Campus awaits further word on Greek Row re-development
Kate Galbreath
Daily Egyptian
Though a move is slated for SIUC Greek organizations housed on campus,
the number of new structures to be built remains uncertain.
While two buildings, Barber and Caldwell halls, were razed in March,
construction on the Thompson Point residence hall building additions and
new sorority and fraternity houses intended to fill the space has not
yet begun.
The new Greek Row buildings will be rebuilt west of their current
location near the Law School on the west side of campus.
Greek Row Manager Arnold Ross said he does not know the current status
of the plans for Greek Row's development. He said there have been two
meetings to discuss the future, but he has not attended either.
"There's been some talk about what will happen," he said. "But I don't
know."
In the 2004 University Housing Master Plan, the "Living/Learning
Community" provision calls for additional Thompson Point buildings to
accommodate growing interest in living in that area of campus, which is
on Campus Lake and surrounded by Thompson Woods. Phase I of the project
will add "120 double rooms and 160 single rooms that would house a total
of 400 students in a facility of 133,000 gross square feet. Phase II
would add another 153,500 square feet with 400 single rooms bringing the
total housing capacity for the complex to 800," according to the plan.
A new dining hall will also be added to the expanded Thompson Point
area.
Vice Chancellor Larry Dietz said the decisions concerning Greek Row are
second or third in line of the nine-project Master Plan.
"At one time, the urgency centered on whether or not we were going to
move people out as early as next fall," Dietz said. "We're having some
continuing discussions. We're winding down the semester, and we've held
off any discussions until February.
"The issue is what we do between now and the time we would get out of
Greek Row."
The current houses, occupied by four sororities and one fraternity, with
one vacancy left when the Alpha Tau Omegas moved off-campus, are 40
years old.
Katie Sermersheim, adviser of InterGreek Council, said Greek Row
development would be considered after they finish building the apartment
complex at the corner of Wall and Grand streets.
"It's approved as part of the land use plan, but now it just has to fall
in line," she said. "The details are yet to be worked out, and as soon
as next semester, we'll start asking questions.
"Out of the 26 fraternities and sororities on campus, we will ask how
many are interested in living there."
The last major residential housing development on the West Campus was
Thompson Point, which was built from 1953 to 1968.
The Pharmacy will move out of Beimfohr Hall, and the rest of the Health
Services divisions will leave Kesnar Hall vacant. The other occupant of
Beimfohr Hall, the Army ROTC, has no immediate plans to move.
"What they told me was we would not move for a couple years," Lt. Col.
James Shutt said. "They understand what our requirements are, and we're
not going to be moving for a few years."
Phil Gatton, director of the Physical Plant, said there has not been any
physical progress since the demolition of Barber and Caldwell halls.
"[Vice Chancellor Larry Dietz] has been looking at different things over
there, and the big issue is they have to redo the sprinkler system in a
few years," he said.
He said there has been discussion about the project since the 2004
Master Plan was approved, but he is not aware of future actions in the
Greek Row area.
Sermersheim said she feels optimistic about future considerations for
Greek Row but has not been informed of a definite deadline.
[Macro error: Can't include because the file is larger than 32767 characters.]
Today's News | Sports | Voices - Editorial | Letters
Newsbriefs | pulse - Arts & Entertainment | Calendar | Photo Staff
Apts & Rentals | Photo Personals | Live DE NewsCam | Classified Ads
Last update: Friday, December 10, 2004 at 4:44:31 PM
Copyright 2009 Daily Egyptian
|
Daily Egyptian 
