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Director's Report
May 14, 2007
1. The County Manager's recommended budget for
the HLC has been completed. It will now be presented to the Board
of County Commissioners. The recommended budget has two principal
changes from this year's budget. First, Bryan Turner's time will
no longer be paid for out of revolving fund money. He will paid
from HLC operating funds. Second, there will be $10,000 added to
Professional Fees, most of which can be used to pay for additional
Survey and Research Reports or other expenses related to the designation
process. I request a motion by the Commission making the
Manager's recommended budget the operational budget for the HLC for
2007-2008.
2. I have asked Ted Alexander of Preservation
North Carolina, a State-wide private historic preservation advocacy
group, to explain briefly the organization's program and to highlight
its current activities in Mecklenburg County.
3. Two UNCC graduate students have completed
their internships for the HLC. Brandon Lunsford produced a
substantial portion of a Survey and Research Report on the Ranson House
in Huntersville and performed
historical research on White Oak Plantation. Bill Jeffers
performed a reconnaissance survey of the the built environment of
Matthews and its environs.
4. City Council has approved the new interlocal
agreement, and the matter will go before the Board of County
Commissioners tomorrow night. I plan to attend the meeting.
5. City Council and the Historic Landmarks
Commission will hold a joint public hearing on May 21st to consider
historic landmark designation for the N. S. Alexander House (adding four
acres), Home Federal Savings and Loan Building (removing designation of a portion
of the interior), the Myrtle Apartments, and the Woodlawn Ave. Duplex. The meeting begins at 6
pm. Staff will give you a more precise time for the hearing when
it becomes available.
6. The sale of the N. S. Alexander House
has occurred, and the new owners are moving ahead with the restoration.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
7. Staff has already visited the mill houses on
Euclid Ave. in Dilworth and has discussed with the owner the
Commission's possible interest in purchasing two of the houses.
The owner indicated that he would come forward with a price at some
point in the near future.
8. The renovation of the rental house at White
Oak Plantation has begun. The listing of the Sidney and Ethel
Grier House and the Grier-Rea House with Lexie Longstreet has been
completed. Lexie Longstreet believes that rezoning the Grier-Rea
House for office use would enhance the prospects for selling the
property. I did meet with members of the Planning Staff, and they
said they would support the rezoning. Staff believes that the
HLC should move ahead with applying for rezoning of the property.
The application fee will be $4500.
9. Bryan Turner is working with the County
Finance Department to complete a restructuring of the project financing
procedures for the HLC to allow greater flexibility.
10. A major focus of the Commission for the upcoming year will be
to consider what projects it plans to undertake, as there will be a
considerable amount of money in the Revolving Fund.
Respectfully submitted, Dan
L. Morrill |