Rumors spreading about a new parking structure to be built on Utah State University’s campus are false.
There has been speculation that the university-obtained area of 650 N. 1200 East, where a former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel stood, would be the location of a future parking structure.
The land and its building, named the Golden Toaster, was obtained by USU in 2011 as part of a land swap with the LDS church. The intent of the university was to erect a new building at the location, but plans for that were halted. Instead, renovations to the Chase Fine Arts Center will go forward.
“It comes down to financial issues,” said David Cowley, the vice president for business and finance at USU. “That’s a site where the type of building would be really nice and have a significance on campus.”
What the university would have in mind, Cowley said, would be a $40 to 50 million project and is an unrealistic goal for the amount of money available. Long term, he expects the sight to be used for the Caine College of the Arts.
As the campus community began to realize the Golden Toaster wouldn’t be immediately replaced by a building, rumors of a new parking structure began to spread.
“The rumors concerning a parking lot or a structure on the old Golden Toaster site are erroneous,” said James Nye, the director of parking and transportation at USU. “The site is still being held for a future building site.”
The rumors could have started by reports being taken out of context.
“The space where the Golden Toaster stood,” KUTV news reported in January, “will now be turned into a parking lot until USU decides what to put there.”
“The existing parking lot will remain for now,” Nye said.
The existing parking lot requires a blue USU parking pass from the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All other times the lot is open to the public.
“There are no current plans to increase parking on campus, since we have ample parking in the stadium lots and a fantastic shuttle system,” Nye said.
Parking will not increase, he said, unless USU sees an increase in activity within the coming years.
