Applications

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

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:35 p.m.

Present:

Ms. Ava Autrey/County, Design Review Committee Chr.

Ms. Tattie Bos/Mayor, Design Review Committee V. Chr.

Mr. Jeff Bradsher/County, HLC Chairman

Ms. Deborah Cox/City, HLC V. Chr., Survey Committee Chr.

Mr. Bernard Felder/City

Ms. Phiderika Foust/County, Projects Committee V. Chr.

Mr. Scott Hirsch/City, HLC Treas.

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

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

Mr. John J. Parker, III/Mayor, Projects Com. Chr.

Ms. Ross Richardson/County, Survey Com. V. Chr.

Mr. Michael Sullivan/County (1st Meeting)

Mr. David T. Ritch, MHA Representative (ex-officio)

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Absent:

None

Visitors:

Mr. Allen Brooks (Helms-Bell House)

Mr. Daniel Levine (Griffith Warehouse Building)

Item #1 - Approval of Minutes

MS. BOS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MISENHEIMER THAT THE MINUTES FOR AUGUST 14, 2000 BE APPROVED AS AMENDED AND DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Bradsher distributed copies of Executive Session minutes from the last meeting for consideration.

MR. FELDER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. COX THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FOR AUGUST 14, 2000, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The Executive Session Minutes were collected and are on file for authorized officials at the HLC office.

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

Mr. Bradsher welcomed everyone to the meeting. He extended a special welcome to Mr. Sullivan as a new member of the HLC and to Ms. Richardson on her return to the HLC after the recent birth of a baby boy. Mr. Bradsher told the Commissioners to refer to the distributed monthly calendar for HLC meetings and to always call the HLC office if a scheduled meeting cannot be attended.

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

A copy of the Director’s Report is attached to the minutes.

Dr. Morrill asked the HLC to consider Action Item #1 in the Director’s Report.

MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. AUTREY THAT MR. NATHAN KELLETT BE APPROVED TO WORK AS A PART-TIME CONSULTANT FOR $11.00 (ELEVEN DOLLARS) HOURLY FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION IN THE AREA OF INITIAL PROJECTS OVERVIEW, DESIGN REVIEW, EDUCATION AND PROCESSING PROPERTIES FOR HISTORIC LANDMARKS DESIGNATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

In Action Item #2 Dr. Morrill reported that Mr. Ralph Regans, the owner of the John Milton Alexander House, 14915 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville, N. C. has expressed opposition to the designation of the property as a historic landmark. The Commission discussed the situation and agreed to continue processing the John Milton Alexander House for historic landmarks designation.

In Action Item #3 Dr. Morrill reported that the owner of the Thies House, Mr. Frank Thies, has expressed his opposition to the designation of the land associated with the house as a historic landmark but has stated that he will not oppose the designation of the exterior of the house. The Commission discussed the situation and agreed to move forward with its initial recommendation to process the exterior of the Thies House and the land associated with the house as a historic landmark over the owner’s opposition to having the land associated with the house considered for historic designation.

In Action Item #4 in the Director’s Report, Dr. Morrill reported that Attorney Patricia Nystrom has been able to work out an arrangement for the HLC’s acquisition of an access easement to the Davis Properties land to the immediate west of the W. T. Alexander Plantation, 216-218 W. Mallard Creek Church Road. Davis Properties would obtain a tax deduction for providing the easement, meaning that it will be granted to Mecklenburg County and then conveyed to the Commission.

MR. PARKER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. AUTREY THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION PAY THE LEGAL FEES FOR THE DONATION OF THE W. T. ALEXANDER PROPERTY ACCESS EASEMENT TO MECKLENBURG COUNTY. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH AN ABSTENTION BY MR. HIRSCH.

MR. PARKER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. FELDER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION PAY THE FEES FOR AN APPRAISAL OF THE W. T. ALEXANDER PROPERTY EASEMENT WHICH WILL BE DONATED TO MECKLENBURG COUNTY. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH ABSTENTION BY MR. HIRSCH.

