A two-year journey ended at 216 E. Rosemary St.
For the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi, moving into their house was the tangible result of a painstaking effort to return to UNC.
Pi Kappa Phi closed its doors and gave back its charter in 2004 after its national organization said recruitment was too small and hazing policies had been violated.
Members said their distance from campus was a factor in low membership. Their last house was on Finley Golf Course Road, about two miles from campus.
Last spring, the fraternity earned a new charter after proving to the University that they were viable. The 55 members then started talking about finding a house.
Chapter President Todd Stacy said the purchase of their home was finalized in early June. Out of 23 Interfraternity Council fraternities, 17 have houses on campus.
“What we’ve accomplished in the past two years, for most frats, is unheard of,” said Blake Zanardi, chapter secretary and house manager. “We went from meeting in the basement of a dorm to having, in my opinion, one of the nicest houses on campus.”
This fall, brothers said having a house has made the rush process easier.
Recruitment chair Patrick Ryan said having a house helped them bring in 24 out of their 28 bids this year.