Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Historic Landmarks Commission

Minutes

June 11, 2001

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

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:55 p.m.

PRESENT:

Ms. Ava Autrey/City, Design Review Committee Chairman

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

Mr. Jeff Bradsher/County, HLC Chairman

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

Ms. Phiderika Foust/County

Ms. Amy Gray/City (First Meeting)

Mr. Scott Hirsch/City, HLC Treasurer

Mr. John Misenheimer/County, Education Committee Chairman

Mr. John J. Parker, III/Mayor, Projects Committee Chairman

Ms. Ross Richardson/County, Survey Committee V. Chairman

Mr. Michael Sullivan/County

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC/County Engineering Projects Manager

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

ABSENT:

Mr. Bernard Felder/City

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

VISITORS:

Mr. Mike Crum, Auditorium,Coliseum, Convention Center Authority

Mr. Ron Tober, Charlotte Area Transit System

Mr. Tony Pressley, Camden Square Village/Atherton Mill

Ms. Hank Ingebretson, Charlotte Trolley, Inc.

Mr. Chris Allen. Charlotte Trolley, Inc.

Mr. Miller Nicholson, Electric Supply & Equipment Co.

Mr. Ed McCoy, Electric Supply & Equipment Co.

Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz, Aston Properties/Rea Family

Item #1 - Approval of Minutes

MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. HIRSCH THAT THE MINUTES FOR MAY 14, 2001, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. AUTREY THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FOR APRIL 9, 2001, 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 extended a special welcome to Ms. Gray as a new commissioner.

Mr. Bradsher reminded the Commissioners to plan to attend the public hearing, with the Board of County Commissioners, for the Coffey House, 3300 Shopton Road, on June 19th at 6:00 p.m.

Mr. Bradsher said that the next monthly meeting of the HLC will occur on August 13, 2001.

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

Dr. Morrill introduced Mr. Ron Tober of the Charlotte Area Transit System to everyone. Mr. Tober spoke to the group about "How the South Corridor Light Rail Line will Impact the Vintage Trolley Line." Mr. Tober distributed information about the proposed transit system and answered questions. Mr. Bradsher told Mr. Tober that the HLC would like to be involved in a leadership role in the line involving the trolley as the HLC owns Trolley #85, which is a designated historic landmark." The HLC recently donated Trolley #1 to Charlotte Trolley, Inc.

1. Dr. Morrill reported that the County Attorney has advised the Commission that in order for it to secure the authority to build new in-fill structures on historic landmarks, the Board of County Commissioners will have to approve an amendment to its Capital Budget Project Ordinance for the Commission’s Revolving Fund. Such an amendment would not require the construction of such buildings, it would simply give the Commission the opportunity to do so if it so wishes, Dr. Morrill reported. He said that he believes that this power could allow the Commission to make more projects, especially ones that contain land, such as the Rozzell House and the W. T. Alexander House, more economically viable.

MR. HIRSH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MISENHEIMER THAT THE COMMISSION APPROVE A MOTION ASKING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO AMEND THE CAPITAL BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR THE COMMISSION’S REVOLVING FUND TO ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF IN-FILL IMPROVEMENTS BY THE COMMISSION ON HISTORIC LANDMARKS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

2. Dr. Morrill reported that the owners of the Electric Supply and Equipment Company Building are requesting that the building be designated as a historic landmark. The Survey Committee has recommended that the building not be recommended for designation because in the committee’s judgment the building does not possess sufficient physical integrity to meet the standard of individual historic significance. The Commission tabled its decision on this matter so that members of the HLC might have an opportunity to visit the property. A visit was held at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.

At this point, Dr. Morrill deferred to Ms. Cox, Survey Committee Chairman.

THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY BUILDING, 421 PENMAN STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., NOT BE RECOMMENDED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BUILDING DOES NOT RETAIN THE PHYSICAL INTEGRITY NECESSARY FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RESTORATION DOES NOT MEET THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR’S GUIDELINES.

Ms. Cox explained the reasons that the Survey Committee did not recommend the building for historic designation. Mr. Nicholson and Mr. McCoy spoke in favor of historic designation for the property.

MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. FOUST TO SUBSTITUTE THE SURVEY COMMITTEE’S MOTION REGARDING THE ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY BUILDING, WITH ANOTHER MOTION. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING VOTE: FAVOR: AUTREY, BRADSHER, FOUST, HIRSCH, PARKER, SULLIVAN OPPOSE: BOS, COX, GRAY, MISENHEIMER, RICHARDSON ABSTAIN: NONE.

MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. FOUST THAT THE ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT COMPANY BUILDING , 421 PENMAN STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., (INTERIOR, EXTERIOR SOUTH, NORTH, AND WEST SIDES, AND LAND ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAX PARCEL),IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD MOTION, BE APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORIC FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION SCHEDULE A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY UPON RECEIPT OF A FAVORABLE COMMENT FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING VOTE: FAVOR: AUTREY, BRADSHER, FOUST, HIRSCH, PARKER, SULLIVAN OPPOSE: BOS, COX, GRAY, MISENHEIMER, RICHARDSON.

