New Haven Independent

Posted by: Jim | October 14, 2009 11:25 AM

I have worked with this fraternity when I worked at a non-profit in New Haven. These guys are great. They are respectful and go out into the community to make New Haven a better place. As a New Haven resident, I fully support them.

Posted by: jawbone | October 14, 2009 12:09 PM

These fine, upstanding boys are SLOBS. Before the city approves anything there should be some process that will help ensure that they will keep the front of their frat house and side walk clear of trash and debris. The front of their house has been a trash pile for 13 years.
What ever happened to making the rushes clean and maintain the property? Does that not happen at the Yale?

Posted by: JB | October 14, 2009 1:04 PM

Which frat lives in the house at the end of Goffe, near the Goffe/Whalley/Broadway insection? That place has been a filthy mess for years. I wish something could be done.

Boys, how hard is it to throw the red plastic cups in the garbage?

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | October 14, 2009 1:11 PM

If they want to keep the house,they should join
skull and bones.

Posted by: Glen | October 14, 2009 1:30 PM

I agree with JB. The frat near Goffe/Whalley/Dixwell is disgusting. Can some kind sole with a digital camera open up a SeeClickFix ticket for this. I've been wanting to but don't have a camera. A picture is worth a thousand words...a thousand disparaging words.

Posted by: anon | October 14, 2009 2:59 PM

All of these parking space requirements need to be thrown out if New Haven ever wants to develop as a walkable, thriving city.

They are a major deterrent to development, and therefore to new job creation.

Let the private market provide parking.

Posted by: Munchkins | October 14, 2009 9:04 PM

Mhmmmmmmm.... Who's the guy on the far left?

Posted by: Darren | October 14, 2009 9:07 PM

There must be some confusion from Jawbone. I've lived in New Haven for 15 years. I actually recognize that Sigma Alpha house, and the house next to it (to the right "EOE"), as the only frat houses that keep clean in New Haven. In fact, I often see their rushes cleaning on the weekends. The house to the left "EN" is the dirty one on High Street. I regularly walk on High Street. The only other frats I've seen are on Lynwood, but I don't go by there often.

Posted by: Thomas C. Cook | October 14, 2009 9:23 PM

I am usually impressed with SAE. Compared with the fraternities on either side, SAE is spotless, even if that's not saying much. They look sharp and they are true leaders in the community. I always hear about them raising money for kids in Darfur, or for the American Cancer Society, or for local evening kitchens.

For a such a philanthropic organization that does not have a lot of funding, the city is making them jump through too many hoops.

Personally, I think they deserve an award.

Posted by: The Book of Job | October 14, 2009 11:50 PM

These are fine, upstanding gentlemen. True gentlemen, if you will. Why, as recently as 2 weeks ago they helped raise $1500 for Darfur. A slight mess outside is not enough to condemn such generous young men. After all, you can't play in the sunshine and not get a little dirty. The moral compass of this institution is clearly pointing the right way.

Posted by: resident | October 15, 2009 5:41 PM

if the city is willing to look past the fact that the fraturnity has not applied to be a rooming house as noted by New Haven code, they are also willing to look past the fact that they have not being paying proper taxes(three family vs. rooming house) costing the city upwards of $4000-$7000 in non paid taxes per year? you do the math. Of course they can contribute to charities while the rest of us are paying for their lack of taxes.Why do they get special treatment?

Posted by: reality | October 16, 2009 10:31 AM

Thomas C. Cook, etc:

Board of Zoning appeals is not a personality contest nor an enforcement body.

BZA hears testimony on land use issues that have some deviation from standard.

I.E. the City has a zoning ordinance which does not address all possible uses (it would be impossible) and has some structures pre-dating zoning so they do not comply with current zoning.

BZA simply makes sure that the INTENT of the zoning ordinance is carried out.

The City is not making this frat "jump through hoops" nor is it giving them special treatment.

All individuals & businesses in New Haven must request a variance if they are out of line with zoning requirements. That's all that is happening here.

I encourage you to research zoning laws & land usage if you are still feeling that the City has been hard on this organization or too lenient.

Posted by: The Professor | October 17, 2009 10:51 PM

Just wanted to pop in and point out that "Thomas C. Cook" and "Book of Job" are probably guys from this particular frat.

Google "Thomas C. Cook," and you'll find out that he was one of the founders of SAE. And $1500 for Darfur? That would be commendable if it were actually an organization with limited resources, but forgive me for feeling like these guys aren't strapped for cash.

I didn't think anything of this story at first, but if these guys are trolling the comment boards to heap praise on themselves "anonymously," you have to start to wonder about these guys.