The Greek system is bringing a new house to Charlottesville, which will not have fraternity parties or accommodate college students.
The new residence will be the home of the Early family, and will result from a partnership among the Inter-Fraternity Council, Inter-Sorority Council, Habitat for Humanity and the Venable Neighborhood Association.
The VNA, IFC and ISC have spent the past two years trying to raise the $45,000 needed to construct the house. The Greek system raised much of the money from alumni donations, IFC service chairman James Aldige said.
Work on the house was scheduled to begin on March 31 but has been pushed back until the beginning of next fall's semester because of "unforeseen variables" which have not allowed Habitat to prepare the sight, Habitat for Humanity volunteer coordinator April Carman said.
The unforeseen variables have included inclement weather and problems with power lines.
Because there is not much time left before the end of the semester, the groups decided that it would be beneficial to postpone the building until the fall, Aldige said.
Fraternity and sorority members said they believe constructing the new house will foster unity among the members of the University Greek system.
"I think it is an incredible way for us not only to help the community but to unite the IFC and ISC, Black Fraternal Council and Multi-Cultural Greek Council through service," ISC president Kristin Braggins said.
The IFC and ISC are trying to work out logistics with the BFC and MGC to include them in the plan.
Once construction begins, 12 Greek members will team with 12 members of the VNA and spend one-day shifts working on the house.
The collaboration between the Greek system and the VNA to build a house for Habitat began two years ago, Aldige said. The VNA serves the area encompassed by University Avenue, Emmett Street, Barracks Road and 10th Street.
"We've had a good relationship with the Greek System at the University for a number of years, and a few years ago the service chairs of the IFC and the ISC approached us and asked us if we would be interested in working on a Habitat house," VNA President Kevin O'Halloran said.
The project should strengthen the relationship between the members of a diverse community, O'Halloran said.
Theta Delta Chi member Mike Munson, who signed up to work on the house, said his fraternity saw participation in the project as a way to give back to the community.
"We want it to be a symbol of the Greek contribution to the Charlottesville community and promote unity among differing organizations that fall under the Greek system," Aldige said.
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