Charlotte-Mecklenburg
HISTORIC LANDMARKS
COMMISSION
MINUTES
January 10, 2005
6:00 p.m.
Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N. C.
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Present:
Mr. Jeff Bradsher – HLC Chairman
Ms. Amy Hockett/City – Design Review Com. Chairman
Ms. Yolanda Johnson/City – Projects Com. Vice-Chairman
Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz/County – HLC Projects Committee Chairman
Ms. Yolanda D. Law/County – Education Committee Vice-Chairman
Ms. Valerie Lewis/City – Education Committee Chairman, HLC Secretary
Mr. Len Norman/County – Survey Committee Chairman
Ms. Laura Chalk Smith/City – HLC Treasurer
Mr. Michael C. Sullivan/County – HLC Vice-Chairman
Dr. Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director
Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager
Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Assistant Consulting Director
Ms. Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney
Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant
Absent:
Mr. Scott Abernethy/County – Survey Committee Vice-Chairman
Mr. Matthew Benson/Mayor – Design Review Committee Vice-Chairman
Visitors:
Mr. Dean Gates (Rozzel House realtor)
Dr. Sandy Hoagland, Jr. (First Ward)
Mr. Dennis Hilliard (First Ward)
Mr. Robert Drakeford (First Ward)
Ms. Mary Reid (First Ward)
AGENDA
Item #1 – Approval of Minutes
MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. JOHNSON THAT THE HLC
MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 13, 2004, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE
COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
MS. HOCKETT PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NORMAN THAT THE HLC’S
EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 13, 2004, BE APPROVED AS
DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Item #2 – Chairman’s Report:
Mr. Bradsher
Mr. Bradsher welcomed everyone to the
meeting. He congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Benson and their
three year old son on the birth of a baby daughter and sister.
Mr. Bradsher reminded the
Commissioners that the yearly attendance started over on January 1st.
He said that all HLC members met the 75% required attendance for 2004.
Mr. Bradsher reported that he and Dr.
Morrill met recently with Mr. Parks Helms, Chairman of the Board of
County Commissioners, about the need for replenishment money for the
HLC’s revolving fund. Discussions are on-going.
Item #3 – Director’s Report:
Dr. Morrill
Dr. Morrill reported that the Town of
Davidson is forming a Technical Advisory Committee to study the N. C.
73 Corridor and has asked that the HLC have a staff representative on
this Committee. Dr. Morrill said that he has discussed this
matter with Mr. Stewart Gray, who lives in Davidson, and he believes
that Mr. Gray would represent the interests of the HLC most
effectively.
MS. HOCKETT PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. JOHNSON THAT THE HLC
APPOINT MR. STEWART GRAY AS THE HLC’S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE TOWN OF
DAVIDSON’S TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE N. C. 73
CORRIDOR. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Dr. Morrill said that he met with the County Budget Analyst who will
be working with staff to develop the HLC’s operating budget request
for the 05-06 Budget Year. Staff will develop a proposed budget
for presentation to the HLC at its February meeting.
Dr. Morrill reported that he and Mr. Gray
had a most productive
meeting
with the Planning Director of
the Town of Davidson.
Davidson is seeking funds to
conduct a study to determine if Davidson qualifies for listing as a
historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.
Davidson also would like to process additional properties for listing
as historic landmarks. Dr. Morrill reported that he will be
teaching a graduate course in Historic Preservation Planning this fall
and plans to have the students concentrate upon the Town of Davidson.
Dr. Morrill reported that HLC staff had discussions with several
individuals about the status of a series of houses on 8th
Street in First Ward. These houses were relocated to 8th
Street from other places in First Ward in the 1970s. The houses
are scheduled to be demolished to make way for an in-fill housing
development. The HLC has been asked to take an interest in the
preservation of these houses. At this point in the meeting
citizens interested in preserving the houses spoke and distributed
copies of newspaper articles from the public library telling about the
significance of the properties as determined by the late Judge
McMillan. Mr. Robert Drakeford stated that since the properties
were not determined historically significant in the HLC’s Uptown
Survey and since the owners of the houses have stated their
willingness to sell their homes it is his belief that the new
condominium project, which will require rezoning, is appropriate for
the city plan for the area, and that the complex will blend with
nearby homes . Mr. Drakeford said that in his opinion Judge
James B. McMillan appeared to be more concerned about people
displacement than property displacement in the regard to urban
renewal. Dr. Sandy Hoagland reported that over 250 articles are on
file at the public library stating the importance of areas such as
First Ward. Dr. Hoagland expressed concern over retaining the
historic integrity of First Ward. The HLC agreed that a letter
be written stating why the HLC cannot be involved in the issue.
