WEDNESDAY,JULY2,2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3
POLITICS
City commission OKs construction of sorority
By Maggie Newcomer mnewcomer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Alpha Gamma Delta sorority members will soon have a new house.
The Lawrence City Commission approved a proposal for the sorority's three-story, 13,000-square foot house last night in a 3-2 vote.
The house, which will occupy the lot at 1520 Sigma Nu Place, has been a source of debate between Alpha Gamma Delta members and their future neighbors since the sorority purchased the lot from Sigma Nu fraternity.
Alpha Gamma Delta bought the lot, zoned residential dormitory, two years ago. The area where the sorority wants to build has been a residential dormitory zone since 1966.
The sorority proposed a site plan on April 1, but the issue was deferred until May 6, when it was denied.
Residents on nearby Avalon Road said they thought the house was out of scale with their neighborhood, said Rick Stein, a neighborhood resident.
Stein said his main concern was the size of the building, which will have 24 bedrooms and house 88 women. His neighbors are also concerned with traffic and noise from the house, Stein said.
Katie Hardacre, Overland Park senior and Alpha Gamma Delta president, said her sorority worked hard to accommodate its potential neighbors.
She said landscaping was added and the structure was moved farther from property lines to alleviate noise problems.
"They're worried because of stereotypes," Hardacre said. "We're not allowed to have parties or drink at the house."
Stein also said he thought it would have a negative effect on neighbors' property values.
"It's not because we don't want the AGDs as neighbors," Stein said.
Stein said he realized a lot of people including Alpha Gamma Delta, Sigma Nu and surrounding residents had economic stakes in the house.
Sigma Nu owns another residential dormitory lot directly north of Alpha Gamma Delta's lot.
Chris Schumm, alumni representative for the fraternity, said Sigma Nu planned to sell both lots as dormitory housing to finance its renovation.
Commissioner Dennis "Boog" Highberger said he would be reluctant to approve another dormitory structure at that location.
- Edited by Kevin Wiggs
LIQUOR: Retailers consider Sunday sales CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Bassin said opening liquor stores on Sundays would keep tax dollars in Lawrence.
Commissioner Mike Rundle said he had yet to hear negative reactions to Sunday liquor sales.
Local liquor store owners, however had mixed reactions.
Dan Blomgren, owner of three Lawrence Cork & Barrels, said he fully supported the ordinance. He said liquor was the only industry that was legal only six days a week.
"I sell a legal product to people of legal drinking age," Blomgren said. "Give me that opportunity to stay open on Sundays."
Joe Schmidtberger, owner of Alvin's Wine and Spirits, 905 Iowa St., said he didn't think Sunday sales would affect his profits. Schmidtberger said paying
He said every household had a certain amount of money it could spend on alcohol and staying open an extra day would not encourage extra spending.
employees for Sunday work might even cost him money.
"It would just stretch six days of profits to seven," Schmidtberger said.
Blomgren said if opening on Sundays did not prove profitable, he would return to operating six days a week.
Peppes admitted Sunday liquor sales were not critical, but a luxury. He said it was a matter of convenience.
"What if I want to have wine or beer with dinner on Sunday?" Peppes said. "Am I supposed to know at least one day ahead of time what I'll be in the mood for?"
- Edited by Richard Gintowt
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