|
The stink of this disgrace keeps on growing.
Everyone should rise up against this at the General Assembly this summer.
Shame on Lambda Chi Alpha in General.
Despite commission vote, MSU fraternity members vow to continue battle for house
Published: 03/10 10:31pm
By: Zane McMillin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members of MSU’s chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity said they will continue to fight plans to turn the fraternity’s house in an apartment complex after the East Lansing Planning Commission approved a developer’s request to do so Wednesday night.
The East Lansing Planning Commission voted 5-1 to approve a site plan request from a Troy-based developer that would convert the fraternity house, located at 128 Collingwood Drive, into apartment housing.
The issue now moves to the East Lansing City Council for approval or denial.
Fraternity members, joined by members of the Lambda Chi Alpha local housing corporation, said they were disappointed by the commission’s decision.
Dan Shupe, president of Lambda Chi Alpha, said fraternity members would continue to garner community opposition to the development plans. He said fraternity members also plan to speak at the council meeting.
“It sucks that it didn’t go our way,” Shupe said. “We’re going to continue to try to reach out to anyone in the community to speak before (city officials).”
During Wednesday’s meeting, allegations of mismanagement by Lambda Chi Alpha’s national fraternity were brought up as reasons why the commission should not approve the development. Members also said the development plans would diminish the 83-year-old house’s historical value.
Eric Novak, director of the fraternity’s local housing corporation, said the national fraternity bought the property from his organization in 1993. Novak said the national fraternity then sold the property in 2003 to a nonprofit called Lambda Chi Alpha Properties, which has signed an agreement to sell the fraternity house to developer Dale Inman.
Novak said the national fraternity breached its contract with the local housing corporation because it failed to notify the corporation in writing of its intent to sell.
He said although he does not want to pursue a legal battle over plans to sell the site, it remains an option.
“We will talk with our legal counsel and see what actions we have available to us to prevent this from occurring,” Novak said.
Planning commission members who approved of the site plan said it was not the commission’s place to oppose the plans because of alleged mismanagement during the selling process.
“I sympathize with the residents of this home,” commissioner Emily Fleury said. “That said, I do think it’s not within the planning commission’s purview because of a dispute over the fairness or unfairness of the sale.”
Commissioner Lynsey Clayton, who voted against approving the site plan application, said the developer’s intentions of adding on 1,980 square feet to the back of the fraternity house violates city code. Clayton also said the lack of viable options for alternate housing for the fraternity’s members led her to oppose the proposal.
“I don’t feel comfortable displacing these students,” Clayton said. “(They don’t) have a place to go to thrive and continue to benefit our community.”
Tim Schmitt, an East Lansing community development analyst, said the city likely will not have a hand in relocating fraternity members to a new location. Schmitt said there are scant relocation options for fraternity members.
“The situation we find ourselves in is we’re not real estate agents,” Schmitt said. “We’re put in an awkward position. There’s not a lot that we can do.”
Inman said he was pleased with the commission’s decision to approve the site plan and said his purchase agreement with Lambda Chi Alpha Properties is justified.
“Unfortunately it’s something that’s not just occurred over the last couple of months, it’s been something that’s occurred over the last few years,” Inman said. “And if we were not the ones to do it this year, someone else would be the one to do it next year or the year after.”
|