Charlotte-Mecklenburg

6:00 p.m.

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

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.

Mr. Richard Alsop, III/Mayor

Mr. Matthew Benson/Mayor - Design Review Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Jeff Bradsher/County/HLC Chairman

Ms. Amy Hockett/City - Design Review Committee Chairman

Ms. Yolanda Johnson/City - Nominating Com. Chair, Projects Com. V.-Chair

Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz/County - HLC Projects Committee Chairman

Ms. Valerie Lewis/City - Education Committee Chair, 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 L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Assistant Consulting Director

Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Ms. Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Ms. Yolanda Law, County - Education Committee Vice-Chair

Ms. Sue Rutledge, City of Charlotte (Carolina Theater)

Ms. Barbara Lawrence (Carolina Theater)

Mr. Miles Braswell, City of Charlotte (Carolina Theater)

Mr. John Apple (Carolina Theater)

Mr. Charlie Clayton (President, Carolina Theatre Preservation Society)

Mr. Bob Hudson, structural engineer for City of Charlotte (Carolina Theater)

Ms. Marika Kalogerakis, Pappas Properties (Charlotte Cotton Mill)

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. HOCKETT THAT THE MINUTES FOR APRIL 11, 2005, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. ALSOP PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. JOHNSON THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FOR APRIL 11, 2005, BE APPROVED AS AMENDED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #2 - Chairman’s Report: Mr. Bradsher

Mr. Bradsher welcomed everyone to the meeting. He reminded the HLC Commissioners to keep a close check on their attendance. He reported that on June 21st the County will nominate people for two HLC seats - his seat and Mr. Scott Abernethy’s. He said that final appointments will be named by the Board of County Commissioners on July 12th. Mr. Kluttz is eligible to be re-appointed by the County for a three year term, and Ms. Hockett and Ms. Lewis are eligible to be re-appointed by the City.

Mr. Bradsher also reminded the Commissioners that the HLC does not hold meetings in July, and that August 8, 2005, will be the date of the monthly HLC meeting that new Commissioners attend.

Mr. Bradsher reported that on May 3, 2005, he attended the County Commission meeting where the Board voted unanimously to advance the HLC $800,000 for one year to purchase Grace AME Zion Church if the HLC decides to purchase the property after the 90 day due diligence period.

Mr. Bradsher said that public hearings will be held June 20, 2005, with the City. Four properties are to be considered for historic designation - the George Stephens House, Carolina Cadillac Co., the Standard Oil Service Station and the former Hovis Funeral Home.

Item #3 - Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill

1. Dr. Morrill said that a substantial amount of time was spent during the last month securing Board of County Commission’s (BOCC) approval for the advance of money for the purchase of Grace AME Zion Church. He said that the favorable outcome speaks volumes about the effectiveness of the HLC and its revolving fund.

2. Dr. Morrill said that he suggested to the Projects Committee at its May meeting that the HLC now has an opportunity to make a strategic assessment of its revolving fund. Now that all bond money has been spent, the HLC can be more deliberate in determining how it should spend its money. For example, he foresees the HLC’s doing fewer restorations and purchasing and "flipping" property instead. It might also want to become more active in securing preservation easements and assignable options on property, rather than purchasing the fee simple interest in property. Finally, the HLC might want to investigate creating a "not-for-profit" entity that would exist for the sole purpose of receiving property by donation.

3. Dr. Morrill reported that Staff met with officials of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and Charlotte Whitewater, Inc., to discuss the prospective designation of a portion of the Tuckaseegee Trail as a historic landmarks. The discussions continue to be productive. A specific recommendation of what portions of the Trail will be included in the designation will be forthcoming in the upcoming months.

4. Dr. Morrill said that he anticipates that the County Manager’s recommended budget will contain a "no increase" amount of money for the HLC. He said that a $10,000 increase to fund an educational consultant who would work to make the local development community more aware of the economic inducements had been requested.

5. Dr. Morrill reported that HLC Staff recently met with the owner of the Bost House in Matthews to discuss the consequences of historic landmarks designation. Dr. Morrill reported that HLC Staff also met with Crosland, Inc., regarding a potential major upfit of the Alpha Cotton Mill. The matter will be brought before the Design Review Committee on May 24th.

Item #4 - Design Review Committee Report: Ms. Hockett

Ms. Hockett reported that the next meeting of the Design Review Committee will be held May 24th at 8:00 a.m. at the HLC office.