In Action Item #5, Dr. Morrill asked that the HLC reconsider the recommendation for designating the Helms-Bell House as a historic landmark due to a negative response from the N. C. Department of Archives and History questioning whether the house has individual significance and whether it is prudent to include the designation of only a portion of the building.

MR. FELDER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. HIRSCH TO AFFIRM THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION’S INITIAL RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE HELMS-BELL HOUSE, 2021 EUCLID AVENUE, CHARLOTTE, N. C., AND TO CONTINUE PROCESSING SAID PROPERTY FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH ABSTENTION BY MS. COX.

Item #4 - Projects Committee Report: Mr. Parker

Mr. Parker reported that the Projects Committee met at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2000.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT FITZHUGH L. STOUT AND ASSOCIATES PERFORM A HIGHEST AND BEST USE STUDY, NOT TO EXCEED A COST OF $3,000, OF THE W. T. ALEXANDER PROPERTY, 216-218 W. MALLARD CREEK CHURCH ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., AS DESCRIBED IN MR. STOUT’S LETTER TO THE HLC’S CONSULTING DIRECTOR, DATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2000. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #5 - Survey Committee Report: Ms. Cox

a. Griffith Warehouse Building (Brown, Rogers, Dixson Building), 209 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, N. C.: Ms. Cox told the Commissioners that the property was recommended and processed for historic designation by the HLC at the owner’s request in 1986, but that immediately before the joint public hearing was scheduled with City Council, the property was withdrawn for consideration at the public hearing due to the owner’s request. In keeping with its policy at that time of not processing properties for designation over owner opposition, the Commission ended the designation process for the building. Mr. Levine told the Commissioners about his company’s interest in preserving Charlotte’s history and the work that the company has done to save historic fabric such as the designated Philip Carey Building. He said that the Griffith Warehouse Building is the first building his company purchased, and that $5M to $5 1/2M is needed to restore the old 39,000 sq. ft. distribution warehouse which is located on the rail corridor in First Ward. Mr. Levine said that the amount of money necessary for proper restoration could not be recouped in leasing fees, and that his company currently has a demolition permit on the building. He added that the building is not for sale but that the HLC’s suggestions and recommendations to preserve the building and make it economically viable will be considered before demolition occurs. He asked that the HLC not recommend processing the building for historic landmark designation at this time.

MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. FELDER THAT THE THOMAS GRIFFITH WAREHOUSE BUILDING, 209 EAST SEVENTH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE TABLED FOR CONSIDERATION FOR FURTHER PROCESSING FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION UNTIL FURTHER RESTORATION INFORMATION IS OBTAINED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

b. Reconsideration of Helms-Bell House (see vote under Director’s Report)

c. Selection of Consultant for Industrial & Institutional Survey

Ms. Cox reported that a subcommittee composed of herself, Ms. Autrey and Mr. Barry Miller reviewed the proposals submitted for the survey.

MS. COX PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. AUTREY THAT DAVID E. GALL AND ASSOCIATES BE HIRED AT A FEE OF $12,5000 TO PERFORM THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY CHARLOTTE INDUSTRIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SURVEY. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The Commissioners agreed that Dr. Morrill should talk to Mr. Martin Cramton, Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission, about establishing a system whereby the HLC is notified when a demolition permit application has been submitted for a building having CMUD zoning.

Item #6 - Design Review Committee Report: Ms. Autrey

Ms. Autrey reported that eleven Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness will be considered at the next Design Review Committee meeting scheduled for September 20th at 5:30 p.m. at the HLC office. She invited and encouraged all HLC members to attend the meeting.

Item #7 - Reports on Designated Historic Landmarks: Mr. Ritch

Mr. Ritch said that he will report on properties in Huntersville and Cornelius at the next HLC meeting.

Item #8 - Old Business

No motions were presented.

Item #9 - New Business

No motions were presented.

The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.