Charlotte-Mecklenburg

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

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.

Mr. Richard Alsop, III/Mayor, Survey Committee Chairman

Mr. Matthew Benson/Mayor, Design Review Committee Chairman

Mr. Frank Bragg/City

Mr. William T. Hobbs/County, White Oak Com. Chair, Proj. Com. V. Chr.

Ms. Yolanda Johnson/City, HLC Vice-Chairman, Education Chair/Liaison

Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz, III/County, Nominating Committee

Mr. Gray Newman/County, Projects Committee Chairman

Mr. Len Norman/County, HLC Chairman

Mr. Lynn Weis/County

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner

Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Ms. Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Ms. Mary Dominick, HLC Consultant

Ms. Yolanda Law/County, HLC Treasurer

Dr. Richard L. Mattson/County, Survey Committee Vice-Chair

Ms. Laura C. Smith/City, Nominating Committee Chair

MS. JOHNSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP THAT THE HLC MINUTES FOR MAY 14, 2007, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. JOHNSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NEWMAN THAT THE HLC EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FOR MAY 14, 2007, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

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

Mr. Norman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He told the Commissioners to let Ms. Morrill know if they have questions about their attendance data.

Mr. Norman reminded everyone that the HLC holds no meetings in July and that the next HLC meeting will be held August 13, 2007. He said that HLC committee appointments will be announced at this meeting. He said that he (County), Mr. Alsop (Mayor) and Mr. Benson (Mayor) are eligible for reappointments in July.

Mr. Norman said that the election of HLC officers for fiscal year 2008 will be held at the end of this meeting. The fiscal year runs July 1 until June 30 of each year.

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

Dr. Morrill introduced Ms. Dominick to everyone present. He said that she is putting ordinances for designated properties and HLC minutes from the past on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org.

Dr. Morrill reported that the operational budget for the HLC has been approved by the Board of County Commissioners. It is essentially unchanged from last year with two exceptions. First, the amount of money for Survey and Research Reports has been increased to $25,000. Second, the budget contains $30,000 as a portion of Mr. Turner’s salary, which means that his time spent on HLC projects will not come from the Revolving Fund. As a result, less of Mr. Gray’s time will be devoted to project management.

Dr. Morrill reported that Mecklenburg County has approved the HLC’s new interlocal agreement. It will be considered by Pineville this week and then by the other outlying towns in the upcoming weeks.

Dr. Morrill said that HLC staff has met with the developers of the property in Steele Creek on which the Robinson House is located. HLC Staff discussed various preservation solutions. The developer will most likely be coming forward with an Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the house. The Design Review Committee will consider this matter at its June 20, 2007, meeting.

Dr. Morrill reported that HLC Staff continues to have discussions with the owner of the former Atherton Mill houses on Euclid Ave. in Dilworth. Neither is a designated historic landmark, but both are located in the Dilworth historic district and are under a one year delay on demolition. He said discussions continue.

Dr. Morrill reported that he has asked Mr. Gray to contact the Urban Institute at UNCC about hosting and co-sponsoring a training session (probably to be scheduled in February 2008) for the Historic Landmarks Commission and other Commissions in the area. The N. C. Division of Archives and History has put the HLC on notice that it must meet its training requirements for CLG (Certified Local Government ) status. It would be most helpful if HLC members would let Dr. Morrill know which day of the week is most suitable for them to attend the meeting.

Dr. Morrill said that a major item for the HLC in the fall will be a determination of how it wishes to proceed with the selection and implementation of projects. Several weeks ago he sent an e-mail containing a suggestion that the HLC should focus on: 1) commercial cores of outlying towns 2) center city properties and 3) African American properties. He said that HLC staff will work with the Projects Committee to refine these issues beginning in August.

Dr. Morrill said that he has asked Mr. Gray to investigate the prospect of the HLC’s acquiring and advancing the preservation of the Thrift Piedmont and Northern Depot, the only P&N building surviving in Mecklenburg County. He said this is due primarily to the building’s level of endangerment and its historic significance.

