A defunct fraternity chapter is fighting to tear down its long-unused house, but some county officials say it has too much historical significance to be demolished.
Though an evaluation by Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates Inc. found that the Sigma Chi fraternity house, located at 4600 Norwich Road, has unusable facilities and electric systems, rot, water damage and extensive fire damage, city politicians say the house is structurally sound and tearing it down would hurt the area's historic character.
"People here love the old buildings that give Old Town its historic character," said District 3 College Park Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich. "Sigma Chi is one of those buildings - colonial revival style, once a very fine building but sadly neglected. It's a real shame when property owners neglect their properties like this."
The Gamma Chi chapter of Sigma Chi, which boasts university President Dan Mote and area Congressman Steny Hoyer as alumni, had its charter revoked about five years ago because of the building's condition. But the fraternity is trying to recolonize the chapter within the next two years and construct a new building at the same address with an updated interior layout, fire escapes, a sprinkler system and other safety features. The original house was built in the 1930s and used by Sigma Chi since about 1949.
"We believe we're acting in the best interests of not only the fraternity, but the university and the neighborhood by building a new house," said Barry DesRoches, the chapter alumnus heading the permit application. "I've been through the house numerous times, and it's constantly broken into." The break-ins, he said, are a serious safety hazard.
Because the building is located in a historic district, Prince George's County requires the fraternity to get a Historic Area Work Permit before the house can be torn down, a rule fraternity alumni see as needless red tape. The county's Historic Preservation Commission recommends demolition only as a last resort.
"The buildings are older and not built to today's codes," DesRoches said. "They need to be updated. What's more important than physical appearance is that the students living in them are safe, and I think putting added bureaucracy and red tape in the way of changes that promote safety isn't the right thing to do."
The city has taken no position and is waiting for more input from the county. The HPC will hear Sigma Chi's HAWP application April 17.
Stullich insists the building has merely been neglected and can be renovated without tearing it down, which may upset nearby residents.
"There are plenty of safe historic buildings out there," she said. "Sigma Chi is still a solid, brick building. Modern construction doesn't match the quality of construction from the 1930s and '40s."
Stullich said the building definitely needs work, but that the structure itself is perfectly functional and could be reconfigured to meet fire and safety codes.
But DesRoches said residents would not be satisfied if the building were simply refurbished. Students want a more modern layout, with single bedrooms and private bathrooms, he said.
"We spent a tremendous amount of time and research to determine if we could work with existing structure, but it was marginal because today's students want something else," he said.
Stullich said the Historic Preservation Commission does not regulate the interior of a building.
"Sometimes people have it in their head that the easiest thing to do is tear it down and start over," she said. "But if they took responsibility to care for this building, to restore it, to repair it, it would really be something for Sigma Chi to be proud of."
Contact reporter Laura Schwartzman at schwartzmandbk@gmail.com.
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