1. Preparations
for the acquisition of the W. T. Alexander Plantation continue. A
structural analysis of the house and garage/apartment is in hand.
Pete Verna has visited and is assessing the condition of the barn.
I have ordered a survey. George Maloomian of Cambridge Properties
informs me that he would like to close in March 2000.
2. The Joint
Public Hearing with City Council to consider the prospective
designation of the McLaughlin House as a historic landmark will
occur on October 18th. City Council begins its meeting
at 6 p.m., and the hearing should be one of the first items on the
agenda.
3. There are
interesting developments with respect to the Charlotte Cotton
Mills at West 5th and Graham Sts. and the former
Coca-Cola Bottling Company plant located at West 6th
and Graham Sts. Land Design will renovate the latter for its
offices. I met with Brad Davis. It is his intent to save the
eastern and northern facades of the building, for which he will
seek historic landmark designation. As to the former, Fred Bolt
and Peter Pappas, who have formed a new development company, have
been unable to persuade the owner to sell the Charlotte Cotton
Mills at what they regard as a reasonable price. I told them that
the Historic Landmarks Commission has placed the Charlotte Cotton
Mills on its list of priority projects. They believe that the
building could be saved if the Commission would become a partner
in the project. Preliminary discussions will be held this week
with officials of Bank of America to discuss such an arrangement.
I will bring the results of this meeting to the attention of the
Projects Committee.
4. I have not
heard from First Charlotte Properties about any prospective buyers
for the Gluyas House on Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road.
5. I am submitting
the materials to City Council to schedule joint public hearings on
the prospective historic landmark designation of the Textile Mill
Supply Company and the Eli B. Davidson House. I have also sent the
letter regarding the Nebel Knitting Mill Annex to the North
Carolina Division of Archives and History for comment.
6. I did attend
the annual conference of Preservation/North Carolina, conducted a
bus tour for some of the participants, and did represent the
Commission in receiving the Award of Merit.
7. Let me give you
the background on the McAuley House and Farm issue. Almost ten
years ago the Commission obtained a grant from the North Carolina
Division of Archives and History to identify significant rural
properties and have them listed in the National Register of
Historic Places. One of these was the McAuley House and Farm.
Consistent with the Commission's policy not to consider
designation of property over owner's opposition, the subject
property was not processed for historic landmark designation at
that time. Routinely, this office receives notices of rezoning
hearings. I noted that Portrait Homes was requesting the rezoning
of the property for multi-family and was proposing a plan that
would destroy the historic resources on the property. I brought
this to the attention of the Survey Committee that voted to have
me update the Survey and Research Report and bring the property
back before the Commission. That is what I have done. Portrait
Homes has now withdrawn its request for rezoning, and the property
is under contingency contract to Ron Withrow. I have received a
letter which I have put on the website. The owner continues to
oppose designation. In my judgment, there is no doubt but that the
property qualifies for designation. I am also convinced that the
North Carolina Division of Archives and History will agree. You
have essentially two issues before you. First, do you want to
recommend historic landmark designation and move forward with the
designation process? Second, do you wish to institute a delay of
demolition for up to 180 days or until the Board of County
Commissioners holds it joint public hearing, whichever occurs
first?