Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

PROJECTS COMMITTEE MEETING

December 3, 2001

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:55 p.m.

Location: 2100 Randolph Road

John Parker, Committee Chairman

Tattie Bos, Committee Vice-Chairman

John Misenheimer, HLC Vice-Chairman

Amy Gray, HLC member architect

Ellyn Baeszler

Carolina Beacham

Deborah Cox

Scott Hirsch

Zac Moretz

Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Phiderika Foust

Ross Richardson

Rob Thomas

Greg Walden

Donny Luke, architect, Rozzell House

Joseph Opperman, architect, McAuley House & Oehler House

Don Yelverton, architect, W. T. Alexander Plantation (barn)

1. MS. COX PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. GRAY TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PLANS FOR THE ROZZELL HOUSE, 11647 ROZZELLE’S FERRY ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING CLARIFICATIONS AND CHANGES A) LEAVE THE RENTAL HOUSE ON THE PROPERTY AS IS; B) INCLUDE RESTORATION OF THE WELL HOUSE AND THE CORN CRIB; C) INCLUDE STABILIZATION OF THE BARN; D) EXCLUDE INFILL AT THIS POINT; AND (E) RESTORE THE ROZZELL HOUSE EXTERIOR RETAINING THE SIZE AND CONFIGURATION OF THE SECOND-STORY WINDOWS AND BUILDING AND EXCLUDE ADDITIONS TO THE CURRENT STRUCTURE; AND THAT MR. DONNY LUKE, THE ARCHITECT, DEVELOP A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR RESTORATION COSTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE DESIGN PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

2. MR. HIRSCH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. BOS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PLANS PRESENTED BY MR. JOSEPH OPERMANN, ARCHITECT, FOR THE OEHLER HOUSE, HUNTERSVILLE-CONCORD ROAD, BE APPROVED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT FINAL PLANS MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE HLC’S DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

3. MR. GEER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MISENHEIMER TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PLANS PRESENTED BY MR. JOSEPH OPERMANN, ARCHITECT, FOR THE McAULEY HOUSE, HUNTERSVILLE-CONCORD ROAD, BE APPROVED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT FINAL PLANS MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE HLC’S DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

4. MS. COX PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. GRAY TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PLANS PRESENTED BY ARCHITECT, MR. DON YELVERTON, FOR THE W. T. ALEXANDER PLANTATION BARN, 416 WEST MALLARD CREEK CHURCH ROAD, BE APPROVED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE THIRD FLOOR OF EACH UNIT SHALL CONTAIN TWO BEDROOMS AND THAT THE U - SHAPED KITCHEN ON THE SECOND LEVEL SHOULD BE THE SMALLER VERSION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

5. MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. HIRSCH TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT ATTORNEY PATRICIA NYSTROM READ THE PROPOSED LEASE PRESENTED TO THE HLC BY THE OLD MECKLENBURG GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY REGARDING TENANCY AT THE W. T. ALEXANDER HOUSE. AND THAT MR. TURNER, PROJECT MANAGER, INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT THE RENOVATION OF THE W. T. ALEXANDER HOUSE WOULD HAVE ON TENANTS. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

1. Chairman’s Report: Mr. Parker

Mr. Parker welcomed everyone to the meeting. He explained the agenda and procedures for the evening.

2. Consulting Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill

Dr. Morrill asked committee members to look at the distributed materials at each seat on the current projects He reminded the committee members to consult the HLC’s website frequently about the ongoing work of the committee.

3. Project Manager’s Report: Bryan Turner

Current projects include 1) the W. T. Alexander Plantation/house & barn/owned by HLC 2) the Oehler House/owned by HLC & on 6 acres 3)the McAuley House/moved to the Oehler property by the HLC 4) the Rozzell House & property/owned by HLC 5) the Charlotte Cotton Mills/Building "B" owned by HLC 6) the Palmer Fire School/currently owned by the City 7) the Grier-Rea House/the house, but not the land, has been offered to the HLC which will need to buy a lot diagonally across the road to move the house to 8) the Southern Public Utilities Streetcar Barn/the HLC is working on this but does not own it 9)the Grier House/the HLC has offered to purchase the house & lot but the owner has not responded 10) the Davis House/JCSU is having the property rezoned before ownership is turned over to the HLC and 9) the Croft Schoolhouse/ for sale by the HLC.

4. Report on the Rozzell House, 11647 Rozzelle’s Ferry Road: Donny Luke, architect

Dr. Morrill showed slides of the property and told about the HLC’s involvement. The HLC paid $227,000 for 4.695 acres on which the old homeplace, the barn, corncrib, well house, barn and rental house sit. Mr. Luke presented conceptual design plans for the site, the current structures and proposed infill. Mr. Luke said that he will work up detailed restoration costs in accordance with HLC recommendations. (See Recommendation #1 above.)

5. Reports on Oehler House & McAuley House, Huntersville-Concord Road:

Joseph Opperman, architect

Dr. Morrill showed slides of the houses and the property. The HLC will pay approximately $19,000 per acre for the six acres of land on which the Oehler House & the six acres on which the McAuley Houses will sit. The Oehler house will remain in its original location. The McAuley House was donated to the HLC but moving expenses are about $75,000. (See Recommendations #2 and #3 above.)

6. Report on W. T. Alexander Plantation (barn), 416 W. Mallard Creek Church Rd.

Dr. Morrill reported that the Design Review Committee has approved conceptual exterior design plans for the barn. The Projects Committee needs to address issues connected with the interior plans. Mr. Yelverton presented proposed plans. The Committee asked that "saved" old materials be used as "decorative" features in the reconstruction. Ms. Gray said that she will call Lee-Morgan Architects, the firm that demolished the structure, about the stored artifacts. (See Recommendation #4 above.)

Dr. Morrill said that a proposed lease has been received by the HLC from the Old Mecklenburg Genealogical Society regarding tenancy. (See Recommendation #5 above.)

7. Old Business

Dr. Morrill reported that at noon on December 10th, the Growth Management Committee of the County will meet to consider the possible purchase of the Southern Public Utilities Streetcar Barn on South Boulevard

by the HLC.

Ms. Bos inquired about when the listing with Springsteed will be up on the Croft Schoolhouse, which has not sold (asking price is $475,000.) Mr. Turner said that the listing agreement expired November 17. The HLC has agreed that the property needs to be leased. The Committee agreed that Mr. Turner should find a suitable tenant.

Mr. Turner reported that the Grier-Rea house on Rea Road is still under negotiation. He said that the HLC’s Attorney, Patricia Nystrom, is working with Attorney Bailey Patrick and that he will keep the HLC informed.

8. New Business

Mr. Turner reported that at the January 7th Projects Committee meeting, he will report on the Charlotte Cotton Mills and Fireman’s Hall.

The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.