer to a problem so they (Pima residents) aren't going to be so upset," Kha said.

Recognizing the benefit of the construction has eased the worries of some residents.

"I don't think it is as bad as everyone said it would be," Hamilton said. "I don't notice it as much."

Having to walk around the construction and the loss of the parking lot are some of the other complaints made by residents.

"My main problem is having to walk around it all of the time," Rice said.

Parking has become a problem for residents because they were used to parking in the lot right next door to the residence hall.

"I got a parking ticket because I had to park in a different place," Rice said. "Out of sight, out of mind."

Traffic has not been a problem because of the construction to Pima.

"It's a little harder for them to get by, but it's not a lot of traffic," Rice said.

Kha suggests that everyone should bypass East First Street and enter campus through North Mountain Avenue because there is a traffic light at East Second Street.