This Wilmington racquet club is for sale. Petition asks city, county to consider purchase.
After three decades of business, the Holly Tree Racquet and Swim Club is for sale, and club members are asking for the help of local governing bodies to purchase it.
Members started a change.org petition on April 19 to express their support if the city of Wilmington or New Hanover County wants to purchase the club.
The hope is that members as well as the community will continue to benefit from the courts and family spaces as a public space.
"Holly Tree Racquet and Swim Club has, for three decades, been a place where women, men, teens and children have come every day of the week to learn, practice, compete in and enjoy with friends and family the sport of tennis," the petition says.
As of May 7, the petition had 384 signatures.
The petition expressed happiness for owners Irv Sistrunk and Rusty Lee, who according to the petition, plan to sell the club for a fair market value.
"They work hard every day and deserve to be able to turn their attention to family and other pursuits," the petition says.
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According to the petition, the club has about 240 memberships, about 40% of which are families or couples, with the rest being one person memberships. Members expect that if the county purchased the club, it could serve a much broader number of New Hanover County residents.
Members are hoping that the club will become a public sports facility, much like Echo Farms. The petition noted that it would take an estimated $5 million to build a facility like Holly Tree on underdeveloped land.
"It is our hope that the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County will see the value in preserving and continuing what is already here and at the same time, expand its benefit to even more citizens," the petition says.
Holly Tree Racquet and Swim Club announced the news of the club going up for sale in a post on Facebook and shared the petition asking that people read it and show support.
Rachel Knowles wrote in support of the petition that the club and its members have had an active role in supporting charities. For the past three years, the club has been a central part to the success of the Raise a Racquet Against Domestic Violence charity tennis tournament to benefit the local domestic violence shelter and service.
Alex Riley, communications and outreach coordinator for New Hanover County, said the county has not made any steps to purchase the property, but that the board of commissioners is aware of the petition.
New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple said that Holly Tree is a very attractive facility, but that the there has not been any significant discussion that he has heard about a purchase.
Zapple said that while the fiscal year 2024-25 county budget presents several challenges, the focus of the board of commissioners and staff is maintaining core services and fulfilling existing commitments.
The city of Wilmington has not discussed purchasing the club. Councilwoman Salette Andrews said she was aware that the club is up for sale, but didn't know about the petition.
Meanwhile, Councilman David Joyner said, "I encourage our neighbors in the private sector to consider this fantastic opportunity, and have heard from a small number of individuals who have considered purchasing and managing the business privately."
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Holly Tree Racquet and Swim Club for sale in Wilmington, NC
