Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Historic Landmarks Commission

Minutes

June 14, 2005

6:00 p.m.

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC

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

Mr. Richard Alsop, III/Mayor

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

Mr. Jeff Bradsher/County, HLC Chairman (last meeting)

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. Yolanda Law/County - Education Committee Vice-Chairman

Ms. Valerie Lewis/City - Education Committee Chairman, HLC Secretary

Ms. Laura Chalk Smith/City - HLC Treasurer

Mr. Michael C. Sullivan/County - HLC Vice-Chairman (newly elected HLC 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

Mr. Len Norman/County - Survey Committee Chairman

Mr. Johnny Grosso

Mr. Chris Luke (Old City Hall)

Mr. Jamie McMillin (Alpha Mill)

Mr. Jud Little (Alpha Mill)

Mr. David Christenbury, N. C. Dept. Archives & History

Mr. Stephen Marlowe

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

Ms. Gail Marshall, Auctions by Marshall (Grier House)

Mr. Tom Wright (Alpha Cotton Mill)

Ms. Lila Smith

MR. SULLIVAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. SMITH THAT THE MINUTES FOR MAY 9, 2005, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. JOHNSON THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FOR MAY 9, 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 congratulated Ms. Smith and her husband on the birth of Lila Rose Smith who will be four weeks old tomorrow. It is a pleasure to have Lila present this evening.

Mr. Bradsher reminded the Commissioners that it is very important to keep a good check on attendance. City Appointees are not allowed any excused absences.

Mr. Bradsher asked Ms. Smith to tell which teams are expected at the Public Hearing Monday night June 20 in order that the HLC has a quorum. She said that Group A (Ms. Law, Ms. Lewis, Mr. Norman, Mr. Sullivan) and Group C (Mr. Benson, Mr. Bradsher, Ms. Hockett and Mr. Kluttz) are assigned to attend this hearing as HLC representatives. All HLC members are encouraged to attend, and those who have assigned attendance are to let Ms. Smith or Ms. Morrill know if they will not attend and who his/her replacement is.

Mr. Bradsher reminded the Commissioners that no HLC meetings are held in July. The next HLC meeting is scheduled for August 8, 2005.

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

Dr. Morrill said that the HLC will hold four (4) joint public hearings with the Charlotte City Council on Monday, June 20, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. to consider historic landmark designation for four properties. The properties include the Thomas Cadillac Building, the George Stephens House, the Hovis Funeral Home Building and the Standard Oil Service Station.

Dr. Morrill reported that the County will be funding the HLC at the same level as last year. As before, 60 percent will be provided by fees form demolition permits. Staff will get a percentage increase in consultant fees the same as that provided for County employees.

Dr. Morrill reported that there have been developments with respect to the Southern Public Utilities Streetcar Barn in recent days. Staff has been notified that Pappas Properties will not be involved in the development of the property. Dr. Morrill said that he discussed the prospects of saving the building with officials of Crescent Resources, the party that will most likely purchase the building back from Mecklenburg County. Crescent Resources has made no final determination regarding the preservation of the carbarn. They will, however, be initiating discussion to discuss alternatives.

Dr. Morrill reported that the N. C. Division of Archives and History was late in submitting its letter of comment about the prospective designation of the Hovis Funeral Home and the Standard Oil Service Station. Staff intends, unless directed otherwise, to move ahead with the joint public hearing with City Council even though Archives and History states that insufficient information was provided to document the special significance of the Hovis Funeral Home Building. Staff will be preparing a supplement to the Survey and Research Report providing more specific information about the subject property.

Item #4 - Projects Committee Report: Mr. Kluttz

Mr. Kluttz reported that the Projects Committee met June 6, 2005. Minutes can be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org - and are also on file at the HLC office.

Mr. Kluttz said that they majority of the business at the meeting was handled in Executive Session.

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

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

Note: In Executive Session the HLC approved motions regarding 1) the Grier House. 4647 McKee Road, 2) the HLC’s Executive Committee (Chairman, V. Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Projects Committee Chairman) authorization to take action necessary regarding disposal of HLC projects before the August 8, 2005 meeting, 3) the Charlotte Cotton Mills, 508 W. 5th St., 4) the Rozzel House, 11647 Rozzelles Ferry Rd., and 5) Grace AME Zion Church.

