More parking options among proposals in Master Plan

Increasing enrollment and improving both recreation and residential facilities will be three of the main goals the John Carroll University Master Plan hopes to address when all parts of the project are finalized.

On March 4, Associate Academic Vice President for Planning and Assessment Nicholas Santilli and Vice President of University Advancement Doreen Riley presented the latest version of the proposed campus Master Plan to the faculty and staff.

While Sasaki Associates, the firm JCU hired to evaluate current conditions and propose new ideas for the future, have made several suggestions, Santilli said that the Master Plan is still a concept.

“There are still parts that the University has to think through. This is not a final plan,” said Santilli. “This is just one part of the strategic plan.”

Santilli explained that JCU needs facilities that will support the academic institution, and said it is important to link the University’s facilities and mission together.

Through Sasaki’s work, JCU now has a database of all the facilities on campus. “This will help us see how we stack up against others,” said Santilli.

Before Riley and Santilli presented on March 4, many were consulted, including the academic departments, student groups and members of the local communities and government. “The goal is to develop a plan that meets the University’s immediate and long-term needs,” said Santilli.

Several parts of the Master Plan will occur over 20-25 years. However, Santilli and Riley mainly discussed the early phase, which could be started and completed in the next five years. This early phase of construction is estimated to cost $84 million, said Santilli. The renovations of current facilities will cost about $52.5 million.

This phase includes tearing down the Bohannon Science Center in order to create more parking, which is a huge issue for the University. With the creation of this parking, the temporary parking lot could be taken away and can be restored to the Hamlin Quad.

Several years down the road, Sasaki has proposed to JCU that building underground parking garages would be a way to both maximize space and keep the beauty of the campus. Proposed sites for underground parking are underneath the baseball field, and underneath the Milford Road playing fields.

If the underground parking would be implemented, 500 cars could potentially be parked underneath the baseball field, while another 650 parked underneath the Milford Road playing fields.

Another possibility would be to build new residence halls, called Gateway Housing 1 and 2.  These would be located close to the Dolan Science Center and would provide for more apartment-style living. Renovations to current residence halls would also be considered.

In the more long-term plans, Sasaki proposed that, while keeping Sutowski, Hamlin and Campion halls traditional, Murphy, Dolan, Pacelli, Millor and Bernet could be created into apartment, or suite-style living.

Creating playing fields on Milford Road, resurfacing the track, upgrading the baseball and softball diamonds, renovating the fitness center and providing off-campus parking are all included in the early phase.

Riley said that even more improvements to the recreation and athletic facilities are wanted in the future for JCU. Synthetic turf for the baseball and softball diamonds and dugouts for the softball field are proposed.

Redesigning the pedestrian crossing to travel across South Belvoir Boulevard to the athletic fields is also being considered.   

Santilli said that the spirit of the campus Master Plan is already in place. “Renovations to the Lombardo Student Center, Schott Dining Hall, and the Jardine, Murphy and LSC Conference Rooms are all being started and done,” said Santilli.   

Members of the JCU Board of Directors will most likely receive an update on the campus Master Plan again in May, said Santilli.