Historic Landmarks Commission Minutes -- July 1999

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N. C.

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:35 p.m.

Present:

Mr. Jeff Bradsher/County, Projects Committee V. Chr.

Ms. Deborah Cox/City, Education Committee Chr., Survey Com. V. Chr.

Ms. Lisa Hankin/County, HLC Sec., Design Review Committee Chr.

Mr. Scott Hirsch/City, HLC Treas., Finance Committee Chr.

Mr. D. Grier Martin, III/City, Education Committee V. Chr.

Mr. Barry Miller/City, Design Review Committee V. Chr.

Mr. John Misenheimer/County, Survey Com. Chr.

Mr. John J. Parker, III/Mayor, Fundraising Com. V. Chr.

Mr. David T. Ritch/County, HLC V. Chr. (last meeting)

Mr. Frank Whitney/County, Fundraising Com. Chr., V. Chr. Finance Com.

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Absent:

Ms. Tattie Bos/Mayor, Projects Committee Chr.

Ms. Lindsay Daniel/County, HLC Chr.

Mr. Van T. Hill, MHA Pres. (ex-officio)

Visitors:

Mr. George Maloomian, Cambridge Properties (W. T. Alexander House)

Ms. Jane Richards, Realtor ( W. T. Alexander House)

Mr. Allen Brooks

Ms. Joe Brickey

Mr. Mark Fishero, architect (First A.R.P. Church<former>)

Item #1 - Approval of Minutes

MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MARTIN THAT THE MINUTES FOR JUNE 14, 1999, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #2 - Chairman’s Report: Lindsay Daniel

Mr. Ritch presided due to the absence of Ms. Daniel.

A copy of the Chairman’s Report is attached.

Item #3 - Vice-Chairman’s Report: David T. Ritch

No motions were presented.

Item #4 - Director’s Report: Dan L. Morrill

A copy of the Director’s Report is attached.

Dr. Morrill presented the Survey and Research Report on the Gluyas House, 7314 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road.

MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. HANKIN THAT THE GLUYAS HOUSE, 7314 MOUNT HOLLY-HUNTERSVILLE ROAD, MECKLENBURG COUNTY (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE AND GARAGE AND ALL OF THE LAND IN THE SUBJECT TAX PARCEL), IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD MOTION, BE APPROVED BY THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY, AND THAT THE COMMISSION SCHEDULE A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY UPON RECEIPT OF A FAVORABLE COMMENT FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING VOTE: ABSTAIN: NONE OPPOSE: NONE FAVOR: BRADSHER, COX, HANKIN, HIRSCH, MARTIN, MILLER MISENHEIMER, PARKER, RITCH, WHITNEY.

Dr. Morrill asked that the HLC consider Action Item #2 in the Director’s Report regarding the W. T. Alexander House Plantation

MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WHITNEY THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. COX PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. BRADSHER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION RECONVENE IN ITS REGULAR SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Ritch reported that the HLC voted in Executive Session to extend an offer of $250,000 from the Revolving Fund for the W. T. Alexander House and outbuildings and 4.67 acres of land with the following contingencies: 1) Approval is obtained from the County Commission 2) Assurance is given that the property is free of environmental contamination 3) An ingress/egress easement from the entrance road of the new development 4) Buyer’s acceptance of adequate landscape buffers 5) Demonstrated economic feasibility by securing appraisals, building inspections, estimates of repair and restoration and an economic feasibility study.

Dr. Morrill asked that the Commissioners consider Action Item #3 in the Director’s Report regarding the Rockwell Rosenwald School, 6100 Sugar Creek Road, owned by the Rockwell A.M.E. Zion Church. The Commissioners discussed the situation.

MS. COX PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. RITCH THAT DR. MORRILL BE AUTHORIZED TO HAVE MR. JOE MANN, PRESIDENT OF MANN CONSTRUCTION, PREPARE ESTIMATES FOR BRINGING THE ROCKWELL ROSENWALD SCHOOL UP TO BUILDING CODE STANDARDS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #5 - Design Review Committee Report: Lisa Hankin

Ms. Hankin reported that the Design Review Committee met June 23, 1999. Minutes are on file in the HLC office.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE MCADEN HOUSE, 920 GRANVILLE ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING STIPULATIONS: 1) RETAIN THE LATTICE WORK ON THE REAR PORCH IN SITU AND PLACE ANY WINDOWS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE LATTICE SO AS NOT TO LESSEN THE VISUAL IMPACT AND INTEGRITY OF THE LATTICE WORK (LATTICE WORK SHOULD CONTINUE VISUALLY TO BE THE SHEATHING FOR THE PORCH.) 2) PANELING MAY BE APPLIED OVER THE EXISTING TILE IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM BUT THE METHODS OF THE APPLICATION MUST BE THE MOST SENSITIVE IN TERMS OF PRESERVING THE TILE AND ALLOWING THE ACTION TO BE REVERSED 3) RETAIN THE ORIGINAL LAUNDRY ROOM SINKS BUT ALLOW THEM TO BE USED ELSEWHERE IN THE HOUSE AND 4) THE NORTH WALL WINDOWS IN THE BREAKFAST AREA MUST NOT EMULATE AND MUST BE LESS IMPOSING THAN THE ORNAMENTAL, LEADED-GLASS WINDOW IN THE ENTRY HALL. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Ms. Hankin asked Mr. Fishero to explain action needed in regard to a retaining wall at First A.R.P. Church (former). Mr. Fishero presented conceptual design plans for a retaining wall necessitated by the City’s insistence that the sidewalk be moved closer to the building. He said that this is an urgent matter due to the fact that the grand opening of the Arts Center is scheduled for September 16 - 18.

