Regents approve Chi-Omega, Law School land swap

Katherine K. Gardiner Arizona Daily Wildcat Katherine K. Gardiner/Arizona Daily Wildcat The Chi Omega sorority house has been targeted by the Law College for expansion and the Regents decided to move the sorority into a new house. The parking lot at First Street and Highland Avenue would be the location for the new house.

Without questioning the University of Arizona's proposal, the board unanimously approved the exchange of property that will allow the law college to take over the Chi Omega sorority house, 1145 N. Mountain Ave.

In exchange, Chi Omega will take over a new house to be built at East First Street and North Highland Avenue. The space is currently a metered parking lot.

"This project is well done," said regents President Rudy Campbell.

The land swap sprung from a space shortage at the College of Law. Space for the library and clinical and international trade programs is inadequate, a report on the project stated.

Chi Omega House Corporation President Ruthanne Strong said the house residents are looking forward to the move.

"The girls are very excited about moving to the new house," she said.

The house corporation manages the property to make sure there is consistency from year to year.

Strong said the house residents have felt isolated from the rest of the Greek community, because they are one of only two sororities north of East Speedway Boulevard.

As Speedway becomes busier, Strong added, residents find crossing the street, or using the underpasses nearby, a headache.

The move also will mean the house will be up to current fire and Americans with Disabilities Act codes, Strong said. The current house was built in 1928 and did not need to meet those codes.

For example, Strong said, there will be an elevator and a disability friendly room and lavatory.

In general, Strong said, plans call for maintaining much of the look of the house. The furniture and some kitchen equipment will also be moved, she added.

"We're trying to keep pretty much the same aura," Strong said.

Strong said the construction and move will have to be complete by Aug. 1 or have to wait until the end of the fall 1998 semester, because sorority rush and school will get in the way.

The report also stated the average law school has 19 percent more space per student than the UA, where the average peer institution law school has 35 percent more.

The new Chi Omega house site was appraised at $185,000. The old site, which is home to about 50 members, is worth about $1.5 million.

To make up the difference, the UA Foundation will spend up to $1.7 million in private gift funds to cover the construction costs of the new house.

Gift funds will also pay for the $350,000 to $400,000 needed to renovate the existing Chi Omega house for College of Law uses.

The UA Foundation has already used gift funds to pay for the blue prints to the new house.