The City of Charlotte, the owner of the Carolina Theater, has requested that the HLC immediately consider an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the removal and storage of the facades at the old Carolina Theater due to a safety concern. Mr. Hudson, a structural engineer hired by the City, said that pieces falling off the facades pose a danger to the public. Mr. Braswell of the City of Charlotte explained the specifics involved in removing the facades such as numbering each piece, etc.  Mr. Clayton said that in order to properly preserve the facades, it is his belief that all pieces of the dismantled facades should have interior storage in a safe location.  Several commissioners commented about the possibility of maintaining the facades in their present location and retaining them in place.  Mr. Alsop noted that it is never possible to fully restore the facades once elements of them are removed and stored.  Mr. Benson expressed concern about the vagueness of the language stipulating that the City will require the reconstruction of the facades as part of any new development and asked if the Commission had the power to impose deed restrictions or some other legal preservation instrument upon the property.  Dr. Morrill explained that the only way to require restoration is to obtain the City's cooperation for the imposition of such requirements and that he would be working with the City in an effort to obtain same.   Mr. Sullivan suggested that the facades, if removal is necessary for safety purposes, be stored inside the theater and not at some distant location. Dr. Morrill reminded the HLC members that the "perfect" preservation solution would be to protect the facades as they now stand until future restoration takes place, but he reminded HLC members that the owner has the legal right to seek certification from a building inspector or other appropriate authority that the facades constitute a threat to public safety. Dr. Morrill referred the Commission members to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings published by the U. S. Department of the Interior National Park Services. If such certification is obtained, the City can move forward with removing the facades.

MR. KLUTTZ PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NORMAN THAT A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE CAROLINA THEATER, 224-232 N. TRYON ST., CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE ISSUED AS APPLIED FOR WITH THE STIPULATIONS SET FORTH IN THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, INCLUDING SECURING A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY THAT THE FACADES WILL BE PUT BACK IN THEIR CURRENT LOCATION AS PART OF ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING VOTE: FAVOR: BRADSHER, JOHNSON, LEWIS, KLUTTZ, NORMAN, SMITH OPPOSE: ALSOP, BENSON, HOCKETT   ABSTAIN: SULLIVAN (city employee).

Item #5 - Survey Committee Report: Mr. Norman

Mr. Norman reported that the Survey Committee will meet May 19, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. at the HLC office.

THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE ROWLAND CLAY HOUSE, 606 EAST CHARLES STREET, MATTHEWS, N. C. (INTERIOR, EXTERIOR AND LOT ON WHICH THE HOUSE SITS) BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE McLAUGHLIN-BOST HOUSE (EXTERIOR AND 1 1/2 ACRES OF LAND), 415 WEST JOHN STREET, MATTHEWS, N. C., BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #6 - Education Committee Report: Ms. Lewis

Ms. Lewis reported that Education Committee members will be notified when the next meeting is scheduled.

Item #7 - Treasurer’s Report: Ms. Smith

Ms. Smith distributed copies of the current projects budget. She reminded the HLC members that in the event that the HLC proceeds with the purchase of Grace AME Zion Church the HLC must rapidly raise $800,000 from property sales to pay back the one year advance from Mecklenburg County.

Item #8 - Projects Committee Report: Mr. Kluttz

Mr. Kluttz reported that the Projects Committee met May 2, 2005. Minutes from the meeting can be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org - and are also on file at the HLC office.

Ms. Kalogerakis- of Pappas Properties distributed the current marketing report on the Charlotte Cotton Mills.

MS. JOHNSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP THAT THE HLC CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. SULLIVAN THAT THE HLC RE-CONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: In Executive Session the HLC voted to sell another portion of the Charlotte Cotton Mills, 508 W. 5th St., voted to sell the Grand Theater, 333 Beatties Ford Rd., voted on how to handle the Grier House, 4647 McKee Rd., potential sale, and voted on the agreement with Mecklenburg County regarding a possible purchase of Grace AME Zion Church, 219 S. Brevard St.

Item #9 - Nominating Committee Report: Ms. Johnson

Ms. Johnson reported that the Nominating Committee (Ms. Johnson, Chr., Ms. Smith and Mr. Benson) presented the following nominations for HLC officers for 2005-2006:

Chairman: Mr. Mike Sullivan

Vice-Chairman: Mr. Len Norman

Secretary: Ms. Valerie Lewis

Treasurer: Ms. Laurie Smith.

Ms. Johnson said that elections will be held at the HLC’s June meeting and that nominations can be made from the floor at the meeting with consent from the person nominated.

Mr. Sullivan reported that the historic painting of Mecklenburg County by Mr. Kenneth Whitsett is stored at the Charlotte Cotton Mills. He said that County Park and Recreation might be interested in having the painting displayed in the Virginia Paper Company in Third Ward.

Mr. Turner reported that exterior stabilization costs for the Grier-Rea House will be $280,000.

MR. KLUTTZ PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NORMAN TO AUTHORIZE THE HLC’S PROJECT MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IN A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS, NOT TO EXCEED A BASE CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $280,00, FOR EXTERIOR (PORCH, STAIRS, WINDOWS, ROOF, ETC.) STABILIZATION OF THE GRIER-REA HOUSE, 7601 PROVIDENCE ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The HLC meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.