Phase IV Project

  • Greek Residence Site Plan

    This link contains a more detailed site plan of the proposed lots for Phase IV housing.
    Greek Residences Site Plan 2-1

     

     
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    "Virginia Tech looks to expand Oak Lane on-campus community for Greek organizations," The Roanoke Times, March 30, 2010, By Tonia Moxley | 540-381-1675


    The first phase of the approved expansion plan for Virginia Tech's Greek housing includes space for five new buildings that could house up to 220 students.
     
    An expansion of Greek housing at Virginia Tech would offer more on-campus living space and could help calm tensions between permanent residents and college students in Blacksburg neighborhoods.
     
    The plan, approved by the Tech's board of visitors last week, would expand the on-campus Oak Lane Community near the Duck Pond from 13 buildings to up to 30 at final buildout.
     
    Currently, Oak Lane accommodates 12 sororities and four fraternities in 13 buildings.
     
    The first phase of the approved expansion plan includes space for five new buildings that could house up to 220 students. The $2 million to $4 million structures could be customized and would be built adjacent to the Tech golf course under a cost-sharing agreement between the university and the organizations.
     
    Construction will be funded through university construction bonds, with the Greek chapters contributing about a third of the total cost as a tax-deductible contribution to the Tech Foundation.
     
    Students living in the new buildings would pay a housing fee similar to those living in newer dorms. Oak Lane is part of the university's student-housing network.
     
    At least three Greek organizations must commit to the project before construction can begin, and a handful have already shown interest.
     
    Sigma Phi Epsilon is moving forward with preliminary plans to build in the new development.
     
    "The alumni board has been working with the university for several years to improve the Greek system at Tech," said Bill Thomas of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
     
    The chapter has about 60 student members, seven of whom live in the group's 100-plus-year-old house on Clay Street in Blacksburg.
     
    Given its age, maintenance costs and design as a single-family home, it has never been ideal as housing for fraternity members. A new, customized building that could house more of the chapter's members could strengthen the organization, Thomas said.
     
    The group has yet to sign a lease with Tech, but is looking at hiring an architect and builder.
    "We know this is going to be a win-win for the university and the fraternity and the Greek system as a whole," Thomas said.
     
    Moving fraternity housing out of Blacksburg neighborhoods could also help with another problem: reducing the perennial lifestyle conflicts between students and permanent residents.
     
    Complaints about noise, parties and litter can become a drain on the local police force and town staff that field the complaints, as well as cause tensions between neighbors.
     
    "We are interested in building the strength of the Greek community by having more chapters housed on campus and, in the process, decreasing the number of chapters out in the local communities," Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Spencer wrote in an e-mail.
     
    And town officials are happy, too. Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam applauded the Oak Lane expansion plan.
    "For years we have been encouraging the university to build more Greek housing on campus," he said.
     
    Oak Lane was founded in 1983 and expanded in 1990 and 2001. Tech's Greek community comprises 65 nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities.

     
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    From The Collegiate Times
     "BOV to consider Oak Lane expansion"
    Thursday, March 18, 2010; 11:03 PM  
    by Gordon Block, news reporter
    An expansion of the Oak Lane community, along with changes to Virginia Tech’s weapons and interim suspension policies, are on the agenda as the university’s Board of Visitors meets this weekend.
     
    The Finance and Audit Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee are considering approval of a new Phase IV space to the Oak Lane community.

    The cost of the houses would be split between the Greek chapters and university. Greek chapters will pay about a third of the cost of the project to the Virginia Tech Foundation, while the university would take on the rest of the cost. The proposed houses would range in cost from about $2 million-$4 million each.

    “We won’t actually know that until the designs are completed, and we know what the corporations want to build,” said Sherwood Wilson, vice president of administrative services.

    Ed Spencer, vice president for student affairs, said that the expansion could be seen as a discount for the university.

    “It is the same thing as building a new residence hall,” Spencer said. “Instead of having the whole cost of project, we’ll save a third of the costs of each house.”

    Funding for the project will come from auxiliary revenue from Tech’s residential programs. The university hopes to get the Board’s approval for $23.5 million in support for the project.

    Tech would own the new houses, and the Greek chapters would be the primary residents of the houses. While a chapter losing its charter would lose its house, it would have the ability to regain it own house upon it reapproval. Currently, the three Greek chapters that have signed onto the space are Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and Beta Theta Pi.

