W&L refutes downtown parking debate
John Allgood
Issue date: 12/7/05 Section: News
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During the last week of November, Washington & Lee University tested allegations that its students are causing a downtown parking shortage with its own parking study of downtown Lexington.
The study aims to "counter or check" the Lexington planning commissioners' perception that the students are the problem, said W&L architect Tom Contos.
Twelve students equipped with clipboards canvassed downtown and took note of who is parking where, said Contos. The students checked parking hourly for one day.
Planning Commissioner Bob Lera and Lexington Planning and Development Director Bill Blatter, who have criticized W&L for crowding out downtown shoppers and tourists, welcome the study.
Lera said he would be glad to see more detailed evidence. Until now, there has only been anecdotal evidence that the students are the problem, he said.
At the Sept. 22 meeting of the Lexington Planning Commission, Lera cited complaints from downtown merchants and personal observations as evidence that students were causing the downtown parking shortage.
While he welcomed more evidence, Lera questioned the validity of a one-day study.
In the past, Lera said people have questioned the accuracy of his random observations. A multi-day study would be more accurate, he said.
Contos said that a one-day study would be enough because he would pick a "representative day."
Lexington Planning and Development Director Bill Blatter supported the more detailed study of the problem but insisted that students living around Davidson Park are a major source of the problem.
Students living around Davidson Park drive and park closer to campus, he said.
Supporting Blatter's complaint, Davidson Park area residents Will Owens and John Bruton admitted that they drive closer to campus most of the time.
The university does not allow upper class students residing within one-half mile of Washington Hall to park on university property between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The study aims to "counter or check" the Lexington planning commissioners' perception that the students are the problem, said W&L architect Tom Contos.
Twelve students equipped with clipboards canvassed downtown and took note of who is parking where, said Contos. The students checked parking hourly for one day.
Planning Commissioner Bob Lera and Lexington Planning and Development Director Bill Blatter, who have criticized W&L for crowding out downtown shoppers and tourists, welcome the study.
Lera said he would be glad to see more detailed evidence. Until now, there has only been anecdotal evidence that the students are the problem, he said.
At the Sept. 22 meeting of the Lexington Planning Commission, Lera cited complaints from downtown merchants and personal observations as evidence that students were causing the downtown parking shortage.
While he welcomed more evidence, Lera questioned the validity of a one-day study.
In the past, Lera said people have questioned the accuracy of his random observations. A multi-day study would be more accurate, he said.
Contos said that a one-day study would be enough because he would pick a "representative day."
Lexington Planning and Development Director Bill Blatter supported the more detailed study of the problem but insisted that students living around Davidson Park are a major source of the problem.
Students living around Davidson Park drive and park closer to campus, he said.
Supporting Blatter's complaint, Davidson Park area residents Will Owens and John Bruton admitted that they drive closer to campus most of the time.
The university does not allow upper class students residing within one-half mile of Washington Hall to park on university property between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.