University of Virginia Library

City Eliminates Highway Plan,
Ends Threat To Three Frats

By TRISH PAYNE

A plan which would have destroyed
three fraternity houses was rejected by
the City Council Monday night.

In a closed meeting, revisions were
made to the 1968 State Highway
Department study.

One of the plans would have meant a
"four-laning" of Barracks, Rugby and Preston
Roads, causing a relocation of Alpha Tau
Omega, Pi Kappa Alpha and Theta Delta Chi.

Other changes include the removal of similar
plans to four lane Old Lynchburg Road and
Valley Road. The Council requested that the
Virginia Department of Highways look into
several new areas of road development. These
include; forming four lanes on a section of U.S.
250 Bypass.

The Committee also proposed to the
Virginia Highway Department that a study be
made of the Charlottesville area and the
problems that have developed involving the
city, Albemarle County and the University of
Virginia. Councilman Kenneth Davis cited in
particular the over-crowded traffic area on U.S.
250 west.

Community Protest

The changes came about Monday night due
to the protests of concerned Charlottesville
citizens prior to the meeting. On October
19,1971, 250 people attended a City Council
meeting in which 40 people voiced their dislike
of the road plan.

Councilman Joseph W. Wright Jr. stated that
the revised plan is "basically the same as the
one locally developed."

Tom King, president of the Inter-Fraternity
Council stated that he was pleased about the
change "because three houses were involved
and would have been destroyed."

Mr. King said that after the council meeting
on October 19 the IFC "voiced our disapproval
to the City Council."

He said that he wished to thank Irby
Cauthen, Dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences, who was "instrumental in getting us
involved in it."

'Effective Action'

Steve Smith, vice-president of ATO said that
his fraternity had dealt with the problem
through the leaders of the ATO Corporation.
He added "they took effective action to
relocate us and to lobby downtown to keep the
house."

He went on to say that many members felt
that "there was a good chance the proposal
would be defeated due to the large turnout at
the City Council meeting on October 19."

Speaking for his fraternity, Mr. Smith said
that "the brothers of our house are pleased that
the City Council decided not to go through
with the proposed plans. We had already begun
efforts to find a place to relocate. We looked
into the financial aspects of such a move.
Because of the support of both students and
other interested persons we won't have to
move."

Mr. Smith said that even though the house
was happy to hear the news, they would still be
"cautious, because the City Council had
previously voted down the decision and said it
would not be brought up again." He concluded
"We will remain in contact with the people who
have helped us."