    Robert Sowell, a junior economics major and president of Tech’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said the proposed move to an on-campus residency has sparked much debate between fraternity brothers. “There’s a lot of push back,” Sowell said. “We’ve been in our house for 40 years.”

    Sowell said the house’s age has impacted its value.

    “Being so old, it’s hard to justify continually putting money into the house,” Sowell said. “It’s like putting money into a black hole. We’re just not getting as much return out of it.”

    While only three chapters have formally expressed interest in the first space, the new Phase IV area at full capacity could hold 17 chapter houses. The proposed expansion of the Phase IV housing area may threaten the existence of the Virginia Tech Golf Course. While the newly proposed space can sustain five houses, any additional houses would stretch over to land used by the golf course, effectively ending the course’s use.

    “We’re trying to avoid doing that until we have to,” Spencer said.

    A member of Sigma Chi, Spencer said the proposed addition would bring a short-term increase in quality of life for Greek students, along with a long-term increase in alumni loyalty and contributions. “Greeks are the biggest donors of all,” Spencer said.

    The Student Affairs and Athletics Committee will consider two changes to university policy for students, one regarding the storage of ammunition in on-campus residence halls and the other based on the administration of interim suspensions.

    The proposed change to Tech’s weapons policy would bar students from storing ammunition in on-campus residence halls. Currently, students are not allowed to store firearms. The proposed change for ammunition would leave exceptions for the storage of BBs and paint balls. 

    The resolution would also prohibit the storage of stun weapons, defined as “any device that emits a momentary or pulsed output... designed to temporarily incapacitate a person.”

    Rohsaan Settle, associate director for the Office of Student Conduct, will make the proposal to the board and said it could be considered a matter of consistency.

    “The main point we’re focusing on is having ammunition stored with guns,” Settle said.

    Settle noted plans had been made to allow for students to store ammunition with Virginia Tech Police Department. The department currently offers storage for on-campus students’ firearms.

    “Now we have created a mechanism for ammo to be stored at VTPD, it allows us to move forward to this resolution,” Settle said.

    The proposed change has brought disapproval from student groups. Anderson Wise, a senior history major and president of the Pistol and Rifle club at Virginia Tech, opposed the resolution.

    “It feels like it completely inconveniences sportsmen who live on campus,” Wise said.

    Wise noted that many freshman members of his organization, along with many officers of the organization, live on-campus.

    Spencer said the issue of firearms and ammunition on campus was similar to the idea of pets in residence halls.

    “You can have a pet in an off-campus living situation, but you have to give that up to live on-campus,” Spencer said.

    Ken Stanton, a graduate student studying engineering education and founder of the Virginia Tech chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, said the rule chaange “has no reason behind it,” and that it was based on speculation on the danger of firearms. Stanton also worried a lack of storage space within VTPD would effectively ration student ammunition capacity.

    Changes to Tech’s interim suspension policy are also being considered. The plan would allow for university administrators to immediately remove students labeled a risk to themselves or others.

    In the past, students who had not been available for a hearing could not be processed through the system. Some examples of this include students who were incarcerated or were not able to be found.

    “This gives us the opportunity to continue the process while still allowing students the opportunity to schedule a hearing,” Settle said.

    Not on the agenda for the meeting is a discussion of Tech’s non-discrimination policy.

    The policy received attention following a letter from Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, which advised state schools to remove protections for gays from non-discrimination policies to comply with Virginia law, adding that only Virginia’s General Assembly could authorize their inclusion in such policies.

    The letter led to the issuing of Executive Directive 1 from Governor Bob McDonnell, which emphasized a “standard of conduct” prohibiting any discrimination, including those based on sexual orientation.  The Board of Visitors is the only university body that could change this policy.

    The board will also consider some building construction projects, the creation of a new research corporation, and compensation plans for graduate assistants. The Board of Visitor’s meetings will take place Mar. 21-22.
     
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    Virginia Tech Announces Phase IV Greek Village

     

    NEW UPDATE:  MARCH 12, 2010

     

    An email message from Dr. Ed Spencer . . . .

     

    Following our information session on February 27th about the Phase IV Fraternity and Sorority Housing Project, we have had a chance to review the alternative proposal presented by Mr. Don McNamara during the session. (you can temporarily view the video of the session at:  http://vbs.virginiatech.na4.acrobat.com/p52711711). The feedback we have received, particularly from those groups which have already applied for the Phase IV project, has been very much in favor of the alternative proposal.
     
