Historic house may be torn down

Monday, November 23, 1998

Historic house may be torn down

FRATERNITY: Tilden Studies Center plans to remodel former Kappa
Sigma building

By Karen Thompson

Daily Bruin Contributor

The former Kappa Sigma fraternity house, designed by well-known
Los Angeles architect Paul Revere Williams, may be remodeled or
torn down for use by its new owners.

The house, located at 11024 Strathmore Dr., has been empty since
UCLA’s Kappa Sigma chapter closed in 1995. A non-profit Catholic
educational organization called Tilden Studies Center acquired the
property in August 1997.

Kappa Sigma closed its UCLA chapter without controversy several
years ago.

"It just closed kind of on its own free will. I guess it was
largely due to (declining memberships)," said Scott Carter, the
fraternity and sorority adviser.

Tilden Studies Center purchased the property with the intention
of doing minor remodeling, but the discovery of water and termite
damage spawned discussion of more extensive plans, which would
require that the house be brought up to current city building
codes.

"The architect told us that if we have 37 rooms, we’d have to
add 60 parking spaces," said Carlos Alejano, co-founder of Tilden
Studies Center.

According to Alejano, this could require tearing down half of
the building and replacing it with a parking structure.

"It’s too expensive. It’s just not feasible, so we have to go
back to the drawing board," Alejano said.

Although it is unlikely that Tilden Studies Center can raise
enough money to make the construction possible, there is concern
about the future of the 1936 building because Williams designed the
house.

Williams was one of the first African American architects in Los
Angeles. During the 1920s and 1930s, Williams designed hundreds of
buildings, including UCLA’s Chi Omega sorority house and Franz
Hall.

"It’s just one of those romantic things, but in reality, it’s
just useless. There’s really not much left of the original value of
the building," Alejano said.

Tilden Studies Center, which is affiliated with a Catholic group
called Opus Dei, planned to use the house as a home and meeting
place for UCLA students. According to Alejano, the international
organization Opus Dei concentrates on colleges.

"Our idea was to create an environment for college students from
different majors and cultures to come together in a non-class
setting to help each other. It would be very much like a
fraternity, in that way," Alejano said.

"There would be a chaplain because education without
spirituality isn’t really complete," he added.

Tilden Studies Center currently owns several houses on Levering
Drive. The group hoped these houses would be temporary locations,
until a larger site was acquired. The Kappa Sigma house was to be
that larger site.

Tentative plans for the house include 37 rooms, most of which
would serve as living quarters for students and the house’s staff,
including a chaplain.

Alejano was uncertain what would become of the house if Tilden
Studies was unable to go through with the planned renovations.

"It’s very much at the initial development stage," he said.
"It’s a little premature to even say. I don’t want to promise more
than we can deliver."

According to Alejano, if construction began now, it would be two
years before the property would be ready for use. The group chose
this property because of its proximity to UCLA and because it is
already zoned for many residents.

"It was large and already had the proper zoning. We thought we
could have a continuation of a fraternity, but we realized that
romanticism doesn’t always work," Alejano said.

According to Alejano, plans are on hold, but Tilden Studies is
making efforts to raise money for the project.

Another meeting with architects is scheduled for Dec. 4.

"That meeting will really be the deciding point," Alejano
said.MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The former Kappa Sigma fraternity house was bought by a Catholic
group that now considers remodeling the house, but city ordinances
may not allow them to.

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