Fraternity Plans to sell house, downsize
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 01:12 p.m., March 24, 2008
Updated 01:12 p.m., March 24, 2008
Photo by Carly Pearson
The Sigma Pi fraternity house is for sale. The fraternity members are looking for a smaller house to live in.
When it comes to its fraternity house, Emporia State University’s chapter of Sigma Pi has decided that if you can’t fill it, sell it.
The Sigma Pi house at 1621 Merchant Street went on the market earlier this month as part of a plan to reorganize the fraternity, according to Justin Sharples, the president of the Alumni Association of Epsilon-Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Pi.
Sharples said in an e-mail that the decision to sell the house was made in January, but the fraternity waited until March to list the property to let as many alumni as possible know that it was going on the market.
“Our current house is over 12,000 square feet and sleeps 37 men,” Sharples said. “At this time, we feel it is unreasonable for us to expect to recruit and retain enough men to maintain the property. Instead we feel it is best to liquidate the current property and reinvest in a smaller house.
“By purchasing a smaller house the men of Sigma Pi can focus on our core values of philanthropy and leadership.”
Sigma Pi’s 20 members are living in apartments until the fraternity can purchase a smaller property, Sharples said.
Jamie Sauder, the Re/Max realtor handling the sale, said the fraternity house’s close proximity to the ESU campus gives it a great deal of value. He said there had been interest in the house from several different individuals and groups.
“As far as the use of the building itself, it’s somewhat obsolete in its current layout as far as being a dormitory-style building,” Sauder said. “But the opportunity to retrofit the building and turn it into an apartment complex, or something like that, probably presents a very good opportunity for a prospective developer.”
Sauder said there were an unlimited number of possibilities for the building’s use, including office space and classrooms.
Sigma Pi had been in residence at the property since 1988, Sharples said.
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
Posted by tosie (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
that's sad- when I was at ESU and was in sorority the Sigma Pi fraternity was always full and we had great times there. I wonder why they couldn't get a full house recruited? They were always a strong house....
Posted by sciguy (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ESU needs a formal "Greek Row". Of course, it would be a short row, but still, it would be nice.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Greeks at Emporia/Washburn size colleges are near dead. At this time they have little appeal.
Posted by Thanos377 (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know a few Sig Pi's and though I am an Alumnus of another Fraternity at ESU, I'm confident and hopeful they'll bounce back.
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on March 25, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Interest/membership in the greek community has an ebb/flow effect; it rises and lowers from one decade to the next. In the 1950's and 1960's, the numbers soared. In the 1970's, the numbers dropped, just to rebound with the 1980's and through the mid-1990's. Right now, the numbers are steady. No one can predict the future.
As an alumnus of another brotherhood on the Emporia State campus, Phi Delta Theta, I can say the Sig Pis always gave us a good run for a our money; philantrophy, academics and atheltics. I don't see this change at the Sigma Pi house as anything to be worrisome about. They will rebound. Right now, it sounds like they are just restructuring. I wish them well.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)