Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:17 a.m.

Matthew Benson, Committee Chairman

Valerie Lewis, Committee Vice-Chairman

Richard Alsop, III

Yolanda Johnson, HLC Vice-Chairman

Len Norman, HLC Chairman

John Shurley

Lynn Weis

Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner

Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Victor Jones

Richard Mattson

Monte Ritchey, President of Conformity Corp.

Mike Davis

Jane Watson

Greg Lacour, Charlotte Observer

Chris Trainor

James Kunevicius

Johnell Johnson

Gardine Wilson, owner of Coffee Cup business

Louise D. Learson

Anthony McCarver, owner of Coffee Cup business

Gary Ritter

Danielle Vaughn

Marsha Pearson

Reginald Adar

Item #1 - Chairman’s Report: Mr. Matthew Benson

Mr. Benson welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Item #2 - Director’s Report: Dr. Dan Morrill

Dr. Morrill said that the HLC would consider proposed renovation plans for the Home Federal Savings and Loan Building, a designated historic landmark located at 139 South Tryon St., Charlotte, N. C. this morning. Also, proposals to replicate portions of the Coffee Cup Soda Grill, a non-designated historic landmark located at 914 South Clarkson Street, Charlotte, N. C., will be considered.

Lists were distributed of the current designated historic landmarks in Mecklenburg County. 297 properties have been designated historic in Mecklenburg County as of October 18, 2006. The list of designated historic landmarks can be found on the HLC’s website - cmhpf.org or landmarkscommission.org.

Item #3 - Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness: Mr. Stewart Gray

A. Certificate of Appropriateness Application for the Home Federal Savings and Loan Building, 130 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, N. C.

Mr. Gray said that the applicant is proposing to convert the office building into apartments on the third through the seventh floors. The first two floors would remain commercial but may be converted into a restaurant. Photographs were shown of the current building and of the building as it would look after the proposed renovations. Changes would include terraces on the NW and SW corners of the building. Tinted glass will be replaced with clear glass. The rooftop will be converted into a patio area. The applicant has agreed in principle that the windows on the facade adjacent to the proposed balconies on the northern elevation would continue across the full extent of the facade. The applicant, Mr. Gray reported, has also agreed to provide access to the building so that HLC staff can determine what interior architectural features have retained integrity. Mr. Gray said that HLC staff finds that the proposed project meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and recommends project approval. The renovation of the building would begin in February or March and would be completed in about nine months. There will be six to eight condominium owners.

The Committee discussed the proposal. Concerns and issues with details such as a different treatment for the windows were addressed.

MR. SHURLEY PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING, 139 SOUTH TRYON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS SUBMITTED. THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MOTION AS PRESENTED.

APPROVE: MR. BENSON, MR. SHURLEY, MR. WEIS AND MR. NORMAN OPPOSE: MR. ALSOP, MS. JOHNSON, AND MS. LEWIS

Note: The HLC will vote on the recommendation November 13, 2006.

Item #4 - Coffee Cup Soda Grill, 914 South Clarkson Street, Charlotte, N. C.

The Coffee Cup Soda Grill is not a designated historic landmark. The owners (Beazer Homes) of the property asked the Historic Landmarks Commission to review proposed plans to replicate portions of the current structure at a new location. The plans were shown to those present. The concept is to construct a bus stop on Clarkson Street to the exact dimensions of the facade of the current Coffee Cup. Dr. Morrill said that if the HLC votes to recommend that the Coffee Cup be processed for historic designation that demolition can be delayed by the HLC for up to 180 days or until such time as City Council holds a joint public hearing with the HLC, whichever occurs first. If City Council votes to designate the property as a historic landmark the HLC could delay demolition for up to 365 days. The owners (Gardine Wilson and Anthony McCarver) of the Coffee Cup business (not the structure itself) reported that the business owns the historic signage.

Note: If an owner of a property applies for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish a property, the HLC must grant approval as mandated by N. C. law.

City Council can use the power of eminent domain to stop demolition indefinitely, but the HLC does not have the power to delay demolition more than 365 days. The HLC’s $9M Revolving Fund is used to buy and sell endangered designated historic landmarks or properties in historic districts. At the time of purchase the HLC places restrictions in the deeds so that the property can never be demolished. Properties saved by the HLC with Bond Funds can be viewed on the HLC’s website (see Projects) - www.cmhpf.org or landmarkscommission.org.

Dr. Morrill said that the primary job of the HLC is to identify and provide protection as allowed by the legal system for important historic elements in the community. Reasonable compromises are sometimes necessary, such as to move a property to another piece of land. The HLC understands that the most desirable situation is for a historic property to be preserved on its original site.

Mr. Benson said that the recommendation that this Committee makes regarding the Coffee Cup will be presented at the HLC meeting on November 13. The HLC will also consider whether or not to process the property, which opened in 1948, for historic designation.

Committee members discussed design issues regarding proposed plans for the Coffee Cup. Visitors expressed concerns and opinions about the community importance of the structure, about how the Coffee Cup has served as a place where people from all walks of life have interacted for many years while dining, about its cultural significance as a soul-food diner, and about the fact that the building itself should be preserved as the venue for the current business.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. SHURLEY TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT IT NOT ACCEPT THE PLANS PROPOSED BY BEAZER HOMES FOR THE COFFEE CUP SODA GRILL, 914 SOUTH CLARKSON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C. THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MOTION.

APPROVE: ALSOP, JOHNSON, LEWIS, SHURLEY, WEIS

OPPOSE: BENSON, NORMAN

Note: The HLC will vote on the recommendation November 13, 2006.

No old or new business was presented. The meeting adjourned at 9:17 a.m.