| | |
 |
|
| 08-16-2002 | Previous edition: 08-02-2002 |
        
     |
Printer-friendly version Cooperative begins using new house
Assistant Campus Editor This semester, Fairway members will be moving into the first house ever built as a cooperative house, but members said despite new settings it's still the same group of guys. All 57 of them. "It is a very exciting time," said Shane Culver, a Fairway building committee member and 1992 Purdue grad. "Fairway is a Christian house and this new facility, as well as the increase in capacity for new members, is a great opportunity for more Christian men to get involved." One being David Magaughey, an agriculture major in his first year at Purdue, is also beginning his first year living in the Cooperative, though he rushed in the spring. He's excited about the new room he will share with three or four other roommates whom he's excited to meet. "It's a lot better than the previous place," he said. "I'm sure I will have a lot of fun." The plans to build the house came after looking into renovating the cooperative's old house, a 93-year-old building on Vine Street. The price tag was so high they started looking for other options. An offer from Basham rentals turned a hope into an "extrordinary outcome," said alumni treasurer Greg Napier. The property on Vine St. had a high value in the apartment market and the property was sold to Basham, who's building townhouses where the old house stood. With new money in hand, Fairway bought the 1.8-acre plot at 1320 David Ross Rd. from Purdue Research Foundation for $175,000. "Everything just fit into place," said Gale Biberstine, treasurer of the foundation. The money from the Basham purchase has paid for approximately half of the new house's cost of $1.3 million. The rest of the money to fund the project came from a loan. A percentage of each house member's house bill will go toward the payment of that loan. Fairway has also been accepting donations, but they have not come in at the level they had hoped. Culver said despite the rise in the house bills, Fairway still remains "one of the most affordable housing options on campus. "I believe we are approximately 30 to 40 percent below the cost of residence halls," he said. This will be the fourth house Fairway has occupied and according to Andrew Eller, active Fairway member and Purdue Cooperative Council president, Fairway may be the only cooperative in the country to build a new house. "In the past, cooperatives have used vacated houses but there weren’t any sizable ones that fulfilled our needs," he said. "We feel blessed that we were in a situation to be able to do this." Napier said the house is a good thing for the entire cooperative system at Purdue. "We are very proud of the cooperative system and what it stands for," said Napier. "We believe this is the beginning of a great building of the cooperative system. We believe many more houses may follow our lead and be able to make building decisions of their own very soon." Fairway had complete control over the designs of the house — what they wanted, and what they didn't. Drew Clemens, who graduated from Purdue and left Fairway last year, said the house was "tailor-made to accommodate 60 guys…it's easier to use, newly renovated and more open." Their designs turned out to be a two-story 15,000 square foot house with a steel stud construction and concrete floors. Alumni president Scott Culver said "it may look like concrete, but this house's foundation is build on the solid rock of Jesus …. That is why this house will last," he said. "On top of the gazebo is a light. This is a 'lighthouse' for campus. It is a symbol of Jesus' loving light in this world of darkness. Jesus invites everyone to know him, no matter your race, sex or past." Some amenities the house includes are central air, an elevator to make it handicap accessible, a formal living room and library. Every student will have his own phone with voicemail and an Internet connection to a house server. The parking lot will be able to hold more than 40 cars. The lot at the house on Vine Street held only around 20. The kitchen will be equipped with the latest industrial units. The house will also have a complete sprinkler system in case of a fire. "The (old) house was completely constructed of wood timbers and century old electric wires were running throughout the house," said Fairway president Dawson Vincent. "The house was a firetrap." "There is much excitement with the men of the house," said Napier. "I just sit back and grin — that's all you can do." Printer-friendly version |
Front Page | Campus | City | Features | Opinions | Sports | Classifieds Advertising | Archive | Links | About us | Letter Submission Form To report any errors with or to give ideas on how we can improve the online edition of The Exponent contact Online Production |
