Seminary Hill Association

SHA Board Members updated their October motion supporting the courts but not the lighting them: "Seminary Civic Association and Seminary Hill Association, Inc. support the construction of school tennis courts on the T. C. Williams campus and support the continuation of the prohibition of lighting on any athletic fields, such as tennis courts and th... e football stadium. They also agreed to send a letter and a copy of the transcript of the School Board's discussion about the lights for the tennis courts to City Council. 2013-12-03 Planning Commission approved ACPS plans for six tennis courts at T. C. Williams High School but not the lights. 2013-10-10 SHA members discussed concerns about the proposal to put lights on the new tennis courts planned for T. C. Williams High School. Residents fear abrogating the 2007 DSUP prohibiting lights on any playing fields would bring pressure to light the football stadium and other playing fields. Lighting the football stadium would not mean a few Friday night football games a year but activities, noise, and trash seven nights a week, 52 weeks a year. Also, light would shine onto private property every night and, on occasion all night, given the City's track record with the lights at Minnie Howard and the Fort Ward Park soccer field. The students have no need for lights on the tennis courts because their matches are in daylight hours. SHA passed a motion unanimously that it "supports the continuation of the prohibition of lighting on any athletic fields, such as tennis courts and the football stadium, on the T. C. Williams High School campus." 2013-09-12 The City presented updated plans to build six tennis courts at T. C. Williams High School. SHA was surprised to learn the plans, which had been discussed since 2012, now included lights on the courts in violation of the DSUP for the school.Read More