The old Alpha Epsilon Pi house is set to be demolished next week, with a new house projected to be finished on the same plot for the fall 2007 semester.
The house, located at 3940 Spruce St., was condemned last May due to structural problems and damage, forcing brothers who had planned to live there to find other shelter for the current school year.
AEPi brothers are currently living in various locations in the surrounding area, and 27 of them plan to live in a house at 4039 Walnut St. next year.
That house will serve as the fraternity's chapter house for the next year.
AEPi's national office is currently working with a builder to obtain architectural plans, design layouts and zoning regulations for a new house at 3940 Spruce St.
Though the financial details of the construction have not yet been finalized, the house should be paid for in some combination by the national fraternity and the developer.
The University, which owns the property on Spruce, is providing a long-term land lease to the fraternity for redevelopment.
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the University "have been very helpful in helping the fraternity establish flexibility with respect to its housing arrangements for the next few years," Wharton junior and AEPi President Will Morel said.
He said that the University and the national fraternity were particularly helpful in securing the 4039 Walnut St. residence for AEPi next year.
"Without OFSA and the University, none of this would have been possible," Morel said. "The brotherhood is grateful to those organizations for being understanding of our precarious situation."
Campus Apartments realtor Jason Cohen, who is managing the 4039 Walnut St. house, said that the residence has been inhabited by Greek organizations in the past. The building is currently occupied by members of the unofficial student group Theos.
Cohen said that Campus Apartments generally works with OFSA in assisting Greek organizations.
A fence is set to be erected around the old AEPi house next week, followed by the complete demolition.
Though brothers miss their old house, they are excited at the prospect of having a house beginning next year.
"Living in the house last year was living the dream, and I really miss it this year," College junior Aaron Weissman said. "I'm sure that our younger brothers will love it next year even though it's not the same home."
Morel added that although the fraternity has had to deal with the lack of a chapter house, AEPi has remained active on campus.
"The fraternity has stayed involved with the rest of the Greek community," he said.
