Greektown showing progress in fire safety renovations
Greek houses must install safety sprinkler systems by 2016.
Published Aug. 2, 2009
Pi Kappa Alpha became the first house in Greektown to complete the safety renovations City Council mandated for all sororities and fraternities.
Renovation wrapped up Aug. 1, with minor interior upgrades expected to be finished Aug. 8, Pi Kappa Alpha President Kyle Tibbles said.
Originally, City Council gave all houses until the end of 2012 to be in accordance with the new fire safety codes. After the Greek Fire Safety Task Force petitioned for a later deadline, it was pushed to 2016.
Pi Kappa Alpha began renovations in summer 2008, but it began planning and raising the $2 million for the renovations in 2006. Only 5 percent of its money went to the required sprinklers. The house underwent many other renovations, including an updated laundry room, several new stairwells and a completely renovated fire escape, according to the house's Web site.
Other houses that were not planning on renovations had to find ways to supplement some of the cost.
“Right now, we’re conducting a feasibility study to see if our alumni would be willing to donate to this project,” Gamma Phi Beta President Allie Steiner said. “We’re trying to watch our budget so that we don’t overspend."
Steiner said Gamma Phi Beta was able to raise some money by tearing down its annex to build a parking lot.
“Based on how our alumni have helped us out before, I think that their donations could come close to completely covering or exceeding the estimated cost," Steiner said.
Renovations to Gamma Phi Beta include an updated fire alarm. Before changing the system this past spring, the alarm was not connected to the phone line, so the fire department would not be notified if the alarm were to go off.
Steiner said her house has enough money in its treasury to cover the renovation cost, but it wouldn't leave much money for any unexpected issues that might come up.
Steiner also said because the sorority is expecting alumni money, it hasn't put any other planned projects on hold.
“We just re-did our study room, so we’re still doing everything that we wanted to,” Steiner said.
Panhellenic Assocation President Caroline Vastyan said her chapter, Alpha Phi, is also continuing with other planned projects and is looking for donations for the sprinkler system.
“Our bathrooms are getting renovated right now," Vastyan said. "We have time on our side to fundraise, to talk to alumni, nationals. I have no doubt in my mind that people will come up with the money somehow. The economy isn’t great right now, but this project is for good purpose, and it will work out."
Vastyan said no association fundraising plans are in the works, but PHA plans to use its power as an umbrella organization to raise the money. Additionally, she said chapter presidents have been searching for other ways to lessen the total cost of the projects.
“The major concern of the Fire Safety Task Force was with the economy the way it is, raising the money in a limited amount of time could have been an issue," Vastyan said. "I know for my house, it’s going to cost $212,000 to install the sprinklers."