Although the new Meridian High School building opened last year, not all the construction on campus is complete. Construction will begin over the current senior parking lot sometime in late March. The space currently occupied by the senior lot and grounds of the old building will be turned into retail and housing construction.

Seniors who park in the current senior lot will be moved to the “trapezoid lot,” which lies in front of Mary Ellen Henderson. Teachers will park in the front area of the lot, while students will park in the back spots. Upon dismissal, students who drive will have to wait until approximately 3:10 p.m. to turn directly out of the parking lot and onto Route 7. 

“You can’t make a left on dismissal, just on that time,” Associate Principal Dave Serensits said. “If you wait a little bit, you can again.” 

With the closure of the current senior lot, construction will begin on the West Falls Development Project. The area occupied by the current senior lot will be turned into retail, residential areas, affordable housing, senior housing, and large open spaces designed for community gathering over the course of the project. 

The plan also includes the construction of two shared parking garages, which will eventually be open to parking for MHS students once they are completed.

Phase one of the construction is scheduled to be completed by 2025, and will involve the construction of rental apartments, for-sale condos, senior housing, office buildings, and retail space, as well as civic and open spaces.

The dates for the second phase of the project have not been determined yet, although construction will start after the first phase is complete. The further construction will entail office and retail space, as well as condos.