A fraternity improvement district might be in State College's future.

Phil Wagner (senior-animal science), a member of Pi Kappa Phi, 409 E. Fairmont Ave., is working to implement an improvement district specifically for fraternity houses. He hopes the district will help combat fire safety and security issues in fraternity neighborhoods.

"My idea is to improve the quality of life in the fraternity district," Wagner said.

It would be beneficial to have a group for the community to discuss issues with fraternity members, he added.

Currently, if a problem occurs with a fraternity, it is turned over to the Interfraternity Council (IFC), leaving members to deal with problems on their own, Wagner said.

"What I'm saying is before fraternity issues become such a nuisance to the district, we would like to start an organization to help each other," Wagner said. "More and more fraternities are getting in trouble for failing to comply with borough ordinances."

Wagner's plans for the improvement district include hiring outside agencies to help fraternities purchase lawn mowing services, security, snow removal, and trash and litter pick-up.

Some Penn State alumni have shown interest in a fraternity improvement district. Jim King, president of Delta Tau Delta's alumni board of directors, likes the idea of an improvement district, but said fraternities should be cautious about what kinds of rules are written.

"State College has always seemed like it's a college town," King said. "But there was always a division between townies, college kids, borough and the university."

If any organization could bridge that gap between the university, borough and fraternities, it would be a fraternity improvement district, King said.

The State College Borough Council has been discussing the possibility of implementing the fraternity improvement district, which would be somewhat like the downtown improvement district that is already in place.

"We were approached by a member of the fraternity district just inquiring if it would be possible to have the district as an improvement district," said Teresa Sparacino, director of the Downtown Improvement District. Plans for the fraternity improvement district are still in the preliminary stages, Sparacio said. Council must approve all plans.

"I felt someone needed to address these issues rather than waiting for something to happen," Wagner said. "I would rather be proactive and stop something before it happens."