house?

[BSUPhiSig'92]

Make sure that any house that you might consider buying is properly zoned for a chapter house. The Sigma Nu chapter at Ball State bought a house years ago on the word of their realtor that it was zoned for fraternity/sorority housing (it was on the same block as the SAE house, just on a different corner. It turned out that their property was not zoned for fraternity/sorority housing and the city wouldn't grant them a variance. They weren't allowed to put up a sign or letters, and when they went to paint their letters on the door of their garage, the neighbors complained immediately and the city made them paint it over! At SIUE, the city of Edwardsville has their zoning ordinances locked up pretty tight to keep out any additional fraternity/sorority houses. The only chapter with a house is Sig Ep, and they got that through a combination of a grandfather clause and some wheelin' & dealin' negotiations with the city. So make sure that you check zoning maps on any property before you rent or buy!!!