Applications

Special Notice.  The Board of County Commissioners and the Historic Landmarks Commission will hold a joint public hearing on February 20th to consider the designation of the McAuley House as a historic landmark.  The meeting begins at 6 p.m.

Information Items.

1.  Director's Report.  Click Here For Director's Report.

Action Items.

1.  Consideration of  HLC Minutes.  Click Here For Draft Of Minutes.

2.  Design Review Committee Matters.  Click Here For Design Review Minutes.

Click Here For Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines.

a.  MR. BOOKOUT PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. BOS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE MCELROY HOUSE, 10915 BEATTIES FORD ROAD, HUNTERSVILLE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Director's Comments.  Don Yelverton reviewed the application for the Commission and determined that all proposed changes meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.  I recommend that the Commission issue the Certificate.

b.  MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. BOOKOUT TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR RURAL HILL ON NECK ROAD IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY AS PRESENTED IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED SITE AND THE PERFORMANCE OF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG. THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING VOTE: FAVOR: BRADSHER, MISENHEIMER, AUTREY, BOOKOUT LAWRENCE. OPPOSE: WALDEN, SULLIVAN, COX, BOS ABSTAIN: NONE.

Director's Comments.  Don Yelverton reviewed the application for the Commission.  The Applicants proposed to build a maintenance facility with basement to resemble an original barn and that it be placed slightly east from the original barn site.  Don Yelverton recommends that the new building be built at the original barn site with no basement once sufficient archeological investigations have been conducted to assure that no historic fabric will be destroyed. The Applicants have considered Don's comments and have  sent a letter advising staff that the barn will be built at the original site with no basement and that a maintenance facility will be the subject of a separate Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness at some future date.  I believe the revised plan should be approved and a Certificate of Appropriateness should be issued to this end.

c.  MS. COX PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. BOS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR MORROCROFT, 2525 RICHARDSON DRIVE, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS SUBMITTED EXCEPT FOR THE GARAGE ADDITION IN ORDER THAT DON YELVERTON AND LINDSAY DANIEL CAN DISCUSS HOW BEST TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC FEEL OF THE GARDEN WALL NEXT TO THE PROPOSED GARAGE ADDITION. OPPOSE: BOOKOUT FAVOR: AUTREY, BOS, COX, LAWRENCE, MISENHEIMER, SULLIVAN, WALDEN ABSTAIN: NONE.

Director's Comments.  Lindsey Daniel, Project architect, has met with Don Yelverton and the owners.  A design solution for the garden will will be presented at the meeting.  I recommend that the Commission issue the Certificate of Appropriateness with the design solution presented.

3.  Project Committee Matters.  Click Here For Project Committee Minutes.

Click Here To Read Project Guidelines.

a.  MS. RICHARDSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MORETZ TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT SPRNGSTEED REALTY, INC., CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE GIVEN A SIX MONTHS LISTING AGREEMENT FOR THE CROFT SCHOOLHOUSE, 9200 BOB BEATTY ROAD. THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MOTION WITH THE FOLLOWING VOTE: OPPOSE: BAESZLER, BRADSHER, MARTIN, PARKER FAVOR: FOUST, GEER, GRAY, MORETZ, RICHARDSON ABSTAIN: NONE

Director's Comments.  In approving the Committee's recommendation, the Commission needs to understand that this is a most difficult property to market.  At the same time, as you know, I believe that saving the building was a most worthwhile use of revolving fund money and that patience is warranted.

b.  MR. GEER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. GRAY TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO NOTIFY MECKLENBURG COUNTY THAT IT WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE PURCHASING THE MT. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1605 LUTHER STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C. (CHERRY COMMUNITY), AND TO INVESTIGATE THE PARKING SITUATION AT THE SITE OF THE STRUCTURE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Director's Comments.  The saving of this building will protect an important historic component of the neighborhood.  This is Cherry's oldest church building.  By buying the building and eventually reselling it, the Commission will be able to place  covenants in the deed to protect it in perpetuity.    There are still questions to be answered -- especially parking -- but I believe this a most worthwhile project for the Commission to pursue.

