A fraternity and a church might seem like an unlikely pairing. But one University of Michigan fraternity is hoping to make a church its new home, and preserve the building's integrity while it's at it.
Sigma Phi Epsilon plans to move into the Ann Arbor Memorial Christian Church building, at the corner of Tappan and Hill, which will become vacant at the first of the year. As it turns out, the property is zoned correctly for a fraternity house, and the location, across the street from the Ross School of Business, makes it very close to campus and also to the athletic fields, says Jerry Mangona, alumni association president for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and a 2001 graduate of the university.
"It makes it an ideal location for our members," Mangona says. "That it's a historic building added to its allure. We're dedicated to preserving the history of the building."
The property is currently under contract and the fraternity chapter is in the due diligence phase and looking to a fall, 2012 occupancy.
The church's worship space was built close to 100 years ago, but the annex, which includes offices, is newer. That part of the building will convert very easily to living quarters, Mangona expects, with 40-45 beds. The worship space presents a different challenge: It could be a residential learning community, he says, including a lecture hall, library, and perhaps a display area for fraternity artifacts and archives.
There is also a 2,000-square-foot basement that could be converted into a social space and room for dining and other community functions. Mangona says they'd also like to have green features. "We would like the rebuild to be as energy efficient as possible," he says.
Mangona doesn't deny that there will probably be the typical fraternity parties in the church, but says they could keep the sanctuary part alcohol-free, or leave it for formal dining, alumni meetings, or rituals. Despite the stereotypes, there's a new generation of fraternity men that want a clean space to live in, he says.
"The alumni are thrilled to have a historic space," he says. "This will be a flagship chapter facility and one that we will be proud to show off to the nation. Our entire alumni base is really excited about having a permanent place to call home."
The fraternity is currently renting a home at South Hill and State Street, and was in a different house before that. The current house has 30 beds; the fraternity has a total of 110 members. Mangona expects to have to raise at least a million dollars for the project, using loans and an alumni capital campaign.
The church's website says that for months it "has been searching for a way to better serve the Ann Arbor community." It's targeting a new area - Prospect Road in Ypsilanti to the east, South State Road in Ann Arbor to the west, Geddes Road to the north, and U.S. 12 and I-94 to the south -- and is currently negotiating with the New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Pittsfield Township to lease a small building on the property, according to a church newsletter. It will start moving to its new quarters Jan. 1 and eventually construct a new building.
Source: Jerry Mangona, alumni association president for Sigma Phi Epsilon
Writer: Kristin Lukowski
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