In response to residents of the newly built Commons 7 who are disgruntled with poor parking options, DOTS is converting the top floor of the Mowatt Lane parking garage into parking spaces for permit holders.More than 70 spots at the 6th floor of the garage, which were previously reserved for visitor parking, will be available to about 65 students with Lot 19 parking permits, Department of Transportation Services officials said.

In addition, DOTS has installed meters in the U-4 area next to the Mowatt Lane parking garage in Lot U4, which was previously under construction in order to accommodate the high demand for South Campus parking, DOTS Assistant to the Director Beverly Malone said.

But students aren’t satisfied with the expanded choices, citing overcrowding and expenses among their top complaints. Some wondered why the university broke ground on South Campus Commons 7 without considering where the new residents would park.

Junior criminology and criminal justice and elementary education major Zainab Khan said she prefers to take advantage of free parking from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. near Van Munching Hall.

“It doesn’t make sense to pay when I can park there,” she said.

But the popularity of the free parking spaces — where multiple cars circle the lot like buzzards looking for an open space — has forced Malik Zafar, a criminolgy and criminal justice major and Commons 7 resident, to park in Mowatt Lane parking garage before, he said.

“I think there were 10 or 11 cars driving around, so I gave up and went to Mowatt, not knowing they charged,” he said. “So, I had to pay.”

DOTS’ plan to increase the number of spaces for permit holders has potential, Zafar said, but parking needs to be cheaper. DOTS could do more to cut down on the overcrowding of lots on South Campus, he said.

“I can see the Mowatt garage from my window, and it just never seems that full,” he said. “I feel there are more spots that could be taken advantage of,” Zafar said.

Junior public health major and Commons 7 resident Isi Ojeabulu said the top floor of Mowatt Lane garage is an inconvenient location.

“I don’t think anyone parks up there because it’s so far,” she said. “It’s not effective. Who wants to go all the way up there?”

Malone said DOTS chose the top level for the the garage so permit holders could look for places to park while driving up the ramps.

Lot 19 permit holders can already park in certain areas of other floors in Mowatt Lane garage. Students who don’t receive a permit for Lot 19 are assigned to North Campus’ Lot 2.

korkut@umdbk.com