 "Photo: Rachel French")
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A Brookline house formerly owned by a Northeastern fraternity will act as a second home for families of patients in May 2009, said Amy Sweeney of Children's Hospital Boston in an e-mail interview.
The Children's Hospital in Boston purchased the former fraternity house at 241 Kent St. from the Phi Gamma Pi (PGP) Alumni Association this month, said John McKay, president of the PGP Alumni Association.
"The house will serve as a home-away-from-home for patient families who are in town for their child's long-term hospitalization. Long-term housing that provides a home-like environment helps families cope more comfortably with extended healthcare of their sick children," Sweeney said.
McKay compared this new home-away-from home for patient's families to a Ronald McDonald house, which is a residence for cancer patient's families who can't afford other housing options. However, the former fraternity house will house families of cardiac care patients, McKay said.
PGP lost its charter from Northeastern in 2006 after a number of infractions, including a 24-keg party that was broken up by police in 2005, according to an article that ran in The News.
"The fraternity wasn't really functioning there any longer and the cost and upkeep of the house made it a burden on the fraternity rather than an asset," McKay said. "After they lost their charter they had three students living there, which was part of the reason why the house deal couldn't function any longer."
None of the fraternity brothers who previously lived at the house could be reached for comment.
Children's was investigating different housing options for its new project as PGP was looking for organizations that might benefit from the property, Sweeney said.
"We really didn't have anything specific in mind, but then Children's caught it up - I don't know how they became aware of the situation - and they approached us and offered to buy the house," McKay said.
When PGP learned that Children's was looking for a place for patient's families, they agreed to sell the house at a reduced cost.
"The house was never on the open market, as Phi Gamma Pi always planned on selling the house to a worthwhile local organization to ensure a positive legacy for their fraternity," Sweeney said.
The fraternity agreed to sell the house to Children's for $1.1 million, Sweeney said. According to 2008 Brookline town records, the house is worth $1.6 million.
It is yet to be determined what the proceeds will be used for, but PGP has some sort of Alumni Association scholarship is in mind McKay said.
"We're exploring options. The money has to be used, and since we're a nonprofit organization we have to use it for a nonprofit cause," McKay said.
Meanwhile, the Brookline house is undergoing construction and renovations for its new use, Sweeney said.
"We are renovating the house and adding an addition," Sweeney said. "When complete, the home will feature 21 bedrooms, shared bathrooms, common areas, kitchen, garden, dining area and playroom as well as space for staff."
Sweeney said she embraced the house's history.
"Since the house was built by Vienne Brewery owner Andrew Houghton in 1889, many people have been impacted in their own way by the experiences they had within it," Sweeney said.
Children's is grateful for PGP's decision to sell the house, Sweeney said.
"We are now able to provide more housing to the patient families who need it most. The fraternity's sale to Children's leaves a lasting legacy in Brookline," Sweeney said.
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