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Director’s Report

March 10,  2003

 

  1. Action Items.

 

  1. The owner of the South-21 Curbside Restaurant requested that the Commission delay its consideration of the prospective designation of the subject property as a historic landmark until this meeting, so that he or his representative could appear before the Commission.  The issue before the Commission is whether it wishes to move ahead with historic landmark designation for the property.  This matter will come before the Commission as part of the Survey Committee’s Report.

 

  1. The City of Charlotte has communicated orally its support for historic landmark designation for Elmwood/Pinewood Cemetery except for a 100-foot corridor on the eastern edge of the subject property.  The Commission directed staff to investigate what is within that 100-foot corridor, which might be affected by the construction of a new railroad right-of-way.  After considering the report, the Commission should consider what portion of the subject property does it wish to recommend for historic landmark designation.

 

  1. Information Items.

 

  1. The owners of a portion of the Washam Farm requested that the Commission delay its vote on what land to include in the historic landmark until such time as the Town of Huntersville passed its new zoning ordinance.  Huntersville has now passed the ordinance, and Joe Kluttz continues to with the lawyer who represents the owners.

 

  1. The trolley barn issue is coming to a head.  CATS and the Real Estate Services Department of the County will be asking the Board of County Commissioners to approve on March18th the spending of $1.5 million in land bond funds to purchase the historic trolley barn at South Blvd. and Bland St.  Such purchase would be contingent upon CATS restoring the building.  CATS has developed alternatives for the Metropolitan Transit Commission to consider as part of its capital budget.  The MTC will make a decision by the end of March.  Regardless, Charlotte Trolley, Inc. will have to raise money to restore and refit two vintage streetcars, including Streetcar 85.

 

  1. The closing on the Palmer Fire School has occurred, and the check has been deposited in the Commission’s Historic Preservation Revolving Fund.

 

  1. Staff, including Bryan Turner and Pat Nystrom, has been working with the prospective buyers of the Croft Schoolhouse.  The principal problem has been the buyer’s secure of work, live-in zoning.  We remain optimistic that the deal will be consummated in the relatively near future.

 

  1. Progress on other projects continues.  The Grier-Rea House is scheduled to move to its new site at 9 p.m. on March 10th subject, as always, to the weather.  We had a slight delay due to having to pass Huntersville’s zoning requirements for the pavilion building at Rural Hill, but we are hopeful that construction will begin on that structure before the end of March.  Marvin Bethune, County Attorney, has completed his review of the RFP for the W. T. Alexander Plantation.  Copies should be sent to prospective buyers in the near future.  Invitations to bid on the construction at the Rozzell property  will be mailed soon. Copeland Architects has begun its work at the Sidney and Ethel Grier House – documenting existing conditions.  Phase III of the work on the Charlotte Cotton Mills is underway.  Also, Pappas Properties has submitted a proposal for parking arrangements at the site. 

 

  1. Pat Nystrom is working to arrange a meeting with Johnson C. Smith University and the Commission, so that the exact status of the Davis House project might be ascertained.

 

  1. Discussions continue with the Budget Department of the County about the Commission’s operating budget for next year.  The Commission might experience a slight reduction in its operation budget, and I anticipate that the securement of betterments will be a major challenge.  In this connection, I did get confirmation from Marvin Bethune that the Commission can use money from its revolving fund for basic operations and betterments if it so wished.  Click here for details.

 

  1. The fate of the buildings in the 400 block of East Trade St. continues to be an issue.  I anticipate that the City will want to work with the Commission to explore ways in which any or all of the buildings might be saved.  Jim Schumacher of the Engineering Department reports that an engineer is investigating the feasibility of saving some portions of the building and that that report should be completed by March 15th.

 

  1. I have talked with Robert Bush of the Arts and Science Council about the status of the Carolina Theater.  He explained that the cultural facilities Master Plan will be finished in May.  Preliminary findings will be forthcoming in April, and the community will have an opportunity to respond.  He also explained that Jeff Bradsher is a member of the Committee that will have direct input into the project.  According to Mr. Bush, the potential use of the Carolina Theater is still unresolved, although the consultants are much in support of adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Dan L. Morrill