Incidents, not a pattern

Despite what, on the surface appears to be a frustrating pattern of saying one thing and doing another, advocates for historic preservation said that, by in large, the University of Georgia's Greek community are good stewards of the community's historical properties.

However, both Athens-Clarke County District Seven Commissioner Kathy Hoard and Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation Executive Director Amy Kissane conceded that UGA's decisions to relocate several fraternities from Lumpkin Road has impacted the community's historical districts.

UGA reclaimed several parcels of land long held by various Greek organizations in its need to expand its campus. As a trade-off, it offered to relocate those organzations to a new 'Greek Village' on River Road. A few fraternities, however, opted against the forced move and angled to purchase land elsewhere in Athens-Clarke County.

And there is where the contention began.

Kappa Alpha and Sigma Nu both purchased properties in areas of the community where they had never been a Greek presence before. Kappa Alpha, a traditional Southern fraternity which traces its roots to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, purchased land near Reese Street, a historically African-American portion of Athens-Clarke County. Sigma Nu acquired property near Big City Bread on Meigs Street.

Responding to concerns from the impacted neighborhoods, the Athens-Clarke County Comission passed an ordinance requiring fraternities and sororities to obtain a 'special-use' permit in order to build off campus. And, in a rare move, UGA responded by criticizing the commission's actions.

Kissane said UGA's decision to relocate the Greek organizations bled over into the community's affairs ...

I think (the University of Georgia’s decision) to develop that part of Lumpkin Street and move the fraternities has had a domino affect, and it seems to me that the university cannot escape bearing some responsibility for that and the impact it has had on the community.

Likewise, Hoard recognized the parallels between the forced relocation and the decision by some organizations to not move to River Road ...

Of course, UGA's master plan and the institution's need for the Lumpkin Street property fueled the Lumpkin Street fraternities search for new sites; since, obviously, the River Road site was not attractive to a number of organizations who elected to go elsewhere. I have not questioned the leadership of the organizations who elected not to make this move regarding their decision, but the Greek Village certainly seemed an attractive package.

Since the relocation of several fraternities, there have been a handful of high-profile incidents involving the relocation or expansion of Greek organizations. Arguably the most notable one was that of Kappa Alpha, which abruptly broke off negotiations to preserve a pair of historic structures in the Reese Street area, only to tear them down just two days later.

ACHF had offered to pay to renovate both structures, as well as negotiate on the fraternity's behalf with Athens-Clarke County officials for a density variance if the fraternity would donate both buildings to the organization.

Kissane, who called the Kappa Alpha incident her most frustrating experience during her tenure at ACHF, said a lack of trust is often the key problem ...

I just really believe that we could have worked with (Kappa Alpha) and helped them define whatever needs they had for that property. We offered to advocate for them so that they could get what they needed and the houses could be saved. I think we could have worked something out. We told them 'let’s sit down with the (Athens-Clarke County Planning Department) and work on it.' We could probably work it out where they could have earned some variances for some of the things they wanted to do and protect the integrity of the neighborhood. But, they were convinced the planning department, the (Athens-Clarke County) Commission - everyone - 'hated them' and, so, they decided not to talk to them because it would be of no use, and that’s just frustrating to me.

Kissane added that the lack of communication and general distrust, from all parties, often slows progress toward a viable compromise ...

What frustrates me, being in the business of advocacy, is that too often there is a lack of communication, and it's not because we can't communicate but rather because of suspicion and distrust from all parties, a hesitancy to trust the other side. If communication was made up front, I believe in most cases we could find a compromise. In fact, we have many times.

That anxiety may be what ultimately tipped Chi Phi. The fraternity had repeatedly told local officials and neighborhood representatives that it intended to preserve Arnocroft, a historic house located near Five Points. Such a plan was praised by preservationist advocates eager to see the area named a local historic district.

Chi Phi, however, had failed to do a cost analysis of the renovation, and when those numbers came in, they were too cost prohibitive. As a result, representatives for the fraternity have expressed an interest in donating the structure and paying for the cost of its removal from the property.

Both commissioners at the meeting - Hoard and Athens-Clarke County District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby - have expressed their opposition to such a move, particularly given the ongoing process to achieve that local historic designation.

Kissane said there was little chance of Chi Phi being able to move foward with either the removal of the property or its demolition given the existing dynamics. The moratorium requires approval from the Athens-Clarke County Commission for such an action, and there's little to no support among that body.

Both Hoard and Kissane, however, said these incidents were only a small sampling of the overall picture, and that the long relationship between the Greek community and Athens-Clarke County has been an overwhelming beneficial one.

Hoard said the largest group of historic property owners along Milledge Avenue was, in fact, the Greek community ...

In meeting with their representatives about the local historic designation of the street, the committee I chaired could not find one organization who suggested they would not be supportive of local designation. A meeting was co-hosted by the Greek Life Office and the Neighborhood Relations Roundtable to present this issue to the Greeks; the turnout was overwhelming and the response extremely positive.

Kissane noted the effectiveness of fraternities and sororities to preserve existing historical structures along Milledge Avenue.

Hoard, whose district covers an area featuring a large number of the Greek organizations, said she just couldn't see a pattern of abuse ...

Obviously, I am not supporting any effort to remove the historic house that is part of Arnocroft and am displeased that it is under discussion ... just as I was not pleased with the other actions. However, I really don't see a pattern and, fortunately, we've got many more Greek housing corporations doing the right thing for their houses and our community than not.