Kent State’s Greek Village became available to fraternities and sororities in 2009 and is 83 percent empty.

The university-owned land started out with six spots for Greek life to build chapter houses. Five spots still remain.

Sigma Nu was the first fraternity to move in January 2009, spending upwards of $600,000 for its 14-person, 6,500 square foot home.

However, there are no definite plans for more houses to go up in the Greek Village, which is located at the intersection of West Campus Center and Ted Boyd drives.

Sam Partyka, president of Sigma Tau Gamma, said the fraternity would like to move to the Greek Village, but even with alumni support, it would be hard.

“I would love to move there, it’s obviously nice, but I just don’t think we have the funds right now,” Partyka said.

Matt Reichenbach, president of Tau Kappa Epsilon, said that TKE just moved into its first lettered house on Main Street. The fraternity is trying to gain alumni support, but he said a move to the Greek Village would be in the very distant future.

“We are not anywhere near the funds for something like the Greek Village right now,” Reichenbach said.

Leah Brino, president of Alpha Xi Delta, said that their decision to stay in the house they have now is not only for monetary reasons, but also because of a love for their current home.

“It’s more homey. I know a lot of the girls like the setup of the house we are in now and the location,” Brino said.

Fraternities and sororities interested in a spot in the Greek Village are solely responsible for raising funds, said Teniell Trolian, adviser to the Greek community.

“Typically, fraternities or sororities will reach out to their alumni or to their national headquarters,” Trolian said.

The university reserved the land to provide a more permanent residence for Greek life.

“Most off-campus housing for fraternities and sororities only hold seven or so people,” Trolian said. “The university wanted to have facilities that would sustain long-term membership.”

It took 10 years for Sigma Nu to raise the funds for its home. Matt Fabinak, president of Sigma Nu, said they held alumni golf outings to raise money during the construction of the fraternity’s house. They also took out a small mortgage and looked to its national headquarters to fund a study area.

“That actually helped a lot,” Fabinak said.

Construction is only part of the expenses involved when moving into the Greek Village. The fraternities and sororities must lease the property and pay for sprinkler systems and fire doors.

But Fabinak said it’s worth it.

“It was a big deal for our fraternity because we’ve never had a lettered house before. Just having one place to go for when we have our brotherhood or are just hanging out has a huge impact,” Fabinak said.

Sigma Nu’s membership has gone from around 25 to 50 students since building its Greek Village home.

Contact Cristina Mazzone at [email protected].