MS. FOUST AND MR. HIRSCH LEFT THE MEETING AT THIS POINT: 7:35 P.M.

3. Dr. Morrill reported that the Commission voted May 14, 2001, to table a decision in regard to processing the Original Charlotte Coliseum (called Cricket Arena) and Ovens Auditorium for designation as historic landmarks until HLC staff communicated with the board of the Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority. Since the HLC met the Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority has stated its opposition to such designation in a letter distributed to the HLC members. The HLC’s Survey Committee voted at its meeting on June 7, 2001, to recommend that the HLC proceed with processing the properties for historic designation. Mr. Crum was present to explain the position of the Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority to the HLC.

MR. PARKER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. RICHARDSON TO TABLE A FINAL DECISION ABOUT PROCEEDING WITH THE DESIGNATION PROCESS OF THE ORIGINAL CHARLOTTE COLISEUM AND OVENS AUDITORIUM ON EAST INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., UNTIL AFTER THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF THE AUDITORIUM-COLISEUM-CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY CAN HAVE FURTHER DIALOGUE ABOUT THE PROPERTY. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The Commission agreed at this point to allow Projects Committee Chairman, John Parker, to discuss the matter of the Grier-Rea property. Mr. Kluttz distributed a "Memorandum of Agreement" signed by the eleven owners. The agreement states that the HLC has one year to accept the Grier-Rea house as a donation for a move.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AS PROPOSED BY THE OWNER OF THE GRIER-REA PROPERTY AT THE CORNER OF REA ROAD AND COLONY ROAD WHEREBY THE COMMISSION SHALL INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF ACCEPTING THE DONATION OF THE HOUSE AND LOCATING IT ELSEWHERE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DISTRIBUTED "MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT" MEETS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE ATTORNEY FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

4. Dr. Morrill reported to the Historic Landmarks Commission that the owner of Cedar Grove Plantation, a designated historic landmark, has requested that the Historic Landmarks Commission recommend to the Huntersville Town Board that a 20-acre portion of the historic landmark be removed from historic landmark designation so that the conditions a church has advanced for purchasing that portion of the property can be met. Dr. Morrill said that Marvin Bethune, the County Attorney, has submitted an opinion regarding the powers of the Historic Landmarks Commission regarding this matter.

MS. AUTREY PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MISENHEIMER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO THE HUNTERSVILLE TOWN BOARD THAT THE TWENTY ACRE PORTION OF THE DESIGNATED CEDAR GROVE PLANTATION BE REMOVED FROM HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION CONTINGENT UPON FINAL SALE OF THE PROPERTY TO THE LAKE FOREST COMMUNITY CHURCH. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

5. Dr. Morrill reported that the owner of the Grier House on Tilley Morris Road is still considering whether to attempt to save the home before the property is purchased by Portrait Homes. Dr. Morrill reported that Marvin Wyatt, the realtor for Portrait Homes, believes that the owner would welcome an offer from the Commission to purchase the house and approximately two (2) acres of land. Dr. Morrill said that the Study of Rural Historic Resources identified the Grier House as an important historic resource, and it is so recorded on the Small Area Plan approved by the City and the County. The report said that "This is an excellent example of a pyramidal cottage. The pyramidal form was extremely popular in the early years of the twentieth century. It may also be called a transitional cottage form since it has influences from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The simple form is usually associated with owners of middle to lesser financial means. It is important to have such examples to give a complete summary of the history of rural Mecklenburg and its variety of people. The expansive fields are a lone survivor of the rural landscape in an area which is experiencing rapid and unremitting suburbanization. Additional research is underway to learn more about the history of this property, which was not included in the Gatza survey."

MS. AUTREY PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. BRADSHER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. BOS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. COX THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION RESUME ITS REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING AND REPORT THE ACTION TAKEN. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Parker reported that the Commission voted to make an offer to purchase the Grier property on Tilley Morris Road.

Mr. Turner reported on the progress of the bond fund projects.

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

Ms. Autrey reported that the Design Review Committee met May 30, 2001.

Ms. Autrey reported that the Committee looked at conceptual plans for the Parks-Cramer Co. Complex, 2000 South Boulevard. She said that Committee members expressed concerns about three areas of the proposed design plans: 1) the elevator tower 2) parking spaces and 3) openings which would be cut into the northern wall of the former pipe shed. Ms. Autrey said that the Committee will continue to review the proposed plans at the June 27th Design Review Committee meeting.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A MOTION THAT BUILDING "B" OF THE CHARLOTTE COTTON MILLS, 508 WEST FIFTH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR ROOF REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT OF SKYLIGHTS AS APPLIED FOR. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #5 - Survey Committee Report: Ms. Cox

Ms. Cox reported that the Survey Committee met June 7, 2001.

