Saturday, April 2, 2011

A Proposal to Taylor's Lakeside Campus - Solving Its Parking Problems.

Recently, I have been hearing a lot of tweets and complaints as well as all kinds of remarks with regards to the major parking problem at the Taylor's Lakeside Campus - home to many of my blogger friends. =) The most recent remark - was from good friend Shannon.


Here's a video that was taken on 7th of March 2011. Amazingly - it has over 14,000 views already!!!!!!!

Anyways, go read up on the problem on Shannon's blog ok. What I want to do here.... is instead, to propose an alternative, or rather, a long term solution to the entire parking problem.

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Professor Dato' Dr Hassan Said, VC and President of Taylor's University,

For starters, I would like to mention that I am involved in the construction industry, and I am an ex-Taylor's College student myself. In fact, I did the South Australian Matriculation course back in 2000, which is... well, a long time ago. During my time in the construction industry, I was also involved in the Taylor's Lakeside Campus tender - which unfortunately, I lost out.

Anyways, I read on various blogs and twitter that the Taylor's University students are having a major problem with parking at the Campus. I read online that there are about 2,400 car parking bays right now within the Campus. However, as I remembered, back in 2007 - a news article mentioned that the Campus will cater to 8,000 students. The campus has a 1,000 bed hostel - which means perhaps these 1,000 students would not be driving. Assuming 70% of the remaining students still drive to college - that would mean the Campus would require close to 5,000 car parks. But I understand that not all classes/courses are held at the same time. Assuming that we still require about 70%, that would be a good 3,500 car parks. The current capacity only allows for 2,400 car parks (apparently) - and I believe it is time that someone proposes a solution to this problem.

Hence... my Proposal. =)

Note the yellow box in the map above.

I would like to propose a car parking + building concession on the yellow box shown above. Based on my estimates, I would like to propose a multi-level car parking complex, with one level of Retail or F&B to compliment the current syopz - and ultimately solving the car parking problem.

The complex will be adjoining to the existing syopz.
This would be a rough idea of how it will be like.

Based on my current estimates, every floor could house at least 300-400 car parks, and having additional 4 levels above the existing car park allows for at least another 1,200 to 1,600 car parks. At least, having additional 1,600 car parking bays would make the total to about 4,000 - that would be a potential solution to the parking problem.

Some people may ask... how long will the construction take? And wont it affect the existing car parks? Yes, it will affect indirectly. In fact, construction will take about 9 months. But I have a construction method that will have minimal effect on the existing car park, or rather, partial by partial.

What is in it for me? I mentioned above... a concession. I would like to build, operate, and subsequently transfer the car parking premises back to you at the end of the concession. This method would be good as it reduces the capital expenditure for Taylor's for this construction, and passing along this costs to the students as parking fees. Upon completion of concession, I will sign back the building to you. The rates and tenure of concession... to be negotiated.

I can be contacted at ericyong77@ericyong77.com - or Twitter @ericyong77.

Thank you for your time. Your immediate attention is highly appreciated.

Eric Yong

cc. Datuk Loy Teik Ngan, Managing Director of the Taylor's Education Group

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P.S. to my fellow Taylorians, it would be good if you could prompt your Taylor's Management to check out this Proposal. I have the details - can be revealed in person if requested. =)