University students can expect parking to get more difficult and expensive in the next year.
In addition to the loss of space resulting from the arena project, parking demand among upperclassmen probably will increase because of changes in Charlottesville's ordinances on neighborhood parking.
A new city ordinance took effect Saturday to rezone several streets in popular student neighborhoods as permit parking zones.
"It's a slight expectation of ours that the number of people using on-Grounds parking will be rising," said third-year College student Will Sowers and Student Council parking and transportation committee chairman.
Streets in the Jefferson Park Avenue and Venable neighborhoods, including Shamrock, Harmon, Wertland, Edgewood, Fendall, Old Farm, Cottage, Winston, Burnley and Wayside are among those being rezoned so that only residents may park on them.
"This was done in order to reduce hazardous traffic and preserve the character of neighborhoods," Charlottesville Communications Director Maurice Jones said.
The city treasurer's office also will issue yearlongpermits at a cost of $25, Jones said. The city will allow up to four of these residential permits and two guest permits for a single family home.
Information regarding parking permits for students in off-Grounds housing was not available. "There are a number of different factors, including the number of units" on a property that determine how many permits a household may receive, Jones said.
Another change in the ordinance allows landlords of off-Grounds student housing units to supply tenants with parking permits, he added. Before the change, students were responsible for finding their own parking.
Students should expect both off-Grounds and on-Grounds parking to become an even more precious commodity in years to come, Sowers added.
The upcoming project to replace the University Hall basketball arena is one of several factors that will limit parking for students, said Sowers.
"This year in particular, there's going to be a strain because of the arena project," which is scheduled to break ground in December, Sowers said.
Council is considering amending the University policy that allows first-year students to bring vehicles during the spring semester. First-year students typically take up about 500 spaces in the spring, Sowers said.
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