Spring Break
University pushes fraternities to sign leases
MIMI ENSLEY
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
University officials still are waiting to receive lease agreements from the fraternities planning to move into Greek Park in August.
The four fraternities - Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Tau Epsilon Phi and Sigma Nu - received lease agreements for review in the first week of April, said Tim Burgess, senior vice president for finance and administration.
"We're racing to try to get those leases," Burgess said at a meeting of the University Real Estate Foundation on Tuesday.
Burgess said the fraternities were concerned with the language of the agreement, not the general terms of the deal.
"It's just a matter of getting the term sheet into a legal format that can work as a lease," Burgess said.
But there is a contingency plan in case the fraternities choose not to sign. Rodney Bennett, vice president for student affairs, is confident he could fill the houses with students in the fall, Burgess said.
"That's not what we want," Burgess said. "That's not our desire, but that's our fall back."
If the lease agreements fall through, the houses also could go to "other fraternities who don't have houses but who use space in some of our dorms," Burgess said.
Groundbreaking of the Greek Park project began last fall after the fraternities were relocated from their Lumpkin Street addresses.
The fraternities agreed to a 30-year lease with the option to renew for 30 more years, Burgess said.
"Sigma Nu is just champing at the bit to get in," he said.
The Foundation also discussed changes to the design of the new parking decks on campus.
The decks will provide space for approximately 900 cars.
"We're adding elements to increase the physical attractiveness of the decks," said Eric Orbock, president of the Foundation. The Foundation plans to add brick detail on the stair towers of both the Intramural Field deck and the Performing Arts Center deck, said Krista Coleman-Silvers, project manager. A canopy connecting the exit of the PAC deck with the entrance of the Center will also be added, she said.
The additions will not increase the overall project budget for the decks.
The new East Campus residence hall, which will house 550 students, is expected to open in fall 2010. Construction will begin shortly after exams, Orbock said. The Medical Partnership Building, scheduled to open on June 1, and Tate II are also on track, Coleman-Silvers said. The Tate Expansion will have a "soft opening" in June for orientation.
The four fraternities - Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Tau Epsilon Phi and Sigma Nu - received lease agreements for review in the first week of April, said Tim Burgess, senior vice president for finance and administration.
"We're racing to try to get those leases," Burgess said at a meeting of the University Real Estate Foundation on Tuesday.
Burgess said the fraternities were concerned with the language of the agreement, not the general terms of the deal.
"It's just a matter of getting the term sheet into a legal format that can work as a lease," Burgess said.
But there is a contingency plan in case the fraternities choose not to sign. Rodney Bennett, vice president for student affairs, is confident he could fill the houses with students in the fall, Burgess said.
"That's not what we want," Burgess said. "That's not our desire, but that's our fall back."
If the lease agreements fall through, the houses also could go to "other fraternities who don't have houses but who use space in some of our dorms," Burgess said.
Groundbreaking of the Greek Park project began last fall after the fraternities were relocated from their Lumpkin Street addresses.
The fraternities agreed to a 30-year lease with the option to renew for 30 more years, Burgess said.
"Sigma Nu is just champing at the bit to get in," he said.
The Foundation also discussed changes to the design of the new parking decks on campus.
The decks will provide space for approximately 900 cars.
"We're adding elements to increase the physical attractiveness of the decks," said Eric Orbock, president of the Foundation. The Foundation plans to add brick detail on the stair towers of both the Intramural Field deck and the Performing Arts Center deck, said Krista Coleman-Silvers, project manager. A canopy connecting the exit of the PAC deck with the entrance of the Center will also be added, she said.
The additions will not increase the overall project budget for the decks.
The new East Campus residence hall, which will house 550 students, is expected to open in fall 2010. Construction will begin shortly after exams, Orbock said. The Medical Partnership Building, scheduled to open on June 1, and Tate II are also on track, Coleman-Silvers said. The Tate Expansion will have a "soft opening" in June for orientation.
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