1705-hill-ann-arbor-delta-chi.jpg

Delta Chi fraternity wants to demolish the chapter house at 1705 Hill St. and build a larger home with better safety features.

(Alpha Design + Build)

A University of Michigan fraternity wants to modernize and expand its chapter house.

Instead of renovating the existing house at 1705 Hill St., Delta Chi fraternity submitted plans to the city of Ann Arbor to demolish the structure and build a new house with increased living capacity and modern safety systems.

“We analyzed the existing building to determine if it could be saved and renovated. …It is our opinion that the foundation of the property would not properly support any renovation,” the plans say.

The home, constructed in the early 1900s, is located just west of Oxford Road. Delta Chi Alumni Corporation purchased the 0.71-acre property in 1949. It has a 2013 assessed value of $417,700.

Plans call to demolish the home and construct a three-story, 12,760-square-foot house on the same site. The parking would be moved to the south side of the building and would have 16 parking spaces. Covered bike storage is included in the plans. No landmark trees would be removed from the site.

Delta Chi has occupied the home on Hill Street since 1949.

The estimated cost of construction is $2 to $2.5 million.

The new house would increase occupancy from 22 to 33 fraternity members, plus a resident manager.

“(The house) will need 32 people living in it to provide enough revenue to support the mortgage and house costs,” a city of Ann Arbor staff report says.

John Levinson, treasurer of the Delta Chi Alumni Corporation, said Delta Chi’s University of Michigan chapter has a total membership of between 50 to 60 people.

“Obviously, a great number of them live in other Ann Arbor student housing – often times several of them living together in another house or in apartments,” he said via email.

The new home would be similar in appearance to the existing structure, but it would have improved safety features, such as a fire suppression system, monitored fire alarm system and better access to fire hydrants.

“The building will continue to provide a stately appearance with brick and stucco exterior. The owners want this new building to look and feel like the old building, which fits well with the neighborhood,” the plans says.

Levinson said fraternity members would find alternate housing during the one school year when the new house is being constructed. The estimated timing for demolition and construction is May 2015 through August 2016.

Delta Chi hosted a citizen participation meeting for the project in early January. The plans will now go before Ann Arbor’s Planning Commission and City Council for approval.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Reach her at 734-623-2584, email her lizzyalfs@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter.