A section of the Bond House parking lot has been closed for over two weeks due to watery concrete drips landing on cars, and the 36 impacted parking spaces will likely remain closed for the next several weeks, according to the University’s Department of Parking and Transportation.
On the morning of Oct. 25, Parking and Transportation was alerted of the issue. At noon that day, Parking and Transportation alerted permit holders of the need to vacate a portion of the lot after it was determined there was water passing through the ceiling.
“Parking and Transportation provided instruction on alternative parking areas and provided preliminary instructions regarding potential damage from the drips from the ceiling,” said Rebecca White, the director of the Department of Parking and Transportation. This included instructions for filing a claim with insurance and an offer to have damaged cars professionally washed and waxed.
Kyle Cheng, a second-year College student, noticed the drips on his vehicle a week before Parking and Transportation closed a section of the lot.
“The ceiling was dripping a lot … I think it has been going on all year because stuff has been forming on the ceiling, like mineral deposits,” Cheng said. “I paid over $400 for a parking spot, and I still got damage to my car.”
Schuyler Leffler, a second-year College student, said that she has been in contact with the University to initiate the process of filing an insurance claim.
“[The University] said that they didn’t really know what the substance was but that they were suspecting concrete,” Leffler said. “They didn’t really tell us what they were doing to remedy the problem beyond just, don’t park there right now.”
Due to a limited number of spaces in the Bond House parking lot, parking permits were assigned to students this year by lottery, and the cost was $405 for the academic year. Despite the competitive lottery process, students say there are still empty spots in the lot.
“Students were promised more than 100 parking spots, which is not anywhere near what they are providing,” said Ashley Sackett, a second-year Engineering student and resident of Bond House. “There are some lottery spots that were never claimed, and after attempting to contact Parking and Transportation on numerous occasions, they still refuse to redraw them.”
According to Sackett, about half the spots in the lot are usually empty. Students affected by the concrete drips have been instructed to move their cars to these empty spots, away from the area where more damage could occur.
Construction of Bond House, including the parking lot located underneath the building, began in August 2017, and the apartment complex welcomed its first residents Aug. 25. Due to weather constraints, construction of the apartments faced delays. Students were informed Aug. 22 that construction on common spaces, such as hallways, would continue throughout the semester.
Residents at Bond House have reported other facility issues this semester, including sightings of mice, problems with appliances and windows that do not seal properly.
Leffler said that despite the facility issues, she would “definitely” consider living in Bond next year. Both Leffler and Cheng cited proximity to Central Grounds and new facilities as reasons they chose to live in Bond.
The cost of living in a single in Bond is $7,850 per academic year. This is the same cost paid by students who live in single bedrooms in Copeley, Faulkner or Language Houses and by students who live in single apartments with private baths in the International Residence College.
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