Of the hundreds of premium reserved parking stalls available to students and staff, only four or five are currently being occupied.

According to Amy Armstrong, the Public Information Officer for the University Police Department, the spots in Lot V on Shaw and Woodrow Avenues are not selling as highly as anticipated.

Armstrong said several students have shown an interest in the parking lot and have purchased stalls because of the advantages. Besides having a guaranteed spot any time of the day from Jan. 1 through May 31, the structure is well-lit for students with night classes and covered to protect their vehicles from the weather.

Many students and faculty feel that the $250 per semester fee is worth more perks than the standard $68 permit, but some also feel this may be a little too much based on the location of the lot alone.

“It is incredibly removed from the buildings considering the price you pay to park at the lot,â€Â said Alecia Barela, 26, a business major. “My closest class is in the Music Building.â€Â

Barela purchased the stall to ensure that she is never late to her class.

“It is a time saver and relief knowing I won’t lose time searching for a spot,â€Â she said. “But the location does make it inconvenient at times.â€Â

Shang Wang, 19, a biology major, has similar feelings toward the parking lot.

“I am not interested in buying [a stall], because it is really expensive and it may be far from my class,â€Â Wang said.

The parking lot was originally designed to have a total of 10 structures, but since only a few have been sold so far, the reserved spots are temporarily limited to one structure. The remaining structures are overflow parking for students with standard green permits until more paid spots are sold.

“I like it, but I’d never pay that much for a spot, unless I was too wealthy for my own good,â€Â said Daniel Loehrer, 20, an engineering major who purchased a standard green student permit. “But how many college students and profs can afford that?â€Â

On top of the lot being somewhat out of the way, there is also the fact of sharing the narrow stalls with neighboring permit-holders. Barela said that with many stalls available, the one right next to hers is already taken.

“I chose an end space, and according to the parking office, no one purchased a spot anywhere near me,â€Â she said. “Later on I arrive and find someone parked right next to me. I know it is that person’s choice and right to choose any space … but I was thinking, ‘Of all the room here, why did you buy the space next to me?’ â€Â

Armstrong said the traffic operations department has not received complaints about the structure so far, or any feedback at all for that matter. For students who have already purchased a reserved spot permit and cannot return them for a full refund, there is not much use in voicing their opinion about it. They can, however, advise friends and acquaintances on whether to invest or not.

“The value of the parking space isn’t worth the amount I paid,â€Â Barela said. “The space doesn’t really give me any advantage over other students. In fact, I am at a disadvantage because I paid more.â€Â