Plans for a $15.5 million project that would consolidate four Hill area residence hall cafeterias to alleviate a labor shortage and create more space in the residence halls have been put on hold indefinitely.
"The project is on hold until the campus Master Plan project ... is further along," said Alan Levy, director of housing public affairs. "I think it has a major impact ... on that part of the campus." The Master Plan is University President Lee Bollinger's initiative to bring physical cohesion to the campus.
The proposal, approved at a University Board of Regents meeting one year ago, calls for the elimination of individual cafeterias in Stockwell, Alice Lloyd, Cousins and Mosher-Jordan residence halls and would create one large cafeteria between Mosher-Jordan and Alice Lloyd residence halls. Renovations to the Mary Markley and East Quad cafeterias were also discussed.
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| SARA STILLMAN/Daily Students eat in the West Quad dining hall yesterday. Plans to consolidate four Hill area residence hall cafeterias have been put on hold indefinitely. |
"It got to a certain point ... but there is no time frame at this point," Levy said.
The project will affect the area near Palmer field, Levy said, adding that the administration must consider the effect of construction on traffic and "how it effects the neighborhood, views and how it fits in with the campus."
The proposed renovations to Markley and East Quad dining halls are not on hold, Levy said.
"The intent is to make this a coordinated effort campuswide," said University Housing Director William Zeller. "We are still looking at (East Quad and Mary Markley dining halls) and are and in some initial concept planning stages."
University officials have discussed coinciding improvements to the Markley cafeteria with major renovations to the Washington Heights parking structure during the next two summers, Levy said.
"We are changing the location of where spring/summer housing will be for the next two years," said Levy, adding that students will be housed in Alice Lloyd residence hall this summer. "Parking services ... are doing a major reconstruction and renovation that involves constant jack hammering and lots of noise."
The single cafeteria concept would help quell the shortage of cafeteria workers, which often forces students to use disposable dishes and utensils, Zeller said.
"We're continuing to experience shortages in student labor to deal with serving and dishroom workers," Zeller said. "We think we are dealing with the student (worker) shortage by combining four dining areas into one ... (allowing us to) operate with a full labor force."
Levy said crowding of cafeterias at peak meal times is an unavoidable issue and is not related to recent increases in the size of the incoming class and a greater number of upperclassmen reapplying to live in the residence halls.
"The dining rooms have been largely able to handle the volume we've had," Levy said. "Lines at peak times we would not associate with a couple 100 more people in the system."
Zeller said improvements in the cafeterias are necessary to facilitate a comfortable dining atmosphere.
"We feel that our dining facilities are the venue in which students eat and interact, and are in need of upgrades and modernization," Zeller said.
Special Assistant to the President Anne Knott said plans for dining facilities were mentioned during a meeting with Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford and Master Plan architects Denise Scott Brown and Nancy Trainer, although no new ideas were presented.
"The issue of both the dining hall and living-learning opportunities was talked about," Knott said. "Obviously, if you go to one dining hall, you free up some space for other things. It has not re-surfaced in any strategic way."
Regent Andrea Fisher Newman (R-Ann Arbor) said she has not heard about the cafeteria plan since it was originally approved.
"We only approved the design concept," said Newman, who suggested a system of closed walkways for students to use in case of bad weather.
"I think we definitely need to look at the improvements for the students as well as cost saving," Newman said. "My concern was ... that while it makes sense to consolidate the cafeterias of these four dorms, it doesn't make sense for students to go out in inclement weather to get to their food source."
Students who eat in the dining halls on a regular basis said they have mixed feelings about having a single dining hall.
"I like having Stockwell cafeteria the way it is," said LSA sophomore Grace Chen. She said she is concerned about the noise level in an area inhabited by many students at once.
"There are already so many people in there - I can't imagine what it will be like when it is all one," Chen said.
LSA sophomore Carol Chu said she enjoys having a variety of cafeteria sizes to choose from, and is concerned that one cafeteria could limit her choices.
"Now, you have big cafeterias on (Central Campus), and if you want to go to a smaller cafeteria, you can," Chu said.
Law second-year student Kevin Pinentel said the current cafeterias need spatial readjustments, especially in areas where workers and students come into contact. Building a newer dining hall may relieve traffic in the dining halls on Central Campus, Pinentel added.
"I think that is an ideal solution," Pinentel said. "I don't think there is much mobility. If you place incentives to stay away from Central Campus, it will help.
"The area is so cramped," said Pinentel, who claims the crowding caused him to spill part of his lunch on himself yesterday.
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