Present:
Matt Benson, Committee Chairman
Richard Mattson, Committee Vice-Chairman
Richard Alsop, III
Louis Asbury, IV
Victor Jones
Len Norman, HLC Chairman
Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director
Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner
Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant
Absent:
John Shurley
Visitors:
Lisa Anderson, 402 W. Trade St.
John Fryday, 402 W. Trade St.
Mujeeb Sha Khan, Assistant City Attorney
AGENDA
1. Committee Chairman’s Report: Mr. Benson
Mr. Benson welcomed everyone to the meeting
2. Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill
Dr. Morrill spoke about the agenda for today. He said
that the Assistant City Attorney will speak on the issue of demolition
of historic properties by neglect. Dr. Morrill said that the Historic
Landmarks Commission acts for all municipalities within Mecklenburg
County (Charlotte, Matthews, Mint Hill, Davidson, Huntersville,
Pineville) except Cornelius.
3. Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness:
Mr. Gray
A. The Century Building 412 W. Trade
Street, Charlotte, N. C.
Mr. Gray explained that the applicant is a potential
future tenant and is requesting a conceptual approval of a proposed
addition of a new doorway into an existing storefront. The new door
would be glass and aluminum and all mullions would be anodized bronze to
match the existing The curb would be cut to allow for an accessible
door. The owner of the building believes that the structure historically
had more than one store-front entrance in addition to the existing
original entrance. Proposed plans were presented and discussed.
DR. MATTSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP TO
RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE PROPOSED PLANS
FOR A NEW STOREFRONT ENTRANCE AND DOORWAY FOR THE CENTURY BUILDING, 412
WEST TRADE STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE CONCEPTUALLY APPROVED WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE APPLICANT WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK A HISTORIC
PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE ORIGINAL STYLE AND DIMENSIONS. THE COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
4. Explanation of powers to prevent demolition by
neglect: Mujeeb Sha Khan, Assistant City Attorney
Mr. Sha Khan told the Committee that if the HLC wishes
to get a local ordinance passed by City Council regarding demolition of
historic properties by neglect it will have to coordinate this
initiative with the Historic District Commission and the Planning
Commission. He said that under State Statute 400.11 the HLC is allowed
to file suit against a property owner for demolition through neglect and
to seek an injunction to prevent further demolition by neglect. He said
that safety of the public is always a primary consideration. The HLC can
currently delay demolition up to 365 day with a certificate of
appropriateness for demolition, but the HLC does not have the power to
permanently delay demolition for any longer than that and must issue the
requested certificate. Building codes address "run down" properties,
especially when public safety is a factor. City Council does have the
power to prevent demolition through the eminent domain law. To date, no
local historic property has been saved by this means. The Committee
agreed a good recourse to save endangered property is through the use of
the HLC’s revolving fund. When the HLC has ownership of historic
properties, deed restrictions are put in place at the time of the sale
which protect the property in perpetuity. Dr. Morrill said that he will
investigate what other municipalities are doing with respect to
ordinances regarding demolition by neglect. The Committee agreed that no
action on the matter should be pursued until all options are fully
considered. The Committee expressed many thanks to Mr. Sha Khan for his
interest and for explaining the law in detail and the HLC’s options.
5. Old Business
Mr. Gray said that a temporary handicapped ramp has been
installed at the front of 2100 Randolph Road. He said that architectural
assistance will be needed for installation of a permanent ramp, possibly
at the rear of the building. The Committee agreed that the matter can be
considered at a later date.
6. New Business
There was no further business. The meeting adjourned at
9:00 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for December 19, 2007, at 8:00
a.m.