MR. MILLER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. HIRSCH TO AUTHORIZE LISA HANKIN OR BARRY MILLER TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE RETAINING WALL AS PROPOSED FOR THE FORMER A.R.P. CHURCH PROPERTY AT THE CORNER OF NORTH TRYON STREET AND WEST ELEVENTH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., UPON RECEIPT OF CONFIRMATION THAT ALL ADJACENT OWNERS HAD WAIVED THEIR RIGHT OF NOTICE AS MANDATED BY STATE LAW AND UPON RECEIPT OF A SET OF DESIGN PLANS SATISFACTORY TO MS. HANKIN OR MR. MILLER. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #6 - Projects Committee Report: Tattie Bos

Dr. Morrill reported for Ms. Bos that a Projects Committee meeting will be held in the near future.

Item #7 - Education Committee Report: Deborah Cox

Ms. Cox reported that the Education Committee met June 28, 1999. No motions were presented.

Item #8 - Survey Committee Report: John Misenheimer

Mr. Misenheimer reported that the Committee is pleased that a $15,000 betterment has been received in the HLC’s FY2000 budget for the historic designation process. He also said that the Post World War II Survey has its funding and will begin within the next few weeks. Mr. Misenheimer asked everyone to review the distributed current Study List.

Item #9 - Treasurer’s Report: Scott Hirsch

No motions were presented.

Item #10 - Report on Designated Historic Landmarks:

Mr. Hirsch reported on 16 historic properties in Elizabeth, 5 in Eastover and 1 in Crescent Heights. Mr. Martin said that he would report on his properties next month.

Item #11 - Associated Boards Reports:

a. Uptown Preservation Task Force: Barry Miller

Mr. Miller reported that no meeting is scheduled.

b. Charlotte Trolley, Inc.: Grier Martin

Mr. Martin reported that Ms. Hank Ingebretsen has been hired as the new executive director of Charlotte Trolley, Inc.

c. Lynnwood Foundation: Lisa Hankin

Ms. Hankin reported that Ms. Cindy Patterson has been hired as the replacement for Ms. Sharon Decker as President of the Lynnwood Foundation.

d. Mecklenburg Historical Association: Van T. Hill

No report was presented.

e. Historic Preservation Foundation: Grier Martin

Mr. Martin reported that the HPF did not receive a grant from the Arts and Science Council. He said that plans continue for the fall fundraising event and that the Board will meet July 15, 1999.

Item #12 - Election of Officers: David T. Ritch

Mr. Ritch asked if anyone would like to nominate anyone for an HLC officer other than the ones proposed by the Nominating Committee as presented at last month’s meeting.

No names were presented.

THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE FOLLOWING SLATE BE ELECTED FOR OFFICERS OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR THE COMING BUDGET YEAR:

CHAIRMAN - LINDSAY W. DANIEL

VICE-CHAIRMAN - BARRY MILLER

SECRETARY - DEBORAH COX

TREASURER - SCOTT HIRSCH

REVOLVING FUND LIAISON - TATTIE BOS

THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Ritch turned the gavel over to Mr. Miller due to the absence of Ms. Daniel.

Item #13 - Presentation of Appreciation Plaque to David T. Ritch

Mr. Ritch told the Commissioners how much it had meant to him over the years to be a member of the HLC. Mr. Miller asked Ms. Morrill to read a letter of appreciation from Ms. Daniel. Ms. Daniel expressed gratitude to Mr. Ritch for his enormous amounts of time, commitment, unique vision , passion, tenacity, and political attuneness and said that the HLC would never forget him and that she hoped he would never forget the HLC. Ms. Morrill gave the letter to Mr. Ritch. Dr. Morrill thanked Mr. Ritch for his many years of outstanding contributions, loyalty, interest, knowledge, enthusiasm, perseverance, friendship and dedication to the HLC and Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s history. Dr. Morrill said that Mr. Ritch served as a member of the HLC twice which no other Commission member has ever done. He said that much of our County’s historic fabric such as the Dowd House, the Carr House, the McIntyre Site, the Berryhill House, Fourth Ward, Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church and many other important historic places survive today due to Mr. Ritch’s support. The Commissioners gave Mr. Ritch a standing round of applause.

Item #14 - Old Business

Mr. Whitney reported that Mecklenburg County did not get the National Trust For Historic Preservation Convention event.

Item #15 - New Business

Mr. Miller distributed the Committee assignments for the coming year from Ms. Daniel.

These are the assignments: Committees: Education Committee/Chair - John Parker, V. Chr., Scott Hirsch, Members - Frank Whitney, Barry Miller, Grier Martin Projects Committee/Chair - Tattie Bos, Jeff Bradsher, Members - Frank Whitney, John Parker, Deborah Cox, John Misenheimer, Lindsay Daniel; Design Review Committee /Chair - Lisa Hankin, V. Chr. - Barry Miller, Members - Scott Hirsch, Tattie Bos, Grier Martin, Ava Autrey ; Survey Committee/ Chair - Deborah Cox, V. Chr. - John Misenheimer, Members - Jeff Bradsher, Lisa Hankin, Ava Autrey, Lindsay Daniel; Finance/Chair - Scott Hirsch, V. Chr. - Lindsay Daniel, Members - Executive Board; Associated Boards: Lynnwood Foundation, Inc./ Lisa Hankin; Charlotte Trolley/ Grier Martin; Historic Preservation Foundation/ Tattie Bos.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.