Vacant greek house to be site of shelter

The empty Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on the corner of Third Street and Faculty Avenue was purchased Sunday by a private real-estate investor in Bloomington who plans to renovate the house into an upscale homeless shelter. \nDunn Real Estate agent Dee Burris said that Bank One -- the current owner of the property -- accepted an offer from John Seeber in which he agreed to pay the asking price of $1.1 million.\nSeeber said he plans to rent it to the social service group, Millennium Project, a privately and locally funded homeless shelter.\n"I wanted to combine my personal interest in real-estate with the needs of the community," Seeber said, "and renting the property to the Millennium Project is the perfect solution in meeting these desires. I'm able to pursue my interests, while members of the Millennium Project can provide a valuable service to the community."\nThe Pike house drew significant attention from potential buyers almost immediately after the for sale sign was posted on Jan. 24, Burris said.\nIU tried to purchase the vacant house, but University spokesperson Jane Jankowski said all offers were declined. \n"The University was interested in purchasing the property as potential office space, but all of the offers we made were not accepted," Jankowski said. \nInterfraternity Council president Evan Waldman said that attempts in purchasing the land by other greek houses were also unsuccessful.\n"There were some houses that had shown some interest in the property," Waldman said. "But the asking price was either too high or the logistics involved just didn't work for out for them."\nMillennium Project Director Rudi Yogananda said organizational plans for renovation of the Pike house will begin next week, and the shelter is expected to open in the middle of summer.\nThe Millennium Project is a highly selective shelter where only individuals and families who have received counseling in the past and people who have the chance to succeed are admitted, Yogananda said. \n"We won't take a couple of drunk guys that come in off a street corner," Yogananda said. "We try to mainstream people who have the chance of living successful lives back into reality, so that when they leave the shelter they'll be able to go on and live normally and succeed."\nWhen construction is completed, the shelter will have room for 80 individuals, and the atmosphere will resemble that of a fine hotel. Additionally, the residents will be provided with drug education, therapy, new clothing and, in some cases, tuition money.\n"It's almost like shock therapy for the residents because the shelter is an entirely different lifestyle from the one they're used to," Yogananda said. "Our residents are given better clothing, an education and a place to live with some of the finest facilities available. We try to eliminate every possibility of failure"