PROJECTS COMMITTEE MEETING

October 1, 2001

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Location: W. T. Alexander Plantation House

Present:

John Parker, Committee Chairman

Tattie Bos, Committee Vice-Chairman

Jeff Bradsher, HLC Chairman

John Misenheimer, HLC Vice-Chairman

Ellyn Baeszler

Caroline Beacham

Deborah Cox

Phiderika Foust

Amy Gray

Scott Hirsch

Zac Moretz

Ross Richardson

Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Absent:

John Geer

Rob Thomas

Greg Walden

Visitors:

Ted Duncan, ColeJenest

Fred Bolt, Pappas Properties

1. MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. COX TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE CROFT SCHOOLHOUSE WHICH IS OWNED BY THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION AND IS CURRENTLY FOR SALE BE OFFERED FOR LEASE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

2. MR. BRADSHER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MISENHEIMER TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT MR. FRED BOLT BE AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE A SALES CONTRACT WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION’S BUILDING "B" OF THE CHARLOTTE COTTON MILLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A MEMORANDUM FROM FRED W. BOLT TO DAN MORRILL, DATED OCTOBER 1, 2001, EXCEPT THAT NO DISCOUNT FOR ANY PORTION OF THE BUILDING BE INCLUDED IN THE OFFER. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

1. Chairman’s Report: John Parker

Mr. Parker welcomed everyone to the meeting. He told the Commissioners that the HLC’s website, www.landmarkscommission.org or www.cmhpf.org, can always be consulted about the Committee’s work. Committee minutes and HLC minutes can be read on the website.

2. Consulting Director’s Report: Dan Morrill

Dr. Morrill asked everyone to look at the distributed copies of materials regarding properties to be discussed tonight and the Guidelines for Revolving Fund Projects.

3. Project Manager’s Report: Bryan Turner

Mr. Turner was not present at the meeting due to accompanying Mr. Paul Fomberg on a tour of the HLC’s current projects.

4. Charlotte Cotton Mills

a. Condominium Documents: Dr. Morrill reported that Attorney Patricia Nystrom is working on condominium documents.

b. Prospects For Sale: Dr. Morrill said that a prospective buyer has surfaced for a portion of Building B which the HLC owns. (See Motion #2 above.) Mr. Bolt came in later to the meeting and discussed the current situation with the Committee members. He said that there are now two prospective buyers.

c. Paul Fomberg’s Visit: Dr. Morrill reported that Mr. Fomberg toured the Charlotte Cotton Mills today with Mr. Turner and Mr. Bolt. regarding the need for windows on the West elevation of Building B, lead paint contamination in Building B, etc.

5. Rozzell House

a. Update: Dr. Morrill reported that the HLC now owns the Rozzell property and owns the old homeplace, a newer house and over 4 acres of land. He said that a contract has been negotiated by Mr. Tuner with Mr. Donnie Luke, project architect. He reported that the $400 monthly rent will go into the revolving fund. Lease documents are in place and new construction is expected to take place on the land.

6. Oehler House and McAuley House

a. Paul Fomberg’s Visit: Dr. Morrill said that Mr. Turner took Mr. Fomberg to see the property today to get advice for the HLC about how to protect investment Tax Credits. He said that Mr. Turner is arranging the move for the McAuley House to the Oehler House property. Dr. Morrill reported that all permits have been issued for the move. He said that the contracts for Architect, Mr. Joseph Opperman, have been approved and signed. He said that the property has been bush hogged.

7. Charlotte Trolley Barn

a. Status of Project: Dr. Morrill reported that the ad hoc committee met to discuss the HLC’s potential involvement with the property. He said that Attorney Patricia Nystrom is reviewing proposed documents. Mr. Parker and Mr. Bradsher will also review the documents before anything is signed. The HLC will get an appraisal of the property.

8. Grier-Rea House

a. Status of Project: Dr. Morrill reported that the interior of the house is extraordinary. He said that the owners have offered the house to the HLC if the HLC will move the house off the current site by May 2002. He said that the house would have to be moved to a lot diagonally across the road from the current lot but that there are complications in buying the property due to a lease of the lot by a business.

9. Cox House

a. Viability of Project: Dr. Morrill distributed photos of the house which was built in the 1820s. The house is located on the Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road near the N. C. 16 intersection. He said that it was identified in the HLC’s Rural Survey as an important structure. It is a log house with a rear El and is being offered for sale. The HLC would have to pay fair market value for the land according to Mr. Bill Mowry, the realtor. The Committee discussed the property and agreed to take no action.

10. W. T. Alexander Plantation

a. Use of House Issues: Dr. Morrill asked the Committee members to look out the window at the barn’s stone foundation. He distributed a photo taken of the barn in 1944. He said that detailed measurements were taken of the structure before demolition occurred and that a student even went up in a cherry picker to measure the vents. Dr. Morrill said that Architect, Don Yelverton, had planned to be here today to report on design plans for the condominiums but that Mr. Yelverton’s father died yesterday and he could not be here for that reason. Dr. Morrill said that construction should begin in March or April. He reminded the Committee members that revolving fund money can be used to build new buildings on historic property. He said that Mr. Yelverton is only under contract for the work on the barn, not for any additional construction. The house itself needs a new roof, repainting, and window work. Repairs have been made on the rock wall which dates to the late 1920s, the same age as the barn and garage apartment.

b. Site Plan: Mr. Duncan was present from ColeJenest to show a potential design plan. ColeJenest will be overseeing the site plan and rezoning and screen planting.

c. Construction Issues: Mr. Yelverton can address these issues at the next meeting.

d. Paul Fomberg’s Visit: Mr. Turner is not present at the meeting and will report at the HLC’s monthly meeting on October 8, 2001.

11. Croft Schoolhouse: The property has had no offers to purchase. The Committee recommends that the property be leased to help cover maintenance expenses. (See Motion #1 above.)

12. Old Business

No motions were presented.

13. New Business

Mr. Misenheimer said that the Old Mecklenburg Genealogical Society has expressed an interested in using a portion of the W. T. Alexander House for its library. The Committee agreed that the Society is welcome to look at the house and to attend the next meeting of the Projects Committee to talk about the situation.

Dr. Morrill said that Ms. Bos’s son, a UNCC student, might be interested in living in the W. T. Alexander garage apartment. The Committee agreed that this would be fine as it would be helpful as a protection for the property. The County attorney can tell the HLC how to handle insurance matters, liability issues etc.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.