January 23, 2024

Written By Ashley Williamson

Hampton Park Terrace Neighborhood Association
Meeting Notes

Special guest: William Dudley Gregorie City Councilman at City of Charleston (represents both the neighbors and the Citadel)

Mona Lisa Sims may be contacted directly for questions directed to Councilman Gregorie 843-327 7900 or simsmonalisa@gmail.com

HPT resident: Brittain Phillips lead the questions on behalf of HPT

Citadel spokesperson: Colonel Cardon Crawford, Vice President Operations and Administration, the Citadel 

Anne Kelly Russell, President, started the meeting promptly at 7:00pm. Her brief announcements included:

  • Call for new HPTNA volunteer officers, which will be elected at the next March 2024 meeting

  • Dues are due

  • Balance is 12,611.24 (Ben D’Allesandro, Treasurer, was unable to attend)

Kim Ralph, VP

  • Thanked all neighbors who have volunteered for Saturday socials in 2023 and encouraged anyone interested in hosting a social in 2024 to contact her.

  • Updated the Septima P Clark event: will take place on February 24 and will be the Saturday social for the month of February. A proposed budget of $1276 for the event was approved with no oppositions.

    • Off duty officers: Min 3 hours at $46/hour $138 x 2= $276

    • Insurance: $350

    • Rentals: Chairs, trashcans $200

    • Provisions from Little Line: $450

    • TOTAL REQUESTED $1276

Citadel spokesperson: Colonel Cardon Crawford, Vice President Operations and Administration, the Citadel

Key talking points:

Anne Kelley: HPT has been in constant contact with the Citadel and the neighborhood is seeking information/answers to determine what other actions are needed from HPT. HPTNA is neutral, though HPT neighbors may not be.

Crawford: Began with general niceties, stated a case of general cooperation and value of neighborhood relationships. Stated that the Citadel is always planning. 30-45 days ago this plan started to take shape. Citadel is not locked into anything yet. Compact study has not been initiated. Parking would be the same as it is for football games (outspoken opposition from the audience followed after that remark). Spoke of good intent, but confessed he couldn’t control all cars. 10pm sound ordinance would be honored.

Crawford: Citadel wants to do this to make money. Basically because sports costs the Citadel money. This is about trying to help the athletic department. Expand the base of students. State college brings responsibility to state tax payers, lessen costs to students.

Brittain Phillips led questions supplied by HPT residents, directed at Crawford: 

  • HPT is concerned about property values. Crawford doesn't know, not his intent.

  • Impact study? No, not conducted. 

  • Frequency of events? Have any events been scheduled? Nothing locked in, planning stage still in place. Each year planned maybe 6 a year (in spring, summer, fall). The Post stated up to 10 events. First tentative event could be April 2024 — potentially.

  • 3-day events not anticipated. 

  • events would be 4-hour windows (not a lalapalooza)

  • HPT is concerned that if and when things would change, would the neighborhood be updated.

  • Max attendees 12,000-14,000. Average for football is 11,000 attendance.

  • Has the Citadel arranged for a parking plan? Parking would follow current football game practices for parking. Citadel believes this parking can accommodate 12-14,000 attendees.

  • Traffic into and out — would mimic or be the same as football games.

  • Flood roads — Crawford: is an “act of god,” not much the Citadel can control (from audience, there is a Hagood flood plan that the Citadel is aware of (planning grant). Over 3 years out. 

  • Equipment staging — east side would have the 18 wheelers, outside out of mind

  • Eastside stands — function of money, no finality of moving forward because of funds. Stands will not be active before concerts

  • Noise ordnance? Citadel will follow city rules. 10pm stop

  • Will the citadel try to override the city noise ordnance? Doesn’t know right now. But wants to be good neighbors

  • Security — Citadel will work with the city police and event management. Regarding drunkenness, that’s up to personal ownership.

Councilman Gregorie took the floor at 7:29pm: 

Questions HPT is asking falls in line with the city's special events rules; and the citadel must comply. The city is not sitting back and not doing anything. The Citadel applied for a Special Events Permit in January 2023, a full year ago, but was recently withdrawn by the Citadel. There were permit requests by the Citadel and that didn’t go through the neighborhood channels.

The Citadel has always been a part of the neighborhood fabric. The city is working with the Citadel as we speak to make sure they get this right. He will represent what the neighbors want along with Wagener Terrace, West Side, and HPT, and he has gotten requests that this endeavor not to happen.

Applauds HPT for asking questions before they decide whether they do or do not support the concerts.

Everything covered in the meeting (questions from the residents) has to go through the city and the Special Events Coordinator.

Is the stadium even qualified to have these concerts. The Citadel might have to go through the BZA for special permission. 

Questions from HPT residents directed to Councilman Gregorie include:

  • How many concerts? 6 or 10? The paper said 10. But what if something changes?Gregorie says it’s not about what the Citadel intends to do it’s about what they are allowed to do.

  • What if the Citadel violates anything? Permits can be revoked.

  • What’s the best way for HPT to stay informed? HPT needs to ask for updates from the Citadel and Gregorie will also come to the meetings and keep HPT informed.

  • Will there be a public process and allow public forum? Yes.

  • Stadium sits in the middle of the West Side. Believes that relationship between neighborhoods and Citadel has dissipated. Stated the Citadel needs to update the neighborhoods. He found out via the paper, not because the Citadel informed the neighborhoods.

  • Gregorie — the Citadel could challenge the city.

  • More than doubles the impact on the city (firefighters etc). Doubts the infrastructure that’s currently in place can support the concerts.

  • Regarding the special events committee, Crawford did say the Citadel is working with the special events committee. Looking at 6 concerts, not 10, but not locked in. 

  • Gregorie regarding property values — it can comprise property values, tbd, but it can.

  • Litter post events: Gregorie: will be part of special events. 

  • How will the Citadel help keep the neighborhoods informed? Crawford suggests HPT has a smaller special group to work with the Citadel. 

  • If the citadel is granted permission for concerts, can they have as many as they want? From the citadel, each event needs its own permit. But, yes.

  • A neighbor who opposes the project: 6 events is more than 10 percent of our weekends. Any concessions from the Citadel? Crawford shrugged. Neighbor: 10pm is not a concession, it’s the law. Resident would ask for one event per year or two per year with an 8:00 P.M. cut off.

  • Can we get a copy of last year’s proposal? Gregorie: file should be public.

Anne Kelly closed the meeting at 8:07 P.M.

Ashley Williamson
Next

May 16, 2023