Quote:
Originally Posted by ASUADPi
I haven't been back to the campus in 4+ years but the last time I was there there where a couple of frat houses that were "available" as the chapters were no longer on campus. I guess a sorority could always "buy" one of the frat houses and fix it up, probably would be cheaper than building one. I'm not even sure where they would build.
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Not going to happen.
There is no available land on campus to build. The fraternities are holding tight on their properties. The last two available lots were sold to Sigma Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon, both of whom built very nice facilities last year. With no parking for the occupants.
It's about parking lots, and real estate prices.
An idea that's been bandied about is to buy a property on Park, just off campus, and build a high-rise and sell or lease floors to sororities and fraternities. There are at least three high rises off Park and Speedway now since your last visit to Tucson (ugly monstrosities, ruined the West University neighborhood). The problem is location, location, location. Being competitive at UofA means owning something on 1st or 2nd, between Mountain and Campbell (actually, Cherry for the sororities. AXO has struggled and part of the reason is the location of their house - east of Cherry, almost to Campbell. The PNMs don't like walking that far in the August heat, although they sure beat tracks to the fraternity houses that are around AXO).
It would take a massive culture shift to accept alternative housing. In the meantime, the chapters are (seeingly) just fine with those huge NM classes. We shall see what the tipping point is, and when it comes, I'll be on the sofa with my soda and popcorn.