Top of Lenoir could expand

The University is considering plans to expand the Top of Lenoir dining hall as part of a long-term renovation of campus dining facilities.

Scott Myers, director of food and vending at UNC, said the plan would address overcrowding, which has been a problem for several years during peak hours at the dining hall. The plan calls for about 200 more seats to be added to the building’s second floor.

“Dining for students that live on campus is just such an integral part of their campus experience,” he said. “If they have problems with getting in, getting their food, sitting down and eating a nutritious meal, then that’s a problem.”

The plan to increase seating in Top of Lenoir to about 850 seats is part of an estimated $18 million plan to improve campus dining facilities.

The addition — which is projected to cost about $5 million — would close the open-air space next to Mediterranean Deli.

Myers said another $1.5 million will go toward the development of a 24-hour dining area in the bottom of the Student Union, where the copy center currently operates.

The rest of the money will be spent on replacing office space with additional seating in the basement of Lenoir.

The plan will be funded by a proposed student dining debt fee increase and dining operational revenues — the money that is received from providing dining services after expenses.

“If we don’t get the fee increase, it will just take longer to do things,” Myers said. He said he hopes to complete the plan in five years.

The $18.25 fee increase is being considered by the student fee advisory subcommittee on Friday. Even if it receives approval from that group, it must be approved by higher administrative levels, including the Board of Trustees and the UNC-system Board of Governors.

Myers said he first noticed an overcrowding problem during the fall 2007.

The decision to renovate Lenoir follows a year-long market analysis by the MarketMatch team, which studied dining options throughout the entire campus. The findings of this study will be presented to student leaders and UNC administrators Oct. 19.

The original plan to address overcrowding was to construct a new dining facility, which Myers said was not feasible.

“There’s nowhere to put another facility,” he said. “It’s kind of a quagmire.”

The current design of the proposed Lenoir renovation costs $300,000 to develop.

Student responses about the possible renovation were mixed.

Junior Rock DiSanto said the addition of new space would be welcome, especially if it had a view of the lower quad.

“I’ve had to walk around,” he said. “I can find a seat, but not always quickly.”

But some students were apprehensive about the renovation.

“They could certainly use the extra space, but it’s not something I’d like to see during the school year,” said freshman Sean Sullivan.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.