USM To Add Parking
Work has begun to add more than 100 parking spaces on USM’s
Gorham campus.
The largest project is an 82-space parking lot between the
new residence hall (Philippi Hall) and USM’s McLellan House.
Earlier this year, USM purchased the home of retired history
professor Eugene Schleh at 134 School St., which is located
adjacent to the McLellan House. Purchase of that property,
which will be used for office space, made it possible to plan
for the 82-space lot.
The project calls for the elimination of the driveway at
134 School Street. People visiting the offices at 134 School
St. or the human resources offices in the McLellan House will
enter through an improved entrance at the McLellan House and
exit through the new parking lot and onto the campus roadway
leading to School Street.
The town of Gorham granted approval this spring. “We really
appreciate the solid working relationship we have with town
officials,” said Dave Early, USM’s executive director of facilities
management. “It certainly benefits the university and the
town.”
Early noted that plans for the new lot also were submitted
to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission due to to the
historical significance of the McLellan House. The McLellan
House was built in 1773 and is considered to be the oldest
brick building in Maine. Landscaping has been planned to help
screen the parking lot from the McLellan House and School
St.
Work also is underway to add 24 spaces to the existing USM
lot at 62 School Street and 10 spaces to the lot at 19 College
Ave. The building at 62 School Street, which is located just
down the hill from the intersection of School Street and College
Ave., houses USM’s Center for Workplace Learning. The Center
delivers continuing education and professional development
classes at Maine work sites. The property at 19 College Avenue
houses administrative offices and child care services.
The total cost of the parking improvements is $350,000, all
of which is coming from an increase in campus parking fees.
Dearborn Construction of Buxton is the contractor for the
current parking improvements to the Gorham campus. Work on
the sites will be completed in time for the opening of classes.
The new fee structure was developed as part of a plan to
fund a parking and transportation system that increases parking
on the Gorham and Portland campuses and decreases the number
of cars on public streets.
Later this year, USM hopes to finalize plans for a community
education center, including a parking garage, on the Portland
campus.
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