    I am pleased to tell you that the University has developed a funding plan that can successfully support the first phase (five houses) of the Phase IV project by using the alternative proposal. The key elements of this project will be as follows:
     
         1. The Greek chapter/house corporation must make tax deductible contributions to the Virginia Tech Foundation of approximately 35.6% of the total project costs which will result in the Greek chapter supporting 1/3 of the total project cost for the house it wishes to have built, up to a maximum total cost of $4 million. The gifts will include the normal seven percent administration fee; thus, a $1 million amount for a $3 million house would need a total gift of $1,070,000 to cover all costs. Through debt financing, the University will provide the other 2/3 of the cost of each house as well as the infrastructure/site development costs.
     
         2. Each chapter will plan and design its own house, in partnership with the University, with a capacity of 32-44 beds which will be built to commercial and Commonwealth of Virginia construction standards with a likely range of $2 million to $4 million in total project costs.
     
         3. Each house will be owned by the University and will become part of the housing system in the same way that current Oak Lane houses are. However, the debt financing would not require residents to purchase dining plans. Chapters may elect to have their own in-house board plans or students may elect to purchase a dining plan.
     
         4. Residents will be charged individual room fees by the University which will be comparable to the room fees charged for our newer University facilities such as New Hall West. The actual rate will depend on the total facility cost and final bed count. Once the initial rate is established, room rates for Phase IV houses would increase in a manner consistent with any system-wide increase. It is estimated, but not guaranteed, that by the time these houses open, these academic year rates for a double room will be in the range of $5,200-$5,800, assuming the chapter/house corporation begins planning and construction in the timeframe required by the lease.  As is the case with the current Oak Lane houses, the chapter would be responsible for covering the costs of any vacancies in its house.
     
         5. The lease term will be 50 years (renewable once) and will require payments similar to current Oak Lane houses with the University covering all operating expenses, including the costs for live-in staff.
     
         6. Should a chapter lose its University recognition and have to vacate the house, the University would either lease the house to another organization or use it for other housing needs. However, the original chapter that donated towards the construction of the house would have the right to lease the house again once University recognition is restored and the chapter is capable of resuming the lease.
     
         7. Assuming the Board of Visitors approves the overall capital project at its meeting on March 22, planning work will begin. No physical site development work will begin on the first five sites unless and until there are at least three chapters committed to this alternative approach. No physical work on an individual chapter house will begin until the chapter/house corporation has a balance sufficient in its Virginia Tech Foundation account to support 1/3 of the project cost of the planned house. The building of the successive parts of this Phase IV project (lots 6-12) would need to occur gradually, as additional "critical masses" of groups (probably 3-5 at a time) are prepared to proceed.
     
     
    Obviously the University will need to re-work the originally proposed lease and the policies and procedures involved. We will do so in the weeks ahead, but we did want to get this preliminary information out to everyone before the Board of Visitors acts on the proposal at its March 22 meeting. We are excited to offer this unique partnering opportunity in an effort to expand and strengthen our fraternity and sorority housing program.
     
     
    Edward F. D. Spencer, Ph.D.
    Vice President for Student Affairs
    Virginia Tech
     
    112 Burruss Hall (0250)
    Blacksburg, VA 24061
    Phone:           540 231-6272
    FAX:                540 231-3189
    e-mail:           espencer@vt.edu
    web page:     www.dsa.vt.edu/spencer
     

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    February 27 Informational Meeting 

     

          Thank you to all of our Eta Lambda alumni who came to the meeting on February 27th to learn more about the Phase IV Project.  The university recorded the meeting and it is available at the following link:

    http://vbs.virginiatech.na4.acrobat.com/p52711711

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    Phase IV Greek Village Background

    During the past year, Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors has reviewed the viability of leasing university land to the house corporations of Greek letter organizations for those organizations to construct their own homes.  The university announced on February 5th that a meeting on Saturday, February 27 will be held on campus to review the requirements for organizations to participate in this new housing initiative.  The email announcement provides an in depth overview of the status of the project.  Please take a moment and read the entire email: Meeting information -from Ed Spencer

    Two presentations have been made to the Board of Visitors about the potential new Greek village:

     


    Virginia Tech appears to be following the recent successful project at the University of South Carolina.  We encourage you to review their information at: 

    http://www.sa.sc.edu/greeklife/housing.htm

    There are several great documents on this website, including their design standards and lease.  Also, the Greek Village at North Carolina State University has some interesting information. 

    http://www.ncsu.edu/greeklife/village/

     

    The following is a draft of the ground lease:

     

    Greek Ground Lease Draft

     

    Virginia Tech Proposal

    The February 5th announcement of the upcoming presentation by university officials also including several preliminary documents for house corporation and Greek alumn to review.