The Commissioners agreed that the role of the HLC is to identify
specific structures which are eligible for historic landmark
designation.
Dr. Morrill said that the closing has occurred with Corder Philips &
Wilson for a portion of the Charlotte Cotton Mills. This has
brought money back into the HLC’s Revolving Fund.
Dr. Morrill reported that a contract has been signed between the owner
and a prospective buyer of the Jordan Farm on Hus McGinnis Road.
Reportedly, the buyer intends to construct a large home on the
property.
Dr. Morrill reported that a considerable amount of time was spent over
the holidays with a prospective buyer of the W. T. Alexander
Plantation. Unfortunately, the prospective buyer has ended her
consideration of the property. Her investigations brought issues
regarding the availability of sewer service to the property to the
HLC’s attention. Mr. Turner is investigating this issue and will
clarify the matter.
Dr. Morrill reported that Architect, Mr. Don Yelverton, has completed
construction drawings for restoration work at the Grier-Rea House.
Bids will be advertised in the very near future.
Dr. Morrill reported that discussions have occurred between staff and
City officials and others about the status of the Croft Service
Station at the intersection of Old Statesville Road and Alexanderana
Road in the Huntersville area. Discussion is on-going.
Dr. Morrill said that arrangements for the lease and purchase
agreement for the Oakley (Yandell) House in Pineville are being
finalized with the tenant/buyer.
Item #4 – Survey Committee Report:
Mr. Norman
Mr. Norman reported that the Survey Committee met January 8, 2005.
Minutes from the meeting can be found on the HLC’s website –
www.cmhpf.org – and are on file at the HLC office.
THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE CAROLINA
CADILLAC BUILDING, 1301 SOUTH TRYON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C.
(INTERIOR, EXTERIOR AND ENTIRE TAX PARCEL) BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC
DESIGNATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE FORMER
UNITED STATES POST OFFICE BUILDING, 195 NORTH TRADE STREET, MATTHEWS,
N. C. (INTERIOR, EXTERIOR AND THE ENTIRE TAX PARCEL), BE PROCESSED FOR
HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED THE MOTION.
THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC
LANDMARKS COMMISSION APPLY FOR A MATCHING FEDERAL GRANT TO ASSIST IN
FUNDING A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE ELIGIBILITY OF A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION
OF THE TOWN OF DAVIDSON FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF
HISTORIC PLACES AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE COMMISSION
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Note: The Town of Davidson wishes to apply for a matching Federal
grant to conduct a National Register Historic District study for the
town. The HLC, as a Certified Local Government, must apply for
the grant on Davidson’s behalf. Except for minor administrative
oversight, Davidson will pay for all costs associated with the study.
Item #5 – Projects Committee Report:
Mr. Kluttz
Mr. Kluttz reported that the Projects Committee met January 4, 2005.
Minutes from the meeting can be found on the HLC’s website –
www.cmhpf.org – and are on file at the HLC office.
A prospective buyer of the W. T. Alexander property did file a
rezoning application with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning
Commission. The essential purpose was to eliminate a conditional
zoning requirement that owners of offices have to reside on the
property.
THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE REZONING
OF THE W. T. ALEXANDER PROPERTY BE PURSUED IN THE MOST EFFICIENT
MANNER, INCLUDING REIMBURSING THE FILING FEE TO THE PROSPECTIVE BUYER,
AND THAT IF NECESSARY, MR. WALTER FIELDS BE RETAINED TO WORK WITH THE
HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO ACHIEVE THE REZONING. THE
COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Mr. Dean Gates discussed marketing
strategies for the Rozzel House property. Mr. Bradsher asked
that the Projects Committee discuss the issue at its next meeting and
make a recommendation.
Item #6 – Design Review Committee
Report: Ms. Hockett
Ms. Hockett reported that the next meeting of the design Review
Committee is scheduled for January 25, 2005, at 8:00 a.m. at the HLC
office.
Item #7 – Education Committee Report:
Ms. Lewis
Ms. Lewis reported that the Education Committee will meet in the near
future, and that committee members will be notified when a date is set
for a meeting.
Item #8 – Treasurer’s Report:
Ms. Smith
Ms. Smith distributed current financial reports to the HLC members.
Item #9 – Old Business
No old business was presented.
Item #10 – New Business
Ms. Nystrom said that she would like, as an interested citizen, to
contact RESTORE AMERICA about the Grier-Rea House. The
HLC members expressed support.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.