Dr. Morrill reported that HLC Staff continues to work on the prospect of the HLC’s acquiring the Torrence Lytle School property in Huntersville. He said that Mr. Turner is preparing a request that the County convey the property to the HLC at essentially no cost. The matter will come before the Board of County Commissioners in August.

Dr. Morrill said that the Citizens Capital Budget Advisory Committee did not recommend that bonds for HLC projects be placed on this fall’s ballot. The report on the HLC did commend the HLC for its oversight of the Revolving Fund.

Dr. Morrill reported that he has been informed by Mr. Gray Newman that the former Pure Oil Station on Monroe Road in Charlotte, N. C., appears to be in the process of being demolished.

Dr. Morrill reported that as a Certified Local Government, the HLC must hold a public hearing to receive input as to whether the Siloam School, a locally designated historic landmark, meets the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

MR. BENSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP THAT THE HLC OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME TO CONSIDER THE SILOAM SCHOOLHOUSE, JOHN ADAMS ROAD, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Gray reported that this public hearing was advertised in the Mecklenburg County calendar. No one was present to speak about the school house.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. JOHNSON THAT THE HLC CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND REPORT TO PROPER OFFICIALS THAT THE SILOAM SCHOOL, JOHN ADAMS ROAD, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C., MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Dr. Morrill told the Commissioners, that, as anticipated, the owners of the William Newell House, 8410 Old Concord Road, have applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the house. He said that the HLC cannot deny an Application for demolition but can delay its effective date for up to 365 days. He said that HLC Staff visited and toured the house with the owner. It has been determined that no changes have been made to the property that compromise its historic integrity. Consequently, Staff recommends that the effective date of the Application be delayed for 365 days.

MR. BENSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NEWMAN THAT A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS TO DEMOLISH THE WILLIAM NEWELL HOUSE, 8410 OLD CONCORD ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE ISSUED BUT THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE BE DELAYED FOR 365 DAYS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #4 - Design Review Committee Report: Mr. Benson

Mr. Benson said that the Committee will hold its next meeting June 20, 2007. He said that all HLC members are invited and encouraged to attend the meeting.

Item #5 - Survey Committee Report: Mr. Alsop

Mr. Alsop reported that four properties were approved for historic designation status on May 21, 2007. The properties include the following:

1)N. S. Alexander House, 4601 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, N. C. (new ordinance which adds four acres of land)

2) Myrtle Square Apartments, 1121 Myrtle Ave., Charlotte, N. C. (land and exterior)

3) Woodlawn Ave. Duplex, 210 S. Irwin Ave., Charlotte, N. C. (land and exterior)

4) Home Federal Savings and Loan, 139 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, N. C. (ordinance amendment)

Item #6 - Projects Committee Report: Mr. Newman

Mr. Newman reported that the White Oak Sub Committee met May 30, 2007. The Committee agreed to reactivate the yard service and swimming pool maintenance.

Item #7 - Treasurer’s Report: Ms. Law

Mr. Turner distributed a copy of the financial report for HLC projects.

Item #8 - Nominating Committee Report: Ms. Smith

The Nominating Committee is composed of Ms. Smith, Mr. Benson and Mr. Kluttz. The proposed slate was presented at last month’s meeting as follows:

HLC Chairman: Len Norman

Mr. Benson asked for nominations from the floor. There were no additional nominations.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NEWMAN THAT THE PROPOSED SLATE OF HLC OFFICERS BE ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION. THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Dr. Morrill reported that Ms. Renee Gledhill-Early of the N. C. Dept. of Archives and History called today to report that she, HUD and the Charlotte Housing Authority will hold a conference call late this month to discuss the Barringer Hotel in relation to Section 106.

Mr. Weis reported that he was present for the June 10th hearing concerning the future of the Charles H. and Bess Smith House, 220 W. 10th Street, in 4th Ward. He said that the owner, Malachii Green, was not present.

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.