A Lincoln Terrace parking lot dubbed “the thumb” by physical plant employees because of its small size and remote location might help ease faculty parking problems.

NIU Project Manager Conrad Miller said the lot opened at the end of last semester before paving because the gravel needs time to settle and “having people park on it is the best way to do that.” The lot will be fully completed in May at a cost of $52,000 and will hold up to 25 vehicles, he said.

The parking lot will remain unpaved until spring because “asphalt can’t be put on the ground unless the temperature is 40 degrees and rising,” said Miller. “January has been very mild, but the weather is still too unpredictable for paving.”

Associate Vice President of Business and Operations Patricia Hewitt said the new lot will be used only by university staff and customers of the Parking Office. The Parking Office will move from the Campus Security building located next to the University Health Center to the Duramad House at 121 Normal Road, Hewitt said.

Elliot and Wood Contractors of DeKalb demolished two houses and removed the debris at a cost of $15,000 this past summer to make room for the new lot.

Miller said everything below ground including drainage pipes and an electrical conduit for lighting has been hooked up and installed to existing facilities.

Campus Parking Manager Helen Nodurft said the new lot will have two parking spaces for handicapped drivers. Miller said the physical plant will use $6,000 to widen sidewalks and increase handicapped accessibility.

Before laying the gravel, the physical plant installed a catch basin in the middle of the lot to catch the water after it rains, according to Miller. The uncovered gravel allows water to drain through and “letting the gravel set makes a better base.”

The basin will be connected by a series of field tiles, pipes with one end bigger than the other, to the existing field tiles under Lincoln Terrace.