Ms. Cox reminded the Commissioners that the Electric Supply & Equipment Co. property on Penman Street, along with the original Charlotte Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium were considered by the HLC earlier in the meeting. She said that the Committee presented motions on the Mallard Creek School, 11400 Mallard Creek Road, Elmwood/Pinewood Cemetery, 700 block of W. 6th Street and the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 700 E. Trade Street at the June 7th meeting, and that the properties will be considered for historic designation at the August 13, 2001 meeting of the HLC in order that the owners of the properties can receive adequate notice.

Item #6 - Projects Committee Report: Mr. Parker

Mr. Parker reported that the Projects Committee met May 22, 2001. Mr. Parker reminded the Commissioners that the Grier-Rea property had already been considered earlier in the meeting under the Director’s Report.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE COMMISSION PROCEED WITH THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PURCHASE CONTRACT WITH HISTORIC CHARLOTTE, INC., FOR THE RATCLIFFE-OTTERBOURG HOUSE, 2100 RANDOLPH ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., TAKING NOTE OF THE RESULTS OF THE HOUSE INSPECTION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Parker reported that Mr. Turner has completed contractual negotiations with Joe Opperman Architect for a preliminary assessment of the restoration needs of the Oehler House and the McAuley House.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION AUTHORIZE MR. TURNER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTACT WITH COPLAN ARCHITECT TO DESIGN THE ROOF FOR BUILDING "B" OF THE CHARLOTTE COTTON MILLS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Parker explained that the Projects Committee had instructed Bryan Turner to negotiate a contract with Yelverton Architects to perform design services for rebuilding the barn at the W. T. Alexander Plantation as condominiums and to include in the contract services by Brian Jenest for a master plan. Mr. Turner explained that he was prepared only to present the outline of a contract with Yelverton Architects for design services for the barn.

MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. PARKER THAT MR. BRYAN TURNER BE AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION WITH YELVERTON ARCHITECTS TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE BARN AT THE W. T. ALEXANDER PLANTATION AS CONDOMINIUMS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #7 - Education Committee Report: Mr. Misenheimer

Mr. Misenheimer reported that the Committee is still waiting word about the release to the HLC of the $45,000 which Historic Charlotte, Inc. was granted by the Knight Foundation to build the bathroom facility for the Davidson Schoolhouse at Rural Hill Plantation. Mr. Misenheimer said that he is pleased with the publicity that the Historic Landmarks Commission has received in the local news media. He showed a recent large article on the HLC’s Post World War II Survey which appeared in the May 27, 2001 Sunday edition of the Charlotte Observer. Mr. Misenheimer reported that plans for the Website Journal are well underway, and that the Board of Editors will be reviewing and selecting manuscripts for the INTERNET Journal.

Item #8 - Treasurer’s Report: Mr. Hirsch

Ms. Morrill reported for Mr. Hirsch that a copy of the HLC’s current operating budget has been distributed at each Commissioner’s seat.

Item #9 - Election of HLC Officers: Ms. Autrey

Ms. Autrey, Chairman of the Nominating Committee (Ms. Autrey, Ms. Foust, Mr. Parker), reminded the Commissioners that a proposed slate of HLC officers for the coming year was presented at last month’s meeting. She said that Commissioners were welcome to make nominations from the floor. There were no nominations from the floor.

MS. AUTREY PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. SULLIVAN THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION DISPENSE WITH A SECRET BALLOT AND ELECT THE FOLLOWING SLATE OF HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION OFFICERS FOR THE COMING YEAR:

VICE-CHAIRMAN - JOHN MISENHEIMER

SECRETARY - ROSS RICHARDSON

TREASURER - TATTIE BOS

THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #10 - Old Business

No motions were presented.

Item #11 - New Business

Dr. Morrill told the Commissioners that the HLC currently owes $79.95 to CT Communications, Inc. for the HLC’s website. He said that the website saves the HLC much money in printing costs.

MS. BOS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MISENHEIMER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION PAY THE MONTHLY WEBSITE (WWW.LANDMARKSCOMMISSION.ORG OR WWW.CMHPF.ORG) EXPENSES FROM THE PRINTING AND DUPLICATION ACCOUNT IN THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION’S BUDGET. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Ms. Bos reported that she attended a recent meeting of the Consortium Board on behalf of the Historic Landmarks Commission. She said that the next meeting is scheduled for June 26th, and that the HLC might be interested in offering a Post World War II Survey bus tour as a part of the Consortium’s history and heritage week/month.

Ms. Cox said that she would like for the HLC to discuss in the near future procedures for administering owners’ requests for historic designation for their properties.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.