June 11, 2001

Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N. C.

Ava Autrey, Committee Chairman

Tattie Bos, Committee V. Chairman

Jeff Bradsher, HLC Chairman

Jim Benham

Bob Bookout

Deborah Cox

Kathryn Lawrence

John Misenheimer

Greg Walden

Mike Sullivan

Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

None

Tony Pressley/Meca Properties

Reg Narmour/Narmour-Wright Associates

Frances Alexander/Mattson, Alexander & Associates

Fran Reiner/LandDesign

Tony Ansaldo, CMS/Elizabeth Elementary/Independence Park

Jim Palmieri/Clark Nexsen Architects/Elizabeth Elementary/Independence Park

Renee Casali/Elizabeth Elementary/Independence Park

1. Welcome: Ms. Autrey, Committee Chairman

2. Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill

Dr. Morrill said that the business being covered at tonight’s meeting can be seen on the website under the Design Review section.

3. Consideration of an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Independence Park, Hawthorne Lane.  Click here to see plans.

Dr. Morrill told about the proposed design plans for Elizabeth School which was built in 1927. The School is not a designated historic landmark but the plans for raising the wall, creating a new walkway and additional landscaping involve Independence Park, Charlotte’s first park which was built in 1906, which is beside the school.

Mr. Palmieri, the architect, added additional information about the plans and answered questions. Mr. Ansaldo and Ms. Casali of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system were present in support of the application which reads as follows:

"The current Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School consists of three structures built on approximately .851 acres adjacent to Independence Park (16.72 acres.) The original Elizabeth School, a three-story masonry structure, was built during the mid 1920s. This building will be renovated to maintain much of its original character except where modifications are required by the North Carolina Building Code. The curved classroom wing, built in the early 1950s, along with the gymnasium, built in the early 1970s, will be demolished in their entirety. A three-story addition will meet educational requirements. The addition is designed not to overpower the existing building nor to attempt to copy the architecture style. However, in addition to the limestone type accents, its brick facade will be enhanced with brick detailing similar to the existing building. Independence Park, the historic landmark at issue, is located on the north boundary of the site and separated from the school by a change in grade. The school and park will be enhanced with the addition of an accessible walkway and significant landscaping. The small retaining walls required for the walkway are to match the stone walls throughout the park. The small storage building and area enclosure that face the park will be permanent structures that will blend with school architecture. CMS owns the Elizabeth Traditional School site and Mecklenburg County owns the Independence Park site. The existing property line between the park and the school currently traverses the middle of the school parking lot CMS and the County intend to relocate this property line to encompass school site amenities such as the car parking lot, the exterior storage building, and the enclosure area. To accomplish this, the plan is for the County to convey a small portion of the Independence Park land ).33 acres) to CMS. Because this small portion of land is technically part of the land designated as a historic landmarks, a review of these by the Historic Landmarks Commission is requested. Construction for the renovation and addition is currently scheduled to start in January 2002, with an anticipated completion date of June 2003."

4. Consideration of an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the Parks -Cramer Co. Company Complex, 2000 S. Boulevard.  Click here to view plans.

Mr. Pressley, Mr. Narmour, Mr. Reiner and Ms. Alexander were present in support of the proposed application for the Parks-Cramer Company Complex for the following improvements: 1)Vehicular connection from the E. Tremont Avenue parking lot to the South Boulevard Street parking lot with landscape improvements 2) Two new windows and alley entrance feature and hardscape improvements on the E. Tremont Avenue side of the "Pipe Shed"/Powerhouse building 3) Landscape and hardscape improvements along the trolley corridor.

Vehicular Connection : a. The vehicular connection will be designed as a plaza courtyard with a permeable concrete unistone-paver system. This system allows direct drainage into the ground and has been reviewed by the Urban Forester. It provides aeration to the root systems of the existing oak trees. The connection will be the minimum standard 21’ -0", for two-way traffic. b. A 6’-0" pedestrian walk will allow access to the building entrances along South Boulevard. The pedestrian walks will use a concrete brick paver and will have compatible colors with the vehicular unistone paver system. A 4’-0" landscaped area, similar to the existing conditions, will remain along a portion of the building with benches for outdoor seating. Landscape pots will be provided where the walk abuts the building. c. Bollards will be used to clearly define the pedestrian walkway from the parking spaces. A pedestrian concrete brick paver crosswalk will be provided at both ends of the parking area to further delineate the connection as a courtyard plaza. During events the courtyard can be closed to vehicles to allow a pedestrian friendly outdoor space. d. There will be a 4’ hedge along the courtyard plaza to screen the parking area and provide a clean landscaped edge from South Boulevard. Additional landscaping will be provided along South Boulevard to provide seasonal color.

Architectural Openings: Two windows on the E. Tremont Avenue side of the "Pipe-Shed/Powerhouse building with hardscape improvements to the alley. The purpose of the request is to give this elevation some presence from the new Trolley Station to be built within 50’ or so. It is also needed to give tenants some product visibility from this new focal point. The applicant feels that the solution is to replicate the type of windows that are currently on the sides of the building. The type or style of window pattern would not be changed. The canopy and brackets will remain untouched, except for new colors. The approximate size of the openings would be 3’-6" wide by 10’ tall (to match with existing heights). A faux wood "shed door" is proposed which would unify the architectural detail to the other two sides. A freestanding painted steel structure to signify the entrance to the alley along with hardscape improvements along the "Pipe Shed"/Powerhouse building. The structure will act as an entrance feature and a focal point for the future E. Tremont Avenue trolley stop. The architecture of the structure will be industrial in nature.

Trolley Corridor Landscape Improvements: We are requesting landscape and hardscape improvements along the trolley corridor side of the project. This will include: a) A 5’ asphalt or concrete pedestrian walk from the current trolley barn location to the "Pipe Shed". This connection will be incorporated with the eventual trolley stop at Tremont Avenue. b) Trees and shrubs to provide a pleasant landscaped area. c) Hardscape amenities may include benches and lighting.

Mr. Pressley said that he would offer a new design solution for the two openings on the northern or Tremont Ave. facade of the Pipe Building at the Aug. 13th meeting of the Historic Landmarks Commission.

5. Old Business

No motions were presented.

6. New Business

Ms. Autrey reminded everyone present that items considered at this meeting will be considered by the HLC on August 13, 2001. She said that the next Design Review meeting is scheduled for August 29, 2001.