Due to the high cost involved in installing new sprinklers and revamping old houses, some fraternities have had to give up their homes.
The Chapel Hill Town Council passed an ordinance in 1996 mandating that all fraternity and sorority houses install sprinkler systems by November 2001. The requirement was prompted by a 1996 fire in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house that killed five students.
As of now, all houses not under construction have met the requirements.
Jay Anhorn, director of Greek affairs, said that the sprink ler systems themselves range in cost from $50,000 to $80,000 and that the renovations can bring the total for each house to about $1 million.
The Sigma Nu fraternity house at 109 Fraternity Court is closed, and the chapter is inactive. Anhorn said the Sigma Nu alumni decided to close the house and the chapter but hope to reorganize in fall 2003. He said the house will probably be rented out to other fraternities until then.
The Pi Lambda Phi fraternity has not lost its chapter but has lost its house, located at 107 Fraternity Court. The house has been sold to Guy Solie, head of the realty company Trinity Properties, who owns several houses around Duke University and N.C. State University.
Solie plans to divide the house into six air-conditioned suites with amenities like Internet connections. He said the house will not be a fraternity house but could be rented by individual fraternity members. "The dorms are deplorable, and I'm horrified that all the dorms don't have air conditioning," Solie said. "I have a vision for University housing in 2002."
Construction on the house will probably be finished this fall, but the house will not open until the spring, Solie said.
Pi Lambda Phi is still an active chapter, even though it had to give up its house. The members are living around Chapel Hill, said K.C. Carter, the fraternity's president.
