Numerous changes happened in Greektown during the short months between the Spring 2013 and Fall 2013 semesters. Big cranes hoisting big beams completed big housing renovation projects for several fraternities and sororities.
Chi Omega’s brand new house nestled next to Delta Gamma is perhaps the most obvious edition to Greek Town.
“We absolutely loved the old 406 Burnam, but it was time to restart fresh,” Chi Omega President Jennie Levine said.
Standing tall at three stories, the Chi Omega house holds 92 members and features an underground parking garage, fire sprinkler system and a state-of-the-art twelve-camera security system.
“(The house) cost a lot, but you can’t put a price on Chi Omega’s safety and security,” Levine said. “The existing properties were not going to be cost effective to install fire sprinkler systems. We wanted to invest the funds it would have taken to retrofit-older properties into one new home with the most up to date systems and security.”
Alpha Tau Omega is moving into Chi Omega’s old location at 909 Richmond Ave., and the members of Alpha Tau Omega are grateful to have a central location on campus.
“Being back on campus and under one roof will help us hit the ground running with everything we have already started the past two years,” Alpha Tau Omega member Conor Montgomery said.
The house holds 82 members and renovations include new individual study areas in the library, new kitchen equipment and furniture, lofted rooms and repainted walls. Work to the house was done by members during the summer.
“It makes the guys feel more appreciation and respect towards the house because they are the ones doing the work on it,” Alpha Tau Omega President Zac Revermann said. “It’s nice to finally have a place we can all call home.”
After just one year of colonizing at MU, Sigma Kappa will be moving into their renovated home previously owned by Pi Kappa Phi. The entire inside of the house was renovated to include new drywall, carpet, floors and windows, and will hold close to 65 members.
“Literally everything has been renovated to look newer and brighter, like a sorority should,” said Jamie Stanley, Sigma Kappa vice president of communications. “These changes will benefit the chapter because we will have a central meeting place and hang out for all the sisters, a place for the girls to feel comfortable at, and an awesome home for the sisters who will live in it. We can hold certain activities in the house as well as host meals which will be an awesome way for all our sisters to bond.”
Staying on track with their multi-million dollar, three-step facility plan, phase two will be complete by the fall semester, providing a 72 car parking garage and annex for Alpha Gamma Sigma in addition to their apartment completed last summer in phase one. Each room in the annex and apartment has its own closet and bathroom along with each floor having its own laundry room.
“We wanted to keep more junior and senior members on campus to be more involved in the house and its leadership,” Alpha Gamma Sigma President Alec Boente said.
The third phase of the plan includes the building of a chapter house to be completed once the funds for it have been raised. The features and design of the new chapter house are currently being drafted.
