Future of Westwood Tract uncertain

The 34 acres are currently zoned for residential.

April 9, 2014; 4:04 PM • by Richard Hayes

Yesterday we pointed out McGuire Cottage as being on the Richmond@Risk list for Historic Richmond. Last night (Tuesday) there was a meeting held by concerned neighbors and today RTD takes a closer look at the property owned by Union Presbyterian Seminary and last night’s discussion.

Although there are no set plans, some residents are worried about the 34 acres being turned into apartments and parking.

The seminary has been tight-lipped about its plans.

“There is nothing to report at this time regarding the land as no decisions have been made,” Andrea Wright, a seminary spokeswoman, said in an email late last month when asked for an update on plans for the property.

She added that the seminary “needs to finish the listening process first,” which involves the neighborhoods, professional advisors and the institution’s Board of Trustees.

Neighborhood groups say they’ve been told that the seminary wants to build housing, perhaps as early as this year, both for its students and as an income generator.

Seminary officials met with neighborhood groups last month to show a preliminary plan that calls for 348 apartment units and 559 parking spaces on 15 acres on the portion closest to Brook Road, according to a report distributed Tuesday by a joint task force of the Ginter Park Residents Association and the Sherwood Park Residents Association. Some of the apartments would be in four-story buildings.