The editor of the Ann Arbor Chronicle featured the project on their front page. An excerpt is below, and the full article can be found here. as the interview commentary was aimed specifically at the city government and local residences, it should be noted that I emphasized certain parts of the project over others. In addition to the study and lecture area, ample space will be dedicated for undergraduate social programming, boardrooms, trophy rooms, and other multi-use space.
An undergraduate advisory committee is being formed to give input on the floor plan, and an alumni focus group will be formed prior to kicking off the fundraising campaign.
If you are interested in getting involved with the fundraising campaign or the alumni and volunteer corporation (AVC), please contact me at uofmsigep@gmail.com
Lastly, if you haven't already donated to the Annual Campaign, click here to make an online donation and support the culture of excellence that is Michigan Alpha at the University of Michigan. In this critical time of transition, your donations have an enormous impact on our success. Thank you for your continued support of Michigan Alpha.
HFF,
Jerry Mangona
President, Michigan Alpha Alumni Association
=======================
The building at 730 Tappan – at the intersection of Tappan and Hill, across the street from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business – is home to the Memorial Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The church is planning to sell the property to the Michigan Alpha Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. On Monday, the fraternity filed for a special exception use with the city – if granted, it would allow the building to be converted into a residence for the fraternity. The chapter is currently located nearby at 704 Hill St., on the southeast corner of Hill and State.
Memorial Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 730 Tappan in Ann Arbor, on the northwest corner of Hill and Tappan.
The application to the city for a special exception use states that no significant changes are planned for the building’s exterior. The site includes 19 parking spaces – the plan calls for adding 11 bike spaces in the basement of the building as well as 11 bike spaces outside. The interior of the three-level building would be remodeled into a residence with a maximum of 44 beds. (The chapter has over 100 members, but more than half live off-site.) The property is currently zoned R2B, a zoning category that allows for fraternities. The neighborhood includes many fraternities, sororities and student rental properties.
Jerry Mangona, president of the chapter’s alumni association, told The Chronicle they’ve been trying to find an appropriate site for the past five years – the current location was never intended to be permanent, he said.
Read the remainder of the article at the Ann Arbor Chronicle website.
