Greek Row?
Greek Row?
In 2015, when a roof collapsed on Hathway Avenue, there were 15 fraternity chapters in the IFC at Cal Poly, and in 2016, according to the Deferred Recruitment Compromise, Cal Poly Greek Life approved an eight-year expansion plan to recruit an additional four chapters by 2022. Three of the newly four recruited fraternities have their main Chapter house in the R-1 and R-2 neighborhoods, and all have satellite fraternity houses in those neighborhoods. How is that even possible? How was this recruitment allowed by Cal Poly?
The Deferred Recruitment Compromise discussed fraternity housing plans in order to approve the recruitment, but there were no housing plans in legal locations. How were these fraternities allowed to set up their main chapter houses contrary to San Luis Obispo zoning regulations?
Well, they’ve been doing it for years. Most Cal Poly fraternities have a main chapter house and multiple “satellite” houses that operate as full-fledged fraternity houses. Of the 19 fraternity chapters currently in the IFC at Cal Poly, only 7 have conditional use permits for their operation in R-4 high-density zones of the City. Where are the other main chapter houses where they hold events and parties? Illegally operating in the R-1 and R-2 neighborhoods and contributing to the “town-gown” tension that the Cal Poly Master Plan discusses.
In August 2024, Cal Poly said they would continue to recruit new fraternity chapters to their campus. There is no Greek Row and it’s likely that the fraternities will continue holding events sanctioned by Cal Poly Greek Life in the City’s local neighborhoods, contrary to the San Luis Obispo zoning regulations.
Time Line
Cal Poly has been discussing a Greek Row for over a decade. It’s been mentioned at a few key points in time, outlined below. But that’s it. It’s been just that—all talk. No action.
2013
On May 23, 2013, in a memorandum to Cal Poly President Armstrong from Cal Poly Greek Life, the Cal Poly Deferred Recruitment Compromise was the first information that mentioned a commitment to begin an early discussion regarding the feasibility of an on-campus Greek Row
2015
On July 22, 2015, in an updated article by Nick Wilson, published in The Tribune, Cal Poly was considering an on-campus village for Greek life students. This was announced by university President Jeffrey Armstrong to business leaders. The article mentioned that fraternity and sorority members live off-campus. The conceptual idea was part of ongoing discussions within the campus master plan, as Cal Poly spokesman Matt Lazier explained. The Greek Village was envisioned alongside other housing for faculty, staff, graduate students, and alumni. Potential locations and logistics were under discussion. President Armstrong highlighted the Greek Village proposal during a speech addressing improved student-community relations following a roof collapse when many students climbed onto the structure on St. Fratty’s Day in 2015 at an illegal satellite fraternity house.
Cal Poly’s updated Master Plan, guiding future development over 20 years, was to be shared for public input in late April 2015. Mayor Jan Marx and Residents for Quality Neighborhoods chairperson Sandra Rowley supported on-campus Greek housing to reduce the negative impacts of off-campus partying at illegal satellite fraternity houses.
2019
On February 11, 2019, Isabella Paoletto wrote an article for the Cal Poly newspaper, The Mustang News, titled “A Greek Village Could be Coming to Cal Poly”. The article mentioned that Cal Poly proposed an on-campus Greek Village for all sororities and fraternities to provide safer, healthier housing. The article says that the initiative was part of the University’s Strategic Plan, though the location was undecided, with a preferred spot near the lower sports complex fields. The idea, which was first introduced in 2013, emerged from a need for facilities accommodating the size of Greek organizations and was inspired by similar models like Arizona State University’s Greek Leadership Village.
It goes on to mention that surveys and ongoing consultations showed student interest, highlighting benefits such as unified housing and ease of securing accommodation. However, concerns existed regarding university oversight, potential stigmas of living on-campus, and financial feasibility, particularly for members from low-income backgrounds. The article mentioned that the project remained in its conceptual phase, pending approval of the university Master Plan by the CSU Board of Trustees.
Cal Poly Master Plan
Cal Poly’s Master Plan acknowledges issues between Cal Poly and supports the City of San Luis Obispo’s neighborhood wellness initiative. Several areas near the campus have become increasingly dominated by students and potential lifestyle conflicts between students and non-student residents, which are a common phenomenon in many university cities.
The City and Cal Poly envision the re-integration of non-students and families living into those neighborhoods nearest the campus as one element of a broader strategy of reducing “town-gown” tensions. The plan says the university may purchase properties in nearby neighborhoods and make them available to faculty and staff. Unfortunately, with the unchecked proliferation of illegal fraternity houses and the noise associated with those houses, the vision of reintegrating non-students and families back into these neighborhoods is a pipe dream. Without any meaningful effort by the City to curb this negative impact or cooperation by Cal Poly to solve this issue, it will continue to be….well, just “talk.”
The Master Plan then discusses Specialized Student housing, saying, “There may be significant benefits from providing specialized housing options for groups such as fraternities, sororities, or other social or academic organizations. This approach could resolve potential conflicts with student-occupied group housing off-campus, an ongoing concern of neighbors and the city.”
Build a Greek Row
So why doesn’t Cal Poly build a Greek Row? The answer? They don’t have to. It’s as simple as that. No one will make them. The City neighborhoods will continue to be the de facto Greek Row, provide their fraternity houses, and continue to absorb the negative impacts.