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April 12, 2001
Mr. Dan L. Morrill, Consulting Director Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic
Landmarks Commission 2100 Randolph Road Charlotte,
North Carolina 28207
Dear Dan:
Thank you for your letter of April 10 notifying the City of the
Carolina Theatre Preservation Society's request regarding prospective
historic designation of the theatre. As owner of the property, I
appreciate the opportunity to respond on behalf of the City.
As you know, the City has proposed the renovation of the Carolina
Theatre as part of the Sports and Cultural Facilities package the voters
will consider on June 5, 2001. As part of the
renovation process, the Mayor and City Council will require that a
feasibility study and a detailed business plan be completed for any
Carolina Theatre renovation plan to ensure that the Theatre is
economically and programmatically viable. The Arts and Science Council,
which owns the option to purchase the Carolina Theatre property through
June 30, 2002 is in the process of reconvening the Carolina Theatre Task
Force that was appointed in 1999.
While the City is committed to renovation of the Theatre in as
historically correct manner as ultimately possible, and while the City
could in fact request its historic designation on our own at some point in
the future, historic designation of the structure at this point is
premature. The Carolina Theatre Task Force must have all options available
to it as it assesses the most appropriate programming niche for the
facility in the future, as well as the architectural renovation that best
complements that programming. I want to reiterate the City's commitment to
the historical attributes of the Carolina Theatre; however, we also are
committed to not precluding programming options that, in fact, will ensure
the long-term viability of the Carolina Theatre prior to the Task Force
reviewing all options.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to comment. Consideration of the
Carolina Theatre as a historic landmark is an excellent, but premature,
idea. As the property owner, our position is the possibility of historic
designation should be re-explored following completion of the studies the
Mayor and Council have already put into place.
Sincerely,
W. Curtis Walton, Jr.
Budget Director
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