Item #5 - Design Review Committee Report: Ms. Hockett

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE ALPHA COTTON MILL, 311 12TH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT 1) THE PROPOSED NEW BUILDING ADJACENT TO 12TH STREET, IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY, BE SET BACK SIX FEET FARTHER FROM THE STREET 2) THE PROJECTING BAYS ON BUILDING IV BE NO TALLER THAN THE PRINCIPAL SECTION OF THE BUILDING 3) THE TRANSOM WINDOW ON THE SOUTH ELEVATION OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING BE REDESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF/HLC APPROVAL. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE CHARLOTTE CITY HALL, 600 EAST TRADE STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE ORIGINAL WOODEN TRANSOM SASH BE RETAINED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. BENSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. LAW THAT AN APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE HIGHLAND MILL, 2901 NORTH DAVIDSON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N.C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. ALL COMMISSIONERS PRESENTED APPROVED THE MOTION WITH MS. JOHNSON ABSTAINING IN THE VOTE.

Note: This application was submitted under Express Review and was not considered at the Design Review Committee meeting. The proposed project would involve enclosing 1,950 square feet of the mill building with fire-rated drywall partitions. New bathrooms would be installed, with HVAC air handlers above the bathrooms. Code requires that a new doorway be opened in the north elevation. The doorway would be placed in an existing window opening and be based on a previously approved window/doorway conversion on that same elevation.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL BE GIVEN FOR MOVING THE BRADFORD STORE, HIGHWAY #73 (DAVIDSON-CONCORD ROAD) TO A NEW SITE ON THE SAME TAX PARCEL TO THE SOUTH OF ITS PRESENT LOCATION AND THAT INFILL DEVELOPMENT BE ALLOWED ON THE SITE IF IT IS BASED ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF THE ORIGINAL RURAL COMMERCIAL COMPLEX. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #6 - Survey Committee Report: Mr. Norman, Chr., Mr. Benson, V. Chr.

Mr. Benson reported that the Survey Committee met May 19, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the HLC office.

THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT MR. STEWART GRAY BE PAID A STIPEND OF $1500 FOR A SURVEY OF EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY REVIVAL STYLE LOG BUILDINGS IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY UPON SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE SURVEY AND ITS APPROVAL BY THE CONSULTING DIRECTOR. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION CONTINUE TO SUSPEND THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION PROCESS FOR THE SOUTHERN PUBLIC UTILITIES STREET BARN UNTIL A PRESERVATION SOLUTION CAN BE DEVISED OR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS NO VIABLE PRESERVATION SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE FORTHCOMING. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HOUSE AT 314 EASTOVER ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE PLACED ON THE HLC’S STUDY LIST. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE McQUAY HOUSE, 3200 TUCKASEEGEE ROAD, CHARLOTTE, NC. (INTERIOR, EXTERIOR, EXTANT BUILDINGS AND THE ENTIRE TAX PARCEL UPON WHICH THE PROPERTY SITS), BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC LANDMARKS DESIGNATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #8 - Treasurer’s Report: Ms. Smith

Ms. Smith distributed the current financial report regarding projects. Reports are on file at the HLC office.

Item #9 - Election of Officers for 2005 - 2006: Ms. Johnson

Ms. Johnson asked that the HLC consider the slate of officers proposed by the Nominating Committee (Ms. Johnson, Mr. Benson, Ms. Smith) at the May HLC meeting. She said that nominations could be received from the floor and vote could be by secret ballot if desired.

MS. HOCKETT PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED SLATE OF HLC OFFICERS FOR 2005 - 2006 AS PRESENTED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE AS FOLLOWS:

CHAIRMAN: MR. MICHAEL C. SULLIVAN

THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #10 - Presentation of Appreciation Plaque: Mr. Sullivan

Mr. Sullivan presented an Appreciation Plaque and Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Bradsher for his six years of service as a member of the HLC and for his five years of service as Chairman of the HLC. He never missed a single monthly HLC meeting. Everyone applauded Mr. Bradsher. Many words of praise and thanks were given to Mr. Bradsher for the wonderful, outstanding job he has done. His loyalty, dependability, kindness, wisdom, conscientiousness, and compassion are the finest.

Item #11 - Old Business.

No old business was presented.

Item #12 - New Business.

No new business was presented.