Phi Kappa Psi fraternity moving out of house:
Safety reasons cited
David Weible
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News
After the conclusion of this spring semester, the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity will move out of their long time residence on the corner of West College and North Wittenberg Avenue, potentially for good.
This past fall, after their annual visit to ensure all Greek houses on Wittenberg's campus individually meet fire and safety codes, the Springfield Fire Department determined that the Phi Psi house did not meet those standards.
"The Fire Department was on the verge of forcing them to move out," said John Paulson of Physical Plant.
According to the lease of the university-owned house the Phi Psi's are responsible for any and all upkeep and maintenance issues. However, the university budgeted $15,000 for temporary repairs to enable the fraternity to live in the house for the rest of the year.
"We didn't want the academic performance of the residents to be affected," said Casey Stevens, Wittenberg's director of Greek life.
Completely independent of the Fire Department's assessment and prompted by the questions and complaints of the Phi Psi's themselves about the physical state of the house, a walkthrough was made by Paulson and Karen Beasley of Beasley Architecture and Design this past fall.
"It was a number of problems really," said Brad Folta, the president of Phi Kappa Psi. "Structural and electrical issues were the two main things."
After a full assessment, it was determined that in order for the Phi Psi's to maintain their residency, the house needed at least $800,000 in repairs. Although the lease once again stipulated that the repairs were the responsibility of the fraternity and not the University, "I don't think either group is to blame," said Stevens.
Paulson said, "The reason that the cost of repairs is so high is that once you get into a certain level of renovation, you have to meet several different codes."
The university has selected a five-man student rental for the fraternity members to use, if they should so choose.
As far as eventually obtaining another fraternity house, Folta noted, "We've just begun reaching out to our alumni and establishing an alumni house board. We're also establishing a fraternity committee for finding and renting another house."
"It may be kind of a blessing in disguise," concluded Folta, "because the house was such a dump. It will give us a better place to live and operate, and kind of boost fraternity morale."
This past fall, after their annual visit to ensure all Greek houses on Wittenberg's campus individually meet fire and safety codes, the Springfield Fire Department determined that the Phi Psi house did not meet those standards.
"The Fire Department was on the verge of forcing them to move out," said John Paulson of Physical Plant.
According to the lease of the university-owned house the Phi Psi's are responsible for any and all upkeep and maintenance issues. However, the university budgeted $15,000 for temporary repairs to enable the fraternity to live in the house for the rest of the year.
"We didn't want the academic performance of the residents to be affected," said Casey Stevens, Wittenberg's director of Greek life.
Completely independent of the Fire Department's assessment and prompted by the questions and complaints of the Phi Psi's themselves about the physical state of the house, a walkthrough was made by Paulson and Karen Beasley of Beasley Architecture and Design this past fall.
"It was a number of problems really," said Brad Folta, the president of Phi Kappa Psi. "Structural and electrical issues were the two main things."
After a full assessment, it was determined that in order for the Phi Psi's to maintain their residency, the house needed at least $800,000 in repairs. Although the lease once again stipulated that the repairs were the responsibility of the fraternity and not the University, "I don't think either group is to blame," said Stevens.
Paulson said, "The reason that the cost of repairs is so high is that once you get into a certain level of renovation, you have to meet several different codes."
The university has selected a five-man student rental for the fraternity members to use, if they should so choose.
As far as eventually obtaining another fraternity house, Folta noted, "We've just begun reaching out to our alumni and establishing an alumni house board. We're also establishing a fraternity committee for finding and renting another house."
"It may be kind of a blessing in disguise," concluded Folta, "because the house was such a dump. It will give us a better place to live and operate, and kind of boost fraternity morale."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Cleveland Movers
posted 5/01/09 @ 3:58 PM EST
This really does end up being a blessing in disguise for them because it makes more sense to build a new house than to spend all that money renovating the old one. (Continued…)
resume writer service
posted 11/26/09 @ 4:48 AM EST
Thanks for the news!
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posted 12/07/09 @ 2:57 AM EST
According to the lease of the university-owned house the Phi Psi's are responsible for any and all upkeep and maintenance issues.
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