The University's German House will be shut down at the end of the school year due to fire code regulations, displacing the 11 University students who reside there. Housing officials have not yet determined whether to renovate or replace the facility.
The office of the state fire marshal recently released new requirements which the German House does not currently meet, prompting Chief Housing Officer Mark Doherty to call for its closing last month.
The requirements "have to do with providing an egress from the second floor of the building as well as other items," Doherty said.
Specific renovations, such as the implementation of sprinkler system capabilities, a second stairwell and connections to the University's central fire alarm reporting system, would need to be installed before the German House could reopen. Doherty said significant time is needed to repair the current ailments.
"If we started immediately to plan, gather the estimates, get bids and complete the work that is required in the house, it would probably take a year to complete -- even given the best circumstances," Doherty said.
Students planning to live in the German House next year now are evaluating other housing options associated with the German program.
"The University has offered 12 spaces in Gooch/Dillard, but it's split between two apartments," said Glenn Rife, a fourth-year College student and current German House resident who plans to attend the University as a graduate student in the fall. "We don't feel that's the ideal solution, so we're looking at getting a group of us together and renting a house off Grounds and keeping the German house alive underground."
In addition to the German House, the University Housing Division decided in October to shut down Bice House for the 2003-2004 school year to allow for renovations to take place.
"Clearly, the withdrawal of Bice does take from the system some 300 spaces for a period of one year," he added.
In spite of decisions to close Bice and the German House, Doherty expressed confidence in the Housing Division's ability to offer on-Grounds housing to students.
"Every year for many years, we have made an offer to everyone who remained on the waiting list and in fact, opened with vacancies," Doherty said. "I don't know if that will occur this year as well."
German House programs will continue to function, although funding may become an issue if the program moves off Grounds.
Until 2001, the German House was exempt from Residence Life and University rules, and thereby did not have to abide by standard University fire codes.
"Since [2001], they've tried to bring our policies and codes up to a consistent level with other on-Grounds housing, making us like a first-year dorm," Rife said.
The Housing Division has resolved to look for alternative German House locations in order to allow for the continuation of German House programs.
"The situation at the German House is in fact a late breaking issue," Doherty said. "There are very few options available as far as alternate locations, however we do remain committed to the department and the students for a suitable alternate location."
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