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Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Historic Landmarks Commission

Projects Committee Meeting Minutes

August 7, 2001

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

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

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

John Geer

Ross Richardson

Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Absent:

Phiderika Foust

Scott Hirsch

Zac Moretz

Rob Thomas

Greg Walden

Visitors:

Neil Ruocco, Pappas Properties

MOTIONS

1. MS. BOS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. COX TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT UNDER BRYAN TURNER’S SUPERVISION, A NON-RENT PAYING TENANT BE ISSUED A MONTH TO MONTH OCCUPANCY AGREEMENT FOR THE W. T. ALEXANDER GARAGE APARTMENT, 416 MALLARD CREEK CHURCH ROAD, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C. WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THE TENANT WILL PAY ALL UTILITIES FOR THE APARTMENT AND  MAKE REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF ALL OF THE W. T. ALEXANDER PROPERTY OWNED BY THE HLC AS SPECIFIED IN THE OCCUPANCY AGREEMENT. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

2. MR. GEER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. RICHARDSON THAT UNDER BRYAN TURNER’S SUPERVISION, THE ONE-STORY RANCH STYLE HOUSE ON THE ROZZELL PROPERTY, 11647 ROZZELLES FERRY ROAD, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C. BE RENTED FOR $400 MONTHLY AND THAT THE TWO-STORY CIRCA 1881 HOUSE ON THE PROPERTY BE LEASED AT NO CHARGE IN EXCHANGE FOR YARD SERVICE AND PAYMENT OF UTILITIES AND HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES BY THE TENANT. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

3. MS. RICHARDSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. BOS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT DONNY LUKE OF ASHEVILLE, ONE OF THE HLC’S PRE-APPROVED ARCHITECTS, BE APPROVED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF BRYAN TURNER AND SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURNER AND LUKE TO A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE FEE AS THE PROJECT ARCHITECT FOR THE ROZZELL HOUSE , 11647 ROZZELLES FERRY ROAD, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N. C. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

4. MR. GEER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. RICHARDSON TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT DISCUSSIONS WITH CRESCENT RESOURCES AND PAPPAS PROPERTIES ENSUE REGARDING THE CHARLOTTE TROLLEY BARN ON SOUTH BOULEVARD AND THAT A CONDITIONAL OFFER BE SUBMITTED BY THE HLC DEPENDENT ON ACQUISITION OF LAND BOND MONEY, PREFERABLY FOR THE ENTIRE TRACT OF THE FORMER TROLLEY BARN PROPERTY AND THAT CHARLOTTE TROLLEY, INC. BE CONTACTED ABOUT PROVIDING MONEY TO RESTORE AND RENOVATE THE BUILDING. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

 

AGENDA

1. Chairman’s Report: John Parker

Mr. Parker welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. Information Items: Dan Morrill and Bryan Turner

Dr. Morrill showed slides of the latest HLC projects.

a. Status of Projects

1) W. T. Alexander Plantation - Architect Don Yelverton has signed the contract to begin designing the rebuilt barn for condominiums and a site plan. Conversations are on-going with officials of UNCC about the possibility of using the house and the garage apartment. (See Recommendation #1 above.)

2) Charlotte Cotton Mills - Work on the skylights and the demolition of non-historic elements of the interior of the building continues. Pappas Properties is having on-going meetings with Commission staff to coordinate restoration efforts. Staff has contacted the North Carolina Division of Archives and History to determine whether the remaining portions of the mill might be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Paul Fomberg, restoration specialist for the Division, will be visiting the site later this month. The Projects Committee will be asked for input on Phase II of the restoration of the building owned by the Commission. Mr. Ruocco discussed the issue of converting the Charlotte Cotton Mills, 508 W. 5th Street, into condominiums with the Committee. The essential reason is to provide more flexibility under the State Building Code for projected design changes. The HLC owns Building B of the Cotton Mills and Pappas Properties Building A. The alley between the two buildings was discussed. The consensus of the committee was that exceptions can be made to the HLC Guidelines if necessary, and that the concept of converting the Charlotte Cotton Mills into condominiums should be explored.

3) Rozzell House, 11647 Rozzelles Ferry Road - The Board of County Commissioners will be asked on August 14th to designate the property as a historic landmark and to approve the Commission’s purchase of same. The Planning Committee of the Planning Commission and the Joint Use Task Force have reviewed the project and have no objections. Arrangements for the tenants of the two houses on the property were discussed, along with hiring of a project architect. (See Recommendation #2 and #3 above regarding the property.)

4) Oehler and McAuley Houses - This site has been prepared for the receipt of the McAuley House which will be moved from 10900 Alexanderana Road to the Oehler property at 14401 Huntersville-Concord Road. Architect Joseph Opperman has made recommendations regarding the move and is discussing the scope of services set forth in the contract for the project architect. UNCC students conducted an archaeological dig at the site in May.

5) Grier-Rea House, corner of Colony and Rea Roads - The Commission has entered into an agreement with the owner which stipulates that the house will be donated to the HLC if the HLC will move the house off the property by May 1, 2001. Staff visited the house and determined that portions of the house possess outstanding architectural significance. Investigations of the feasibility of the project continue.

