Webster, Nerinx Hall Sign Joint Agreement on Community Parking

Webster University and its longtime Webster Groves neighbor, Nerinx Hall High School, have reached an agreement to improve parking for both institutions and the community.

The University will construct a parking garage on the site of Nerinx Hall's 47-space surface parking lot on Garden Avenue as well as a parcel of land immediately east that the University already owns. The new garage will connect to the University's existing Garden Park Garage at 568 Garden Ave. The structure, which will add about 60 spaces to Nerinx Hall's parking capacity and include 500 spaces for the University, will be the same height and approximately the same size as the University's existing parking facility.

The full text of the news release appears below:

Nerinx Hall High School and Webster University Partner to Resolve Parking Issues

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 18, 2012 – Longtime Webster Groves neighbors Nerinx Hall High School and Webster University have reached a joint agreement that will help to resolve parking issues for both institutions and the community by adding easily accessible parking for both Nerinx Hall and Webster University, and by alleviating the amount of street parking in surrounding Webster Groves neighborhoods.

Webster University will construct a parking garage on the site of Nerinx Hall's 47-space surface parking lot on Garden Avenue as well as a parcel of land immediately east that the University already owns. The new garage will connect to the University's existing Garden Park Garage at 568 Garden Ave. The structure, which will add about 60 spaces to Nerinx Hall's parking capacity, will be the same height and approximately the same size as the University's existing parking facility.

Construction is expected to begin in summer 2013.
The new garage will provide more than 100 parking spaces for Nerinx Hall and 500 spaces for Webster University. Construction on the project is expected to begin in summer 2013 with the garage fully operational by fall 2013.

"This new parking agreement is a huge win not only for Nerinx, but also for Webster University and the entire Webster Groves community," said Nerinx Hall High School President Barbara Roche, SL.

"Parking is a major concern for our families and having this additional parking space for Nerinx students is quite significant. An obvious advantage for the community as a whole is that the new garage will reduce student parking in our surrounding residential neighborhoods."

Webster University President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble reflected on this agreement, "As two educational institutions with a shared history, we have continued to flourish in our own distinctive ways while seeking ways to collaborate for the benefit of our educational missions and the communities we serve. I am grateful for Sr. Barbara Roche's leadership and partnership to alleviate parking pressures for both our institutions." In addition, President Stroble noted, "We know that we can best address our communities' problems by working together."

According to Julian Schuster, senior vice president and provost, improving parking was an important element of the university's newly released Master Plan, which was designed to support a growing student population on the Webster Groves campus. "Through rigorous campus space analysis, we specifically identified this as a strategic use of space that effectively assists both parties in solving parking issues," he said. "It's good for the entire community."

About Webster University

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University (www.webster.edu) is the only Tier 1, private, non-profit U.S.-based university providing a network of international residential campuses. Founded in 1915, Webster University's campus network today includes metropolitan, military and corporate locations around the world, as well as traditional residential campuses in Asia, Europe and North America. The university is committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.

About Nerinx Hall High School

Nerinx Hall, founded in 1924 by the Sisters of Loretto, is one of St. Louis' preeminent Catholic college-preparatory institutions for young women. Nerinx students strive for excellence, finding at Nerinx the tools they need for success: a strong academic program, diverse learning experiences, a dynamic educational community and opportunities for creative problem solving and community involvement. As our mission states, "Nerinx Hall believes that diversity enriches, that trust empowers, and that community unites in the education process." Nerinx Hall women recognize that the education they receive will have a strong, positive impact on their lives and the lives of others...they are confident, inspired and ready to make a difference in the world.

# # #