By
Blake Smith
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Nearly 100 permits for the Tyndall Avenue Garage went on sale late last week, and even more spaces could open up soon, a UA Parking and Transportation official said.
Angie Graessle, University of Arizona Parking and Transportation permit program coordinator, said construction on the new parking structure limited the number of permits that were available for issue. Now that the construction is completed, more spaces are available.
The five-story garage opened in August with about 850 parking spaces. Parking and transportation officials anticipated that the remaining spaces would be available in December.
After accommodating people on the waiting list, the department will still have about 90 permits available for the Tyndall Avenue Garage.
"The permit annually runs for $400, but today it will cost them $224," Graessle said on Thursday.
She added that the permits will be valid through Aug. 15.
Graessle cited long waiting lists as deterrents for many people buying Tyndall Avenue Garage permits.
The surplus of spaces is unusual, and students and faculty should not expect it to occur again, she added.
A new family housing complex is expected to be built on the zone-specific parking lot across from Coronado Residence Hall next year, eliminating the lot and most likely moving those permit holders into the Tyndall Avenue Garage, Graessle said.
Incoming freshmen will also be offered permits to the garage if it is not sold out for the fall 2001 semester.
To alleviate parking stresses further, a new parking structure should be operational by Aug. 2002, said Patrick Kass, UA Parking and Transportation director.
The Arizona Board of Regents approved a plan last week for the new $17 million Sixth Street Parking and Office Building, which will feature a 1,700-space parking structure and 16,700 square feet of unattached Parking and Transportation office space.
It will be located on the north side of East Sixth Street between North Fremont Avenue and North Santa Rita Avenue, where a dirt parking lot now sits.
"We're reviewing the design documents this week and next and will be submitting comments after then," Kass said.
Problems surrounding the proposed size of the office building have been resolved, he added.
Construction on the new project is expected to begin in June.
Plans are also underway for a new parking garage on the north side of East Speedway Boulevard, Kass said.
That project is in the preliminary planning stages and would be located between North Mountain Avenue and North Warren Avenue.