6) Grier House, 4647 McKee Road, Charlotte, N. C. - The HLC has agreed to make an offer to purchase the Grier House. The offer is being prepared for the HLC by Attorney Patricia Nystrom. It has been submitted.

7) Rural Hill Schoolhouse (Davidson Schoolhouse) - Historic Charlotte, Inc. has transferred $45,000 from the Knight Foundation Grant to construct a bathroom and auxiliary classroom facility at the site. The money has been deposited in interest-bearing accounts at the Scottish Bank. Park and Recreation officials and Bryan Turner and Dan Morrill have met with a builder of modular structures who will be making a proposal to the County. The County at its own expense will be replacing the roof on the building and doing structural repairs. A Minor Works Certificate of Appropriateness for this work has been reviewed and will be issued.

8) Croft Schoolhouse, 9200 Bob Beatty Road - The building, restored with bond funds, is for sale for $490,000 and is listed with Springsteed Realty. The Commission has received no offers. There is a possibility that Dr. Morrill will be using the building in the Fall to teach real estate license renewal credit courses. The courses would be offered by the Mingle Institute.

9) Dr. George E. Davis House, 301 Campus Street - Attorneys for Johnson C. Smith University and the County Attorney are working out the details for the transfer of the property to the Commission. The HLC will restore the house and sell it back to the University.

b. Use of Historic Preservation Revolving Fund for In-Fill

Dr. Morrill reported that the County Attorney, Marvin Bethune, has ruled that the Commission can use monies from its Revolving Fund to construct new in-fill structures on historic landmarks. The Board of County Commissioners is being asked on August 14th to approve the necessary changes to the Budget Ordinance.

c. Use of Land Bond Money for Property Acquisition.

Dr. Morrill reported that the County Attorney has ruled that Land Bond money may be used to purchase historic landmarks but not to make improvements to buildings. Also, a portion of the Land Bond money can be used to purchase property for eventual resale. Dr. Morrill said that this could have an enormous impact on the amount of money available to the HLC. Staff was asked by the County to provide a list of historic landmarks that could be purchased with Land Bond money. Staff has responded to this request.

d. Status of Ratcliffe-Otterbourg House, 2100 Randolph Rd.

Dr. Morrill reported that the County is doing a splendid job maintaining the property since its purchase by the HLC.

e. Current Financial Status of Revolving Fund

Mr. Turner distributed a financial report to each Committee member. The document reveals that the HLC has $6,596,896 in unspent funds in its $9 million revolving fund. However, if the HLC does not sell the Croft Schoolhouse and if it spends the full amount on the Charlotte Cotton Mills and the other projects to which it is potentially committed, only $83,465 remains unencumbered. The Town of Huntersville has committed $150,000 to the Oehler/McAuley project but will have to be reimbursed when the property is sold. Also, the County could use Land Bond money to acquire historic landmarks for subsequent resale. The only difficulty that arises is whether there is a sufficient amount of money in sold bonds that can be used for private purposes, meaning that the property can be sold to a non-public entity. The fundamental issue is whether the committee wants to sell to a non-public entity. The fundamental issue is whether the committee wants to recommend an aggressive use of the revolving fund, recognizing that some expenditures on other projects, e.g. restoration of the W. T. Alexander House, will have to be delayed.

3. Action Items - Dan Morrill and Bryan Turner

a. Architect for Rozzell House project (See Rozzell House above)

b. Recommend Additional Projects

Dr. Morrill reported that there are three options available to the committee: 1) recommend that the HLC move ahead with additional projects 2) recommend that the HLC not move ahead with additional projects at this time or 3) move that the HLC establish a procedure for evaluating potential projects. Committee members received the established set of guidelines for projects which are available on the website - www.landmarkscommission.org. A fundamental reality is that the HLC cannot purchase property unless the owner is willing to sell.

1) Miller House, Huntersville - under contract to a private party.

2) Charlotte Trolley Barn - The issue of the Charlotte Trolley Barn is problematic. Dr. Morrill said that there is no question but that the building occupied a pivotal place in the history of Charlotte, both as the centerpiece of Charlotte’s electric streetcar system and as the scene of Charlotte’s most violent labor unrest, the streetcar workers’ strike in 1919. The problems are threefold. 1) Duke Real Estate, the owner, has an arrangement with Pappas Properties to develop the property, and present plans call minimally for the demolition of approximately three-fourths of the building 2) The distinctive corbelled front facade has been completely destroyed and would have to be replicated. 3) It is a large project. Acquisition of the entire tract, even if that were possible, would cost more than $4 million dollars, and that would not include the price of renovating the building. Arguing in favor of the project would be its impact on the development of South End. lf there is interest in the property a) discussions should begin with Duke Real Estate and Pappas Properties to see what portions of the property are purchasable b) Charlotte Trolley should be asked what it can provide in terms of money to restore and renovate the building c) The County should be asked about the use of Land Bond money to acquire the building and possibly additional amounts of the property for eventual resale to Charlotte Trolley, Inc. or to another non-governmental entity.

c. Consideration of Future Meeting Sites - The Committee agreed that it is desirable to schedule the October meeting at the W. T. Alexander Plantation site.

4. Old Business

No motions were presented.

5. New Business

Ms. Cox showed a National Preservation Institute brochure to the committee and told about some of the courses being offered. The Institute’s website can be seen at www.npi.org.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.