The Phi Sigma Kappa house, located at 439 Huguelet Dr., is preparing for renovations so members, who had to move out last spring, can return in the fall. Photo by emily coovert | Staff
By Lara Walker
The Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity house, which members have used since the 1950s, is preparing for renovations so members can move in before the fall rush.
Tom Carr, the chapter adviser to Phi Sigma Kappa in the UK Alumni Association, said after meeting with contractors, the fraternity has decided to tear out everything and build new bathrooms, closets, windows, paneling, flooring and re-wire the electric system. Both the sprinkler system and smoke detector will be recertified, and all the old furniture will be thrown away.
Phi Sigma Kappa members had to leave the house last spring due to fire code violations.
Carr said the projected date for the finished house is July 17, which will allow it to be ready for Kentucky Rush in the Fall 2009. Currently, most of the fraternity members are living in an apartment complex off Maxwell Street.
Originally, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity house was thought to be targeted for demolition for the new Student Center, Carr said. However, now its long-term goal is to raise up to $3 million so they can relocate to the planned new Greek area on campus while the renovated fraternity house will be used in other ways.
Dave Spreitzer, the alumni president of Phi Sigma Kappa and the owner of Campus Pub off Waller Street, said right now the fraternity is in the process of gutting the entire facility and putting on a new roof.
“We want it to look like it looked in 1953, except with Wi-Fi,†Spreitzer said.
Spreitzer said there is enough money from alumni, as well as from different organizations within the Greek system, that money for renovation will not need to be borrowed.
The president of Phi Sigma Kappa, David Wheatly, said the fraternity initially helped out with repairs and is now working with professional contractors, UK and the fire marshal.
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