Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Matthew Benson, Committee Chairman

Richard Alsop, III

Louis Asbury, IV

Victor Jones

Lynn Weis

Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner

Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Valerie Lewis, Committee Vice-Chair

Richard Mattson

John Shurley

Jim Donnelly, 139 S. Tryon St.

John Murray, 101 S. Tryon St., Bank Of America

Robby Bryum, William Grier House

Todd Ware, Grier House/Byrum Store

Item #1 - Chairman’s Report: Matt Benson

Mr. Benson welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Item #2 - Director’s Report: Dan Morrill

Dr. Morrill outlined the agenda.

Item #3 - Applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness: Stewart Gray

Mr. Gray reminded everyone present that the HLC uses The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation to judge the appropriateness of proposed projects. The guidelines were presented.

A. William Grier House, 8416 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, N. C.

The proposed project will involve moving the house approximately 1,000 feet north to a new one acre lot. The applicant proposes to set the house on a new brick foundation. The original chimneys, up to the shoulders, will be moved with the house. The remainder of the chimneys will be rebuilt at the site. The applicant proposes to replace the existing wood siding with fiber cement siding. Staff recommends that 1) the move of the historic house be allowed after the house is fully documented on its current site with comprehensive photography 2) that the original wood siding on the porch be preserved and 3) that any visible piers in the current foundation be replicated in the new foundation.

B. Hayes-Byrum House, 8522 Steele Creek Rd., Charlotte, N. C.

The proposed project would involve moving the house approximately 2,000 feet north to a new one acre lot. The house will be placed on a new brick foundation. HLC Staff recommends that 1) the move of the historic house be allowed after the house is fully documented on its current site with comprehensive photography 2) that the original wood siding on the porch be preserved and 3) that any visible piers in the current foundation be replicated in the new foundation.

MR. JONES PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATIONS FOR THE WILLIAM GRIER HOUSE, 8416 STEELE CREEK ROAD, CHARLOTTE, NC. AND THE HAYES-BYRUM HOUSE, 8522 STEELE CREEK RD., CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED SUBJECT TO THE INCLUSION OF THE PRESENTED HLC STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

C. Oehler House, 14401 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville, N. C.

Mr. Gray showed and explained proposed elevations/drawings to the committee.

The applicant proposes to do the following on the original house: 1) Restore and repair the brick house interior and exterior to its original state 2) Upgrade existing electrical service 3) Replace or repair as necessary the doors and windows 4) Replace existing metal roof with same material 5) Provide a new railing and brick piers on the front porch.

The applicant proposes to do the following on the existing addition: 1) Reframe with new windows and doors 2) Reuse refurbished siding 3) Provide a new bay window 4) Provide a new deck, back door landing and railing and 5) Reframe the shed dormer with 3"-6" elevational setback.

The applicant also proposes to do the following: 1) Create a more transparent and diminutive addition that will direct attention back to the original brick house. By breaking the addition into smaller architectural pieces such as the gable, shed, bay window and porch, the brick house will focus on the property. 2) The addition must be reframed to meet current code requirements. Reframing presents an opportunity to add windows and doors that will create transparency so that the original exterior wall of the brick house will be visible through the addition. 3) Existing siding will be salvaged, refurbished and reinstalled to retain the patina of age appropriate to the property. 4) A new bay window will provide a focal point in the unarticulated southeast elevation of the addition. Centered on the gabled portion of the addition, the bay window will echo the interest and elevational depth of the original brick wall and chimney. 5) A new deck will wrap around from the rear of the house to the back door of the addition, mitigating the severity and size of the rear shed. The gabled portion of the addition will be visually stronger as the shed recedes behind the deck. On the rear elevation the deck unifies the brick house and addition while providing basement access and a landing for the original rear door. 6) The shed dormer setback will create a reveal on the southeast elevation of the addition that will echo the hidden rear edge of the brick house.

HLC staff recommends that 1) the proposed new bay window be rectangular in shape and have a simple shed roof and 2) the paint color of the addition be executed to minimize the visual impact of the addition and that the applicant submit paint colors to the HLC staff for its approval.

MR. ALSOP PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE OEHLER HOUSE, 14401 HUNTERSVILLE-CONCORD ROAD, HUNTERSVILLE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS SUBMITTED SUBJECT TO THE PRESENTED HLC STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

D. Home Federal Savings & Loan Building, 139 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, N.C.

The owner of the building proposes to build a parking garage at the rear of the building. The one-story steel-framed garage would feature a metal mesh wall covering adjacent to the sidewalk. The remainder of the building would be covered with polycarbonate wall panels. The roof of the garage would support HVAC equipment. The owner of the building proposes that the approved design for the building’s new balconies be changed to comply with suggestions from the State Historic Preservation Office. The owner’s building is proposing changes to the entrance into the elevator lobby and to the elevator lobby area.

Mr. Gray presented HLC Staff recommendations as follow:

1) No decision should be made regarding the proposed parking garage until sufficient documentation is presented by the applicant giving details of the exterior architectural elements so that a judgment can be made about the issue of compatibility.

2) The window treatment of the balconies should be modified from the arrangement already approved by the HLC so that the applicant can satisfy the suggestions advanced by the State Historic Preservation Office for tax credits.

3) The proposed changes to the entryway, entrance vestibule, elevator lobby do not meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standard and should not be approved.

The Committee looked at the proposed elevations/drawings. Mr. Gray explained the proposed data. Mr. Donnelly, the owner, explained the reasons for the proposals.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. JONES TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO APPROVE IN CONCEPT THE PARKING GARAGE FOR THE HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING, 139 SOUTH TRYON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C. WITH THE PROVISO THAT THE APPLICANT MUST FURNISH ADDITIONAL DRAWINGS AND INFORMATION TO HLC STAFF FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE HLC MEETING ON MAY 14, 2007. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. JONES PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED DESIGN FOR THE NEW BALCONIES WHICH WILL COMPLY WITH SUGGESTIONS FROM THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE FOR THE HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING, 139 SOUTH TRYON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The Committee agreed to take no action on proposed changes to the entrance into the elevator lobby and to the elevator lobby area for the Home Federal Savings and Loan Building until additional detailed information is provided as discussed. Mr. Donnelly said that he will comply with the requests.

There was no additional business. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m.