An issue of long-standing debate came to a close this week on Greek Row.

After three years of struggle, heated politics and much uncertainty, the Delta Chi fraternity has gained ownership over the old Delta Upsilon fraternity house, located at 1114 Blackhawk Dr. The house became vacant after the DUs were evicted in 1999 because of drug charges.

Members of Delta Chi were given approval by fire inspectors late last week to move into the house after slight renovations were completed. Members of the fraternity are moving from the only home they’ve known since they formed a chapter on campus.

Since DU’s departure, an endless struggle was waged between community groups over who would gain control of the house.

Contrary to popular belief, the property never was set to become a halfway house.

“A halfway house is for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction,” said DeKalb Housing Authority Director Mitch Hallgren. “We’re not in the drug rehab business.”

Instead, the DeKalb Housing Authority wanted the property used as a transitional housing development to help DeKalb’s more impoverished residents, Hallgren said.

However, community members were opposed to having such a facility in the middle of their neighborhood.

First Ward Alderman Andy Small said the city did not see the Greek Row area as the best place for transitional housing.

“We stepped in and provided about an acre of land for transitional housing in a non-Greek area, leaving the old DU house open for Greek usage,” Small said. “It was a win-win for all.”

When all was said and done, the men at Delta Chi were happy to take advantage of the opportunity to bid on the property.

“It was a bidding war,” Delta Chi President Michael Ramiro said. “We saw the opportunity to get the property, and we pursued it.”

After a lengthy pursuit of bidding and petitioning, the Delta Chi’s prevailed.

“Landowners, businessmen, as well as other fraternities, were all interested in the property but eventually dropped out of [the running], and Delta Chi became the winners,” said Interfraternity Council Adviser Chris Juhl.

Last fall, the restoration process began to make the old DU house suitable for living arrangements again.

There was a lot of damage, Juhl said.

To assist in repairs, other Greek houses on campus volunteered their time.

Members of Delta Chi anticipate a better standard of living in the new house.

“The house is a lot bigger, and it really diminishes our space concerns,” said Mark Alteri, Delta Chi’s public relations chair and a Northern Star advertising representative. “It should really help out with rush.”

The old Delta Chi house will become the new house for Sigma Lambda Sigma, a service sorority on campus.

“We are just happy to get that vacant property off the market and back into the Greek community,” Small said.

Members of Delta Chi who will be living at the new house anticipate wrapping up the moving process by the end of the week.