To the Editors:

Constructing a student parking lot has been approved by the College and now by the city of Oberlin that seems in opposition to the College’s green agenda. A small, wooded lot surrounded by homes on North Professor, North Main and Union Streets is planned to be razed, destroying many mature trees, and the habitat for wildlife, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, opossums, skunks and the occasional deer. This destruction provides for fewer than 90 parking spaces. It also would greatly impact the desirability of some of the College’s better rental properties.

I believe it would be good if parking on North Professor was restricted near Stevenson, but this lot is not the best solution.  Instead of removing 50-plus trees for parking, I’d suggest temporarily turning the lawn north of Stevenson into parking (a larger space than the proposed lot) while constructing a parking deck east of Stevenson where the existing student/staff parking lot exists. In addition to creating a smaller footprint, it could also serve a more environmentally sound use by installing solar panels. My desire is to inform rather than to oppose this at this time; but I know that the general populace does not know this information. I’m happy to hear suggestions on how to combat this dilemma.

Associate Professor of Harpsichord