On Jan. 31, WTAMU’s System Board of Regents approved a purchase of an apartment complex. Currently, the Silver Creek Apartment complex is being considered for demolition in order to make space for more parking. This parking would be intended for residents of the new Founders Hall.
Jon Behrens, the Senior Director of Residential Living, said there are still more steps to take before WT gets new parking.
“Nothing has been set for a demolition of Silver Creek Apartments yet,” Behrens said. “They have multiple more approvals that need to happen. So far, we are just buying it.”
If the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and legal review by the office of General Council allow for these approvals to take place, WT will have a little more than three acres of land to facilitate more parking on campus. This extra parking space will be located where the Silver Creek Apartments are currently located.
“We are in negotiation with the intent of turning it into parking, which will help with parking around the Virgil Henson Activities Center and Founders Hall,” Behrens said.
Some students are excited about the advantages of a new parking area.
“When you have to park far away, you have the possibility of being late to class,” Yvette Lujano, freshman English major, said.
Others on campus fear for the limited availability of housing around the Canyon area.
“It’s unfair to take away housing for residents of Canyon,” Chance Autry, junior Business Education major, said.
Jesus Carrillo, a senior Political Science major who lives in the Silver Creek Apartment complex, said although the new parking lot would be an improvement, it might be difficult for tenants to find new housing.
“I feel okay with the tearing down of the apartments as long as they start at the end of the semester,” Carrillo said. “As a tenant it’s going to be difficult to find a place that is this close to campus and allows pets.”
WT will pay around $1,450,000 for the property with the money coming from the Revenue Financing System proceeds from the Founders Hall construction.