Skulls house to go on sale April 17, to be sold for highest bid

The house owned by Chi Phi fraternity has been decreed for a sheriff’s sale.

Currently, the house is rented to the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, commonly known as Skulls. Chi Phi lived in the house until the fall 2008 semester after membership levels became too low to financially sustain the house.

The house at 1400 N. Jordan Ave., is scheduled to go on sale at 10 a.m. April 17 at the Monroe County Courthouse and will be sold to the highest bidder.

But Ben Schmidt, president of the Indiana Chi Phi Alumni Association, said his association is in the midst of working with the bank and other involved parties.

“We intend to resolve this before it gets to the point of an actual sale,” Schmidt said.

The public notice lists the Indiana Chi Phi Alumni Association, Bloomington-based Cassady Electrical Contractors, L.C. Smith Fire Protection of Martinsville, Old National Bank and Alexander Construction and Development of Indianapolis and its president Timothy Pitcher in a range of roles in the case.

Schmidt said Old National Bank has foreclosed on the property’s mortgage. He said the sheriff’s sale is “not related to the current tenant.”

“There are some outstanding issues with a construction project that have led to this foreclosure business,” Schmidt said.

Phi Kappa Sigma declined to comment on the situation, and current Chi Phi fraternity members could not be reached by press time.

Dean of Students Dick McKaig said fraternity houses typically pay their mortgages through dues.

“A lot of people don’t realize that fraternity houses are not owned by the University,” McKaig said.

According to the public notice sent out by the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, the purchaser of the property will receive a clean title, erasing any outstanding financial burden.

Regardless of whether the property remains with Chi Phi, McKaig said it should retain its character.

“That’s fraternity housing,” he said, “and the University’s belief is that it should continue to be fraternity housing.”