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Director's Report August 12, 2002 A. Action Items.
1. The owners of the Neill House have rejected offers made by the HLC to purchase the property. The Commission faces two issues with respect to this property. First, should the Commission consider making additional offers? This discussion would have to occur in Executive Session. Second, does the Commission wish to continue processing the property for historic landmark designation? I have talked with the president of the Newell Community Association, which will be meeting on August 22nd. She explained that the Association will be discussing the Neill House at that meeting and would inform the Commission of its position. Staff Recommendation: Delay action on this matter until the September Meeting of the HLC.
2. In January 2002, the HLC voted to seek approval from the Board of County Commissioners to use Land Bond money to acquire the Southern Public Utilities Streetcar Barn with the understanding that, if necessary, the HLC would eventually reimburse the County from proceeds from future revolving fund sales. The HLC also stipulated that acquiring the property would be contingent upon the City's commitment to buy the building from the HLC and to restore it. The Board of County Commissioners has included the purchase of the streetcar barn in its Land Bond Projects list. Ron Tober of the Charlotte Area Transit Authority has met with members of the HLC and has provided a letter explaining his level of commitment to the project. Click here to read letter. The issue before the Commission is whether Mr. Tober's letter is sufficient to allow the Commission to move forward. Keith Parker of CATS will be present to answer questions. Staff Recommendation: Instruct Staff to have Patricia Nystrom assemble representatives of CATS, Charlotte Trolley, Inc., Pappas Properties, and the HLC to complete a purchase contract for consideration by the HLC at an upcoming meeting.
3. Consultants for CATS will be present to explain the impact that the South Light Rail Corridor will have upon the South 21 Drive-In Restaurant, which has been determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The HLC will be asked to issue a letter to the State Historic Preservation Officer assessing the nature of this impact. Staff Recommendation: Receive Consultant's Report and Formulate Response.
4. Developers of the property surrounding the Richard Barry House Ruin on Beatties Ford Road are seeking a preservation solution for this landmark. The arrangements will have to be discussed in Executive Session.
5. Meca Properties has submitted a listing proposal for the Croft Schoolhouse. Details will have to be discussed in Executive Session. B. Information Items.
1. The restoration of the Charlotte Cotton Mills continues. Bryan Turner and I did meet in Raleigh with officials from the North Carolina Division of Archives and History to discuss the eligibility of the two remaining structures for the National Register of Historic Places. The Division of Archives and History will recommend that Building A (the corner building) be listed in the National Register because it is a relatively intact building that was part of the Charlotte Cotton Mills. Building B (the building owned by the Commission) will not be recommended for the National Register of Historic Places. The reason is the physical integrity of the building as an element of the Charlotte Cotton Mills. This means that the Commission will only be able to obtain the 10 percent Federal Tax Credit which is available for buildings erected before 1936. Fred Bolt of Pappas Properties has assured the Commission that the restoration of Building B will still be economically viable.
2. The Commission will be moving ahead with the purchase of the Grier House on McKee Road. Bryan Turner is preparing the materials to ask the Board of County Commissioners to approve the HLC's purchase of the land (approximately 2 acres) surrounding the house. City Council will vote on the designation of the land on August 26th.
3. The rezoning of the lot for the Grier-Rea House has not yet been resolved. City Council will revisit the issue at its meeting on August 26th. City Council asked that the HLC staff investigate other possible sites to which to move the house. That process continues.
4. The Historic Marker commemorating Good Samaritan Hospital has been erected as Ericsson Stadium. A public unveiling will occur in the near future.
5. A major storm struck the W. T. Alexander property on July 3rd. Several trees feel, as well as the W. T. Alexander Slave Cemetery Marker. The property has been cleaned, and the marker will be reinstalled. 6. The County has provided updated computer facilities for the HLC. The Commission will be fully integrated into the County computer network in the near future.
7. The Commission's website passed 700,000 hits within the last month. I will be working with the County information staff to discuss how the website can be incorporated more fully into the County's website. 8. Stewart Gray and Paula Stathakis continue to work on the African American Survey. The Project must be finished by the end of September.
9. Staff has made contact with the owners of the Washam Farm, the Douglas Airport Hangar, and Elmwood Cemetery. Meetings with all will occur within the next month. 10. Phiderika Foust has moved to New York City and has informed Staff that she must resign her seat on the Commission. The County Clerk has been notified, and her replacement should be selected in September. Respectfully submitted,
Dan L. Morrill, Consulting Director
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