c.  MR. PARKER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. BAESZLER TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION TO PURSUE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY OPTION "E" AS DESCRIBED BY CROSLAND COMMERCIAL IN THE LETTER DATED JANUARY 8, 2001, WHICH INCLUDES THE ROZZELLE HOUSE, 11647 ROZZELLES FERRY ROAD, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C., FOR $231,000.00 WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TRANSACTION IS SUBJECT TO REZONING. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Director's Comments.  The saving of this building will protect an important historic component of western Mecklenburg County.  The house and outbuilding are clearly endangered.  The Committee is proposing that the additional lots on the property would allow the Commission to secure sufficient return to offset the cost of restoring and upfitting the house.  I believe this is a most worthwhile project and fulfills the purposes of using a portion of the bond funds to protect rural resources.

d.  MR. GEER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. PARKER TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE McAULEY HOUSE BE MOVED TO THE OEHLER FARM AND PLACED ON A PARCEL OF LAND CONSISTENT WITH THE SITE PLAN BEING DEVELOPED BY COLE, JENEST AND STONE, IF MECKLENBURG COUNTY PURCHASES THE OEHLER PROPERTY WITH LANDBANK MONEY. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Director's Comments.  Unless this house is moved it will be destroyed.  It is an important historic resource.  Part of the justification for convincing the County to buy the farm was to secure a place to which to move the McAuley House.  I recommend that the Commission approve the recommendation of the Projects Committee.

e.  Dr. George E. Davis House.  This item has arisen as a matter of special business.  The Projects Committee has not review it.  Johnson C. Smith University would like to have the Commission restore the Dr. George E. Davis House.  The concept would be for the University to transfer ownership to the Commission.  The Commission would restore the house and sell it back to the University.  The University would pay off the note in eight equal annual installments.  Until repaid, the note would be a lien on the property.  THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION IS BEING ASKED TO APPROVE THIS ARRANGEMENT IN CONCEPT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE EXACT DETAILS, INCLUDING ESTIMATED RESTORATION COSTS, WILL COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.

Director's Comments.  This is a most important historic resource and one that is threatened with vandalism and destruction.  The Commission has heretofore entered into agreements for multi-year paybacks.  I recommend that the Commission approve this project in principle and receive a final proposal and an upcoming meeting once the details of the property transfer, restoration costs, etc., have been finalized.

f.  Ratcliffe-Otterbourg House.  It is my understanding that Historic Charlotte, Inc. has made a counter offer on the prospective sale of the Ratcliffe-Otterbourg House to the Historic Landmarks Commission.  The price is acceptable -- $155,000.  Historic Charlotte wants 24 months' free rent on its current space in the house with the understanding that it may use the meeting room when such does not conflict with the meeting needs of the HLC.  They also wish to have access to the parking lot and the bathroom and the kitchen.  Historic Charlotte also wants to share equally in what profit the Commission might obtain from selling the house within ten years following closing, with the amount of the one-half sharing diminishing ten percent each year.

Director's Comments.  In my judgment, the Commission would benefit immensely from having a permanent home in an historic landmark.  It adds creditability to the program.  There are also benefits from securing County support for the servicing of the house, yard work, etc.  I recommend that the Commission accept the counteroffer contingent upon approval by the Board of County Commissioners.

4.  Survey Committee Matters.  Click Here For Survey Committee Minutes.

Director's Comments.  In my judgment, the building does not currently have sufficient physical integrity to warrant historic landmark designation.  I recommend approval of the Committee's recommendation.

b.  MR. RITCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. CHAMBERS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE SURVEY AND RESEARCH REPORT ON THE DAIRY QUEEN ON WILKINSON BOULEVARD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE UPDATED AND THAT THE PROPERTY BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Director's Comments.  I anticipate that the owner will not favor designation and that City Council will not approve the Commission's recommendation if it should be presented to City Council.  I recommend that you carefully consider whether this is the best approach to advance the preservation of the building.