    The university has provided the Oak Lane Development Participation Summary and the Oak Lane Development Participation Checklist

    To move forward the University must receive three letters of commitment [Oak Lane Letter of Commitment], with $11,000 deposits before June 30.  The university will start accepting commitments on March 1.

    The house must be built following the Greek Residences Design Standards

    Next Steps


        Our Eta Lambda House Corporation has been monitoring developments on this proposal.  On Sunday February 14th at 2:00 p.m., we will host a conference call to review the project.  The call is open to all alumni. If you are interested in participating, please contact our Chapter Advisor, Jeff Mitchell, at jeffery.mitchell@leclairryan.com or one of the members of the Chapter's House Corporation:

     

    Brown Pearson, President      cbpearson3@erg-homes.com

     

    Adi Gelem, Treasurer              agelem@yahoo.com

     

    John Hays                               mingohays@aol.com

     

    Jeff Francis                             anotherdamnyankeehokie@gmail.com
     
    Ben Halliwell                           ben@halliwellc.com
     
    Eddie Pearson                        chpearso@yahoo.com
     
    Chuck McKibben                     cmckibbe@vt.edu
     
    Nathan Hays                          hays.nathan@gmail.com
     
    Veto Kallarakal                      vkallarakal@metlife.com
           
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    Board of Visitors Approves Phase IV Project


    http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2010&itemno=199

    Board of Visitors approves new plan for expansion of Greek housing

    By Katie Gehrt

     

    BLACKSBURG, Va., March 23, 2010 -- At their March 22, meeting the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a plan to expand the campus' existing Greek housing community, Oak Lane, through a unique partnership between the university and individual fraternity and sorority chapters.

     

    The new plan is different than previous campus residential construction projects because of its innovative approach to design and funding.

     

    With this plan, each interested fraternity or sorority chapter will work with the university to design its own house. This will allow chapters to have houses that are uniquely theirs constructed on the university campus. Houses will be designed to suit the individual chapters, but must have a capacity of 32 to 44 beds and be built to commercial and Commonwealth of Virginia construction standards. The cost of each house is anticipated to be in the range of $2 million to $4 million.

     

    In order to build a house, the chapter or its house corporation must make tax deductible contributions to the Virginia Tech Foundation of approximately one-third of the total project costs for the house it has proposed. The total of the contributions must also include a 7 percent administration fee, bringing the approximate contribution needed to 35.6 percent of the house cost. Through debt financing, the university will provide the other two-thirds of the cost of each house as well as the infrastructure and site development costs.

     

    Each house will be owned by the university and will become part of Housing Services’ residential system along with the current Oak Lane houses.

     

    However, because of the debt financing structure, residents would not be required to purchase dining plans. Chapters may elect to offer their own in-house board plans or students may purchase a dining plan through Dining Services. The university will cover the operating expenses for the houses, including the costs for live-in staff.

     

    Similar to the current rate structure for fraternity and sorority housing in Oak Lane, residents will be charged individual room fees by the university, which will be comparable to the room fees charged for newer university residence halls such as New Hall West. The actual rate for each house will depend on the total facility cost and final bed count.

     

    Site development and construction of the new houses will not begin until certain requirements are met. At least three chapters must commit to the plan before physical site development work will begin and individual houses will not be constructed until the contributions to the Virginia Tech Foundation account reach the required one-third of the project cost.

     

    “We are excited to offer this unique partnering opportunity in an effort to expand and strengthen our fraternity and sorority housing program,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Edward F.D. Spencer.

     

    Virginia Tech’s office of Fraternity and Sorority Life provides guidance and support to 65 nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities.

     

    Read related Virginia Tech News stories:

     

    Contact Katie Gehrt at kgehrt@vt.edu or (540) 231-8068.
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    Assesment of Various Housing Options
    Click this link Eta Lambda Housing Options to see an assessment that the house corporation has put together on the various options from  improving the current house at different price points to building on phase IV. Click the link below to give us your input in the survey.
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    Phase IV Housing Proposal Interest Survey

    We invite Eta Lambda Sigma Chi Brothers, Little Sisters, Sweethearts, & Affiliates of the chapter to complete this survey as to their interests in our chapter's housing needs. Please review the link to the spreadsheet above that has input about various housing options.

     

    Click the link and you will be taken to a survey which will be sent via email to house corporation committee members.  Thanks!