Demolition on 33rd St. planned for spring

Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse construction company (SBER) has announced plans to begin demolition this spring or summer on the 33rd Street block that includes the University MiniMart and the old Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) and Alpha Delta Phi (WaWa) fraternity houses.

Village West condominiums will replace the boarded-up frat houses, along with other rowhouses on the west side of 3200 block of St. Paul Street and the garages on Lovegrove Street. Across the street, the Village Lofts development is under construction, replacing 15 rowhouses with 68 condominiums that are currently for sale.

UniMini, which sits at the edge of the construction, will move this October or November to a new location in Village Lofts next to the Subway across the street.

Assistant Development Director for SBER Emilie Baratta said, "We are keeping all the structures secure, keeping the properties safe. It's our goal to bring them down in the spring or the summer."

Baratta added, "The frat houses from our perspective are just a part of the overall development."

UniMini owner Sam Hamideh said, "I'm still in the neighborhood. I'm not going anywhere - from west side to east side."

Paula Burger, dean of undergraduate education and vice provost, said, "I know of no reason why the move has affected campus social life since these groups are still very close to the campus, and I assume that they still enjoy the same things that they have previously enjoyed."

According to SBER, in addition to housing the UniMini, Village Lofts will have space for street-side retail and parking. With 108 condominiums, retail and restaurant space and a 400-space public parking deck, Village West will also transform the block.

The development of the 3200 block by SBER is completely independent of the University.

Baratta said, "Overall, new streetscape combined with increased density, increased home ownership and a wonderful collection of new shops and restaurants will enhance Charles Village's eclectic, pedestrian-friendly environment."

Burger agreed, saying, "Together, the Hopkins Charles Commons project, the Struever Bros. residential/commercial projects on the east side and the one on the

west side of St. Paul Street, and some streetscaping should make for a real renaissance of this area within a very short period of time."

As of now, SBER has yet to begin the construction of Village West.

Baratta explained that the plans for demolition and building are now unknown. "The timeline for demolition and construction for Village West is still evolving. We hope to have Village Lofts open by late 2006 or early 2007, if not sooner."

Senior Director of Design & Construction for Hopkins Facilities Management Jim Miller said, "The only thing that we've really been involved in is monitoring it as a concerned neighborhood resident, almost from a community review perspective."

Commenting on the effects of the planned demolition, Hamideh said he misses the WaWa fraternity brothers, who lived just above the UniMini before they moved out at the beginning of last semester to accommodate the construction.

"I've been here in this location for 13 years, and I've always had a good relationship with the students. I miss the fraternity."

Since relocating this past summer, Pike students have acquired apartments in the Allston and the WaWa house has moved to 3209 N. Charles St.

"The only thing that we've really been involved in is monitoring it as a concerned neighborhood resident, almost from a community review perspective," Miller said.

In addition to housing the UniMini, Village Lofts will have space for street-side retail and parking.

Baratta noted that the new additions to the nieghborhood would make Charles Village a more tight-nit community.

"Overall, new streetscape combined with increased density, increased home ownership and a wonderful collection of new shops and restaurants will enhance Charles Village's eclectic, pedestrian-friendly environment," he said.

Burger agreed, saying, "Together, the Hopkins Charles Commons project, the Struever Bros. residential and commercial projects on the east side and the one on the west side of St. Paul, and some streetscaping should make for a real renaissance of this area within a very short period of time."

Some students also think they will enjoy the new developments and do not mind that UniMini will be moving.

"If [UniMini] is refurbished and there's actually some seating, the relocation might be for the better," freshman Samantha Collado said.

Freshman Emily LiMandri agreed: "Living in Bradford, it will be much more convienent for me to get a chicken parm."

"I think it's about time that they developed that area, because we don't really have a downtown area for the students to hang out and spend time in."

Junior Chunwoo Kae shared LiMandri's sentiments, also expressing relief that the fraternities will be replaced. "I think it's great and I'm glad that those whack frats were forced to leave. I'm excited to see the community redeveloped."