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Director's Report August 13, 2001
A. Action Items 1. The Board of County Commissioners approved a $50,000 betterment to the Commission with the stipulation that $35,000 of that money would be provided to Comprehensive Genealogical Services, Inc. and $15,000 as the local match for the Commission's Federal grant to survey African American buildings and sites in Mecklenburg County. A contract with the Comprehensive Genealogical Services was reviewed by the County Attorney and approved as to form. I hereby request a motion that the contract be approved and that that approval be made retroactive to August 1, 2001. Click here to read contract. 2. The Commission received a 4 percent increase in its administrative budget for FY 2001-2002. Lara Ramsey, who has been providing staff support for the past year, will be moving to Chicago this week to continue her education in public history. She will, however, continue to provide services to the Commission via E-mail, principally in drafting ordinances and resolutions for hearings on prospective historic landmarks. Stewart Gray, a student in the public history program at UNC-Greensboro, comes highly recommended by Dr. Ruth Little as someone who could assume some of Ms. Ramsey's responsibilities, especially with staff assistance for design review and the designation process. I hereby request a motion that that contracts be approved for Lara Ramsey and Stewart Gray to serve as staff consultants. Such contracts would terminate on June 30, 2002, unless terminated earlier by either party upon thirty days' written notice. Click here to read Stewart Gray's resume. 3. Staff visited the Grier-Rea House in July. The original portion of the house is an impressive example of early 19th century architecture. Bryan Turner arranged for Jack Boyte to visit the site. Click here to read letter from Jack Boyte. In order to move ahead with the project, the Commission will have to approve a motion authorizing Patricia Nystrom to negotiate a contract for Commission approval that will allow the Commission to acquire the lot across Rea Road to which the house will be moved. B. Information Items. 1. No consultants have applied to conduct the African American survey. The North Carolina Division of Archives and History instructed this office to do a second mailing. That has been done, and the deadline for applying is August 31st. If nobody applies, the Commission will have to consider its options -- modifying the purposes of the grant, e.g., having National Register nominations prepared, or returning the grant. 2. The Joint Public Hearing with the Board of County Commissioners to consider the designation of the Rozzell House as a historic landmark is scheduled for 6:45PM, August 14, 2001, in the meeting chambers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. A majority of the Commissioners will need to be present. The County will also be asked to take two others actions involving the HLC at the August 14th meeting -- approving the HLC's purchase of the Rozzell House and amending the Revolving Fund Ordinance to allow the Commission to build in-fill structures on historic landmarks. 3. The County has taken several actions within the recent past which are most beneficial to the Historic Landmarks Commission. The County has assumed responsibility for the upkeep of the property at 2100 Randolph Road. Please notice the improvements that have occurred on the grounds. The County has assumed responsibility for monitoring the security systems at all properties owned by the Commission. Finally, the County has agreed to place all property insurance needs of the HLC under the County's umbrella policy, thereby saving the Commission considerable amounts of money. Bryan Turner deserves much of the credit for these enhancements to the work of the Commission. 4. All permits have been issued for moving the McAuley House to the Oehler property. The move should occur in the near future. Architect Joseph Opperman will be performing the architectural services for the McAuley House and the Oehler House. 5. Bryan Turner is negotiating a contract with Donny Luke to provide design services for the Rozzell House property. The Projects Committee has an action item dealing with this issue. 6. Don Yelverton has begun the design of the reconstruction of the Barn at the W. T. Alexander Plantation and the preparation of a site plan for same. Bryan Turner anticipates that construction will begin sometime in early 2002. I also continue to have discussions with officials at UNCC about the possibility of the University using the house. 7. An offer has been submitted to purchase the Grier House on Tilley Morris Road. No response has been received. 8. Work continues on the Charlotte Cotton Mills. Pappas Properties believes that it would be beneficial to modify the ownership arrangements of the property by turning the buildings into condominiums. The essential reason to is gain greater flexibility for design features under the State Building Code. The Projects Committee discussed this matter at its meeting. 9. A letter has been sent to the Huntersville Town Manager stating that the Commission recommends that the designation of twenty acres of land at Cedar Grove be removed subject to the prospective buyer purchasing the property. Staff is awaiting instructions from Huntersville about scheduling a public hearing. 10. Plans are being made for me to offer Real Estate License Renewal courses at the Croft Schoolhouse for the Mingle Institute. The hope is that this will help to market the property. 11. I will be meeting with the Coliseum-Convention Center Authority on August 15th to discuss the prospective designation of the Charlotte Coliseum (Former) and Ovens Auditorium as historic landmarks. 12. I will be teaching an historic preservation graduate class at UNCC on Tuesday evenings in the Fall Semester. I request that Committee chairpersons take this fact into account when scheduling meetings. 13. During the past year the following properties have had Survey and Research Reports prepared by the Commission but have not been designated because of owner opposition. Withers-Efird House, Charlotte Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium. The owner of another property, Mallard Creek Schoolhouse, is opposed to designation. The Commission might want to seek to ascertain the attitude of owners toward designation before it decides whether to authorize the preparation of Survey and Research Reports. 14. The North Carolina General Assembly has just passed legislation that authorizes Mecklenburg County to institute on a three-year trial basis a special building code for renovations of buildings. This could have a most worthwhile benefit for the Commission's projects. I am asking Bryan Turner to investigate this matter with the Building Standards Department. 15. I have had several conversations with Marvin Bethune about the prospect of the Commission's advocating public acquisition and restoration of the original Charlotte trolley barn. Here are the basics as I understand them. First, there is no legal difficulty with the County's using Land Bond money to acquire the building. Second, it is most unlikely that Land Bond Money could be used to buy a building which has been renovated for carbarn use. There would probably have to be City involvement if the project was to be viable. The County bought Spirit Square, and the City restored it. That might be what would have to happen with the trolley barn. Third, only 5% of Land Bond money can be used for an unrelated private use. Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Consulting Director |
