U. of Georgia Paid 2 Fraternities $2.4-Million to Relocate, Contracts Show

The University of Georgia paid two fraternities nearly $2.4-million to move from houses on property where it plans to build several academic buildings, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.

Three other fraternities also moved from the property, in an area of the campus known as the Northwest Precinct, but instead of cash those chapters accepted space in a new Greek Park that will open this fall. The university’s plans for the property being vacated include new facilities for the School of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Terry College of Business.

Contracts obtained by the newspaper show that the university paid the Chi Phi fraternity $1.75-million to move from its house on South Lumpkin Street, but a lawyer said the organization did not get a sweetheart deal. “We had owned and built our own fraternity house on Lumpkin Street with our own money,” said Jim Wimberly, who is a Chi Phi alumnus.

Another fraternity, Kappa Alpha, got $600,000 to move from its nearby house on South Lumpkin Street. Both fraternities are in negotiations to buy or build new houses in Athens. —Charles Huckabee