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Director's Report
March 8, 2004
A. Action Items.
1. Staff needs guidance
with respect to the strategy that the Commission wishes to following in
securing funding for HLC operations for FY 2005. The Commission
currently receives 60 percent of its operating budget of $136,099 from
demolition permit fees. The remaining 40 percent of its operating
budget and all the money for the Project Manager come from regular
County money, meaning that it must be approved by the Board of County
Commissioners. The County Manager's recommended "no tax increase"
budget does not contain funding for the HLC or the Project Manager.
The issue before the Commission is whether it wishes to attempt to
secure regular County funding as before or whether it wishes to make up
the difference between the money provided by demolition permit fees and
full operations by drawing money from the Historic Preservation
Revolving Fund. Staff recommendation: attempt to secure County
funding but, if necessary, draw money from the Historic Preservation
Revolving Fund to meet current level funding. The lobbying effort
will have to be intense.
2. There are two
properties that present an immediate challenge to the Commission.
One is the Ewart House on the Huntersville-Concord Road. The owner
continues to oppose the house's being used as a residence where it
currently stands. This means that the house, which has been listed
in the National Register of Historic Places, must be moved. It is
located approximately one mile from the Oehler property. The issue
before the Commission is whether it wishes to proceed with acquiring the
house at no cost and moving it to the Oehler property. Bryan
Turner will have moving cost estimates and rehabilitation cost estimates
available at the meeting. A rezoning hearing is scheduled before
the Huntersville Town Board on March 15th. HLC staff plans to
appear to give an update on preservation efforts for the house.
Because of the importance of the house, move ahead with performing
due diligence to accept the house as a donation, ask the owner and the
developer to assist with moving costs, and secure permission to move the
house to the Oehler property.
3. The other house is the
McConnell House at 4009 Beatties Ford Road. This late
nineteenth-century farmhouse might be adversely affected by a road
widening project. The owner has submitted a letter asking that the
house be processed for historic landmark designation. Because
of the importance of the house, place the McConnell House on the study
list and proceed with the preparation of a Survey and Research Report at
the owner's expense.
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Mc. McConnell driving his
wagon on Beatties Ford Road |
B. Information
Items.
1. The Citizens Capital
Budget Advisory Committee is scheduled to hear an HLC staff presentation
on April 5 at 8:30AM on the HLC's request to be included in the next
Bond referendum. I will be working with the Bond Committee to
obtain input on what items should be included in the presentation.
The necessary preliminary materals have been entered into the County's
software.
2. Pat Nystrom and I did
meet with Charles Guignard regarding his status in moving ahead with the
rehabilitation of the Thrift P&N Depot. Ms. Nystrom has also been
in contact with officials of CSX. She will have an update at the
meeting.
3. The Park and
Recreation Commission did vote to support the designation of the entire
Oehler property as a historic landmark. Stewart Gray is preparing
the materials to move ahead with scheduling the joint public hearing
with the Huntersville Town Board.
4. Staff will be meeting
tomorrow night with the Park and Recreation Commission to secure its
support for the designation of American Legion Memorial Stadium as a
historic landmark. The prospects seem promising, as the Special
Projects Committee of Park and Recreation has endorsed designation.
5. The HLC and the
Huntersville Town Board held a joint public hearing on February 16th to
consider the designation of the Bethesda School as a historic landmark.
The decision should be forthcoming shortly. The prospects seem
promising.
6. Len Norman and I met
on March 5th with the Huntersville Planning Director to consider
preservation techniques that might be used to protect the Neck Road
Corridor, on which Rural Hill Plantation is located.
7. Staff did meet with
the Planning Director of Pineville to discuss how the HLC might assist
the town in developing a comprehensive historic preservation plan.
The reaction was favorable, and HLC staff is developing a draft of
a comprehensive historic preservation plan for the town. Further
discussions with Pineville officials will be forthcoming.
8. Staff will be working
to prepare the budget request to go before the Board of County
Commissioners for FY 05.
9. The Commission has
received a signed contract to purchase the Grand Theater.
10. MECA Properties
is actively marketing the W. T. Alexander Plantation and the Oakley
House, and Pappas Properties continues to actively market the Charlotte
Cotton Mills.
11. Restoration work
continues at the Rozzell House, the Sidney and Ethel Grier House, and
the Grier-Rea House.
12. Staff continues to
work with the owner of the Ada Cotton Mill. The attorney states
that a letter will be forthcoming explaining the owner's attitude toward
the prospect of historic landmark designation.
13. The developer of the
Lytle House property has not responded to repeated contacts to obtain
information about the status of the house. At this point there is
a tenant in the house, and the Town of Huntersville has told staff that
the developer has carried through with his commitment to redraw the
sub-development plat to allow the house to remain on its own parcel.
Staff anticipates that contact will be made.
14. Ross Richardson has
resigned her seat on the Historic Landmarks Commission. Special
thanks to her for her loyal service.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Dan L. Morrill
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