AL-Huntsville moves toward 'frat row' for 2006

[hoosier]

UAH moves toward 'frat row' for 2006

Saturday, April 09, 2005

By KENNETH KESNER
Times Staff Writer kesner@htimes.com

Trustees approve revised plans; chancellor calls for restored state funds

The University of Alabama in Huntsville took another step toward opening a "fraternity row" in fall 2006 when University of Alabama trustees approved revised plans for the fraternity and sorority houses during a meeting Friday on the Huntsville campus.

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Private donors, both corporate and individual, have helped tremendously with campus capital improvement, he said, including the planned UAH Fraternity and Sorority Complex.

Greek housing

The Greek housing plans now call for more of a fraternity "loop" than a row, with the first four or five houses set along a landscaped circle off John Wright Drive, south of the University Fitness Center, said Ray Pinner, UAH vice president for finance and administration. They will share a traditional, white-columns-and-brick look, but UAH will work with the groups to give each house its own identity.

Originally there were to be four 12-bedroom houses set along a street. But as designs were developed, 10-bedroom houses worked out better and were preferred by the Greek organizations, Pinner said. Revised plans also call for better landscaping and parking.

Anonymous donors pledged $1.2 million for the four-house project, but an additional donation of $1.25 million has been offered if there is enough fraternity and sorority participation to build five houses.

The revised budget for up to five houses is $4.6 million, with the donations accounting for $2.5 million and UAH physical plant funds making up the balance.

If only four houses are built, the budget is $3.3 million, with includes $1.2 million in gifts and UAH providing the balance.

Four of UAH's six fraternities and two of the four sororities have signed agreements of understanding, Pinner said. They must guarantee to fill the houses and come up with more than $50,000 in deposits for rent and furnishings, among other conditions, to qualify.