July 1, 2022. 583 days ago as of the writing of this article. HFF Properties, LLC closed on it’s first property, thus ending a two-year endeavor to finally move on from renting and begin controlling our own housing destiny. We thought it appropriate to take a few minutes and update everyone on housing and what the next year is going to look like.
In the almost two-years since closing, HFF has learned a lot, but due to good planning and a good business plan; everything is financially stable and on track with the operation of the facility. Also since then we have seen the basement get successfully renovated and Bryan Kirshbaum step up to take over the HFF Properties manager role. He has continued to build out the best practices such as revamping check in-check-out procedures and maintenance schedules. He is even expanding the management of the property to include Steve Kittel and possibly one other to make sure not only a smooth operation of the facility but to make sure the needs of its residents is being met.
With stability in the current facility, we have begun looking forward to the eventual new chapter home. Jason Bednarski has been leading the way for the Housing Build Committee. Recently they sent out their first preliminary survey soliciting ideas for what our future home will look and feel like. If you haven’t yet please consider filling out the survey by clicking here: Housing Build Survey. As of the writing of this article, 61 people have filled it out with just half of them being undergrads. Want to have influence in the direction this committee goes… we need your feedback! There are some items that are really close too! The survey will close on March 15th and the results presented at the Annual Meeting on April 20th.
This is the first in what will be several survey’s that will be going out this year. While this survey is open to everyone there will be more including ones specific to just undergrads and others specific to just the stakeholders who have made commitments to the SigEp WI-Theta Rising Capital Campaign. It is this committees hope that by year’s end we will have hired an architect to bring our ideas to fruition. Ultimately, it is this committees goal to have final plans and renders ready to reveal at our 25th Anniversary Banquet in the Fall of 2025.
This finally brings us to the Capital Campaign itself. In all honestly, it has been some tough sledding in the last year. There has been some distractions with other AVC projects such as the new Bylaws, transitioning to get more Directors involved in the day to day, and getting the new build committee going. The bright side is we are over $200k in commitments. 31 Brothers have stepped up to answer the call and we are eternally grateful for their commitments. With that said we are about half way to where we need to be to break ground and thus about to hunker down build some new momentum. Considering the opportunity will be there for stakeholders to extend their commitment for an additional (and final) 5 years to move up the giving ladder, we feel we only need about $100k in additional commitments to have the stakeholder giving power to make this build happen. It is our goal to get this additional $100k in new commitments by the end of 2024. How does this break down to get to $100k?
Giving Level |
Commitment |
# of New Stakeholders |
Charter |
$1,200 ($20/mo) |
15 |
Brotherly Love |
$2,500 ($41.67/mo) |
10 |
Red Door |
$5,000 ($83.33/mo) |
5 |
Balanced Man |
$7,500 ($125/mo) |
1 |
Corinthian Column |
$10,000 ($166.67/mo) |
1 |
Violets & Roses |
$15,000 ($250/mo) |
1 |
Your commitment is our commitment. Our supporters in SigEp WI-Theta Rising are true stakeholders in this project. Securing our housing future for decades to come is going to be so vital to the sustainability of SigEp on campus. Besides providing clean, safe, modern, and affordable housing; this property will eventually become the leverage we need to start and grow our endowments to support the undergraduate chapter. That means more scholarships and more opportunities all while keeping dues chapter dues as low and affordable as possible. Money should never be the holdup for a potential new member who is willing to take up our cause as their own from joining the chapter. This will be the tool we need to ensure that we can make that commitment. Ready to make that commitment or would like more information? Please visit SigEpRising.com or reach out to Chris Yerges.
That is it for now. The progress pedal is still being pushed. We are not letting up and are about to be going wide open throttle. We hope you will consider contributing to the fuel that is keeping this engine running through your participation!