CSUS Foundation President Matthew Altier and Associated Students Inc. President Joshua Wood are promoting a project that could result in a Sacramento State Greek row.

Greek Adviser Tom Carroll and Student Activities Director Lou Cameron are both excited for this project, but they realize this is only the beginning of a process that still has many details to be worked out. The City of Sacramento requires a special use permit to override an ordinance that restricts Greek housing in the city’s parameters. The ordinance was an amendment that was made in 1993 in order to eliminate problems related to Greek housing.

Wood said any specific date regarding the ground breaking of construction of a Greek row is unclear. He is pushing to make Greek housing part of Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez’s plans for Destination 2010.

“We are putting together concrete plans for Greek row before presenting them to President Gonzalez,” Wood said. “He has been very supportive of all of our projects this year.”

Altier and Wood met Oct. 13 with fraternity and sorority members, the Greek adviser, the director of student activities, the administrative coordinator of the CSUS Foundation, the coordinator of alcohol education and Greek alumni to discuss plans for the addition of a Greek row at Sac State.

The project, which at this point has confirmed interest from nearly 20 fraternities and sororities, is in developing stages where Wood and Altier are investigating ways to satisfy all parties’ interests. Building a Greek row is dependent upon positive results from these meetings along with a survey that all organizations involved must submit Friday.

“If we get good data and potential, I can crunch some numbers to see the probability,” Altier said. “Then I will talk with developers to discuss all possible options and work closely with the developer to find the best possible design.”

Altier and Wood are also examining the fraternities and sororities to determine if they can afford to own or lease a house on Greek row. Houses will cost an estimated $300,000 to $500,000 depending on common space and the organizations’ desires.

Sac State is not directly buying the property for a Greek row, and it is currently unclear who will financially support the project. The CSUS Foundation has considered purchasing the land but has not made any official financial commitment. The developer of the recently constructed Jefferson Commons apartment complex has also shown interest in developing a Greek row.

Wood said purchasing and developing land for Greek housing is a financial commitment that will require an investment of millions of dollars. If the CSUS Foundation bought the land, it would have the choice to develop the Greek row or to hire a third party developer. The developer of the project must prepare a way to make housing affordable for all organizations, large and small.

“The pieces are all coming together,” Wood said. “Once we get information back from the Greeks, we can examine all possibilities and approach organizations with all feasible options.”

The project is intended to attract not only large organizations that can afford to purchase a house, but smaller organizations with less financial freedom as well.

Wood said ASI is willing to invest in Greek row by providing financial assistance to organizations that cannot afford to live in Greek row and ensuring that the project works for all parties.

Some fraternities are questioning the possibility of affording such a large financial commitment. Jimmy MacDonald, Tau Kappa Epsilon IFC delegate, said that TKE has already contacted its nationals to discuss plans for Greek housing.

“It is definitely something we can afford to purchase,” MacDonald said. “Seclusion would be the result for any organization that could not afford to.”

Pi Kappa Alpha, a smaller organization, does not possess the financial resources that some of the larger organizations do. The fraternity is interested in owning property on Greek row but is unsure of a budget that may not accommodate. Ben Myers, Pi Kappa Alpha IFC delegate, questions if Greek row would be in the best interest of his fraternity, especially with such a financial obligation.

“We are currently our own landlord and do not have to answer to anyone,” Myers said. “A Greek row would enforce rules, regulations, and maintenance issues that would cause a bad turnout. Police actions may also be something we consider before making any commitments.”

Mike Frey, IFC delegate for Phi Delta Theta, also questions if a residence at Greek row is a possibility for his fraternity.

“I haven’t really looked into it, but I know headquarters would not financially support us because we are a small chapter,” Frey said. “We do not have much alumni money dedicated to Greek housing.”

Leasing possibilities could solve some financial issues related to lack of participation. Wood believes that leases would be very much similar to that of an apartment, thus accommodating smaller organizations. He said purchasing property would allow organizations to make an investment that could potentially prove to be rewarding.

Panhellenic President Colleen Ripchick said renting would restrict residents from some financial benefits and could also potentially require Sac State to impose stricter regulations on some policies.

“The ideal situation would allow bigger organizations to lease to own or to purchase the property while also allowing smaller organizations an option to lease for a semester or year at a time,” Ripchick said. “Feasibly, no organization’s house corporations would be interested in leasing on an extremely temporary basis.”

The Greek row planning committee will be meeting again Monday to discuss plans to alleviate problems or concerns and to expose the wants and needs of Greeks and ASI regarding a Greek row.