Greek Park development talks reach final phases

By Amanda Lee Anderson

Greek Park development talks reach final phases

The office for the Vice President of Student Affairs is planning the next and final phase of expansion of housing. This round of development is entitled Community Park, and will be located along Confederate Place (also known as Greek Row), as well as the yellow lot behind the Greek houses on Greek Row. The intent for this project is a residence hall space where Greeks and members of other RSOs may live together and have space where they can meet, study, and have social time.

The construction of the Community Park project will be made up of two phases. The first will be a large residence hall structure located in the parking lot behind Greek Row. The monthly rent in the structure will be approximately $700 per organization. Frank Mianzo, the director for Student Affairs Technology, said that some smaller student organizations may not be able to afford that rent, so the option will be available for two or three organizations to share meeting and dining space in the structure.

The second phase will include renovation of the existing Greek houses on Confederate Place and building new ones there for other interested organizations, both Greek and non-Greek. Rent in these buildings is as yet undecided. The current Greek organizations that have houses there have the option to renovate their houses or to keep them as they are. One important aspect of the renovation is to make sure that the houses are up-to-date with all fire and safety codes and have sprinklers and escape ladders from the second floors.

Groups wishing to be involved are being asked to make a financial commitment by February 2003. Mianzo said that no group has indicated a solid commitment yet, but it is still early in the planning phases, and all RSOs have been presented with information regarding Community Park housing. He indicted that the office of the Vice-President of Student Affairs hopes to make the campus a livelier place for students to live and visit.

It is clear that some organizations are hopeful that this will be a breakthrough for RSOs on campus. Lindsay Wehr, president of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, said, “I think the Greek system has proven what a powerful force they can be, so it would be great for the university to recognize that and work hand-in-hand [with Greeks and RSOs] to plan something that will be advantageous to everyone.”