September 12, 2005
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Place: 2100 Randolph Road
Present:
Joe, Kluttz, Committee Chairman
Tattie Bos
Yolanda Johnson, Committee Vice-Chairman
Yolanda Law
Richard Mattson
Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director
Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney
Bryan Turner, HLC Project Manager
Absent:
Len Norman
Laurie Smith
Visitors:
Keets Taylor, Catawba Valley Scottish Society
Dick Taylor, Catawba Valley Scottish Society
1. Opening Remarks: Joe Kluttz welcomed everyone
to the meeting.
2. Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill stated that most
of the items he needed to present were included in other agenda items.
Dr. Morrill briefly reviewed the criteria for selecting
projects and went over the list of prospective projects that he had emailed
to HLC members.
3. N. S. Alexander House. Dr. Morrill
noted that Jim Hemphill, Sr. has been working with the owners of the N. S.
Alexander House at the corner of N. Sharon Amity Rd. and Shamrock Dr.
Dr. Morrill showed the property in question and explained that he talked
today with Jay Alexander, one of the three owners. Mr. Alexander stated that
the family is ready to move ahead with negotiating a purchase of the house.
Subject to his mentioning it to his mother and his sister, Mr. Alexander
welcomes an appraisal of the property by the HLC.
YOLANDA JOHNSON MOVED AND DR. MATTSON SECONDED A MOTION
TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE COMMISSION FUND A
RESIDENTIAL APPRAISAL FOR THE N. S. ALEXANDER HOUSE (LAND ONLY AND LAND WITH
HOUSE). THE COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION
4. Alpha Cotton Mill Village. Dr. Morrill
explained the situation with the Alpha Cotton Mill Village. The houses are
scheduled to be demolished to make way for a housing project. He noted that
the Charlotte Housing Authority is willing to allow the HLC to move some of the houses
to lots in nearby neighborhoods. However, Staff believes that the houses
would lack historic context. The other alternative – moving some of the
houses to the Alpha Mill project – has not been achievable because Crosland
is not willing to make a decision until the National Park Service rules on
Crosland's appeal regarding Federal Investment Tax Credits. Dr. Morrill stated
that the Housing Authority is pressing for a decision as to whether the
Commission intends to move some of the houses. Staff believes that this
project is unlikely to be achievable and is therefore recommending to the
Commission that the Commission not continue to work on a preservation
solution for the houses. The Committee concurred that this would be
the most appropriate action to take.
5. Grier-Rea House. Discussion of a
prospective buyer of the Grier-Rea House occurred. Bryan Turner also
provided the expense of doing additional interior upfits to make the house more marketable.
YOLANDA LAW MOVED AND YOLANDA JOHNSON SECONDED A MOTION
TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE RENOVATION BUDGET
FOR THE GRIER-REA HOUSE BE INCREASED TO $329,100 TO ALLOW FIREPLACES,
PLUMBING, HVAC, AND ELECTRICAL UPFITS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE HOUSE MORE
MARKETABLE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
6. W. B. Newell House. There was discussion
of the W. B. Newell House. The consensus of the Committee was that the Commission should
pursue the issue of possibly purchasing the house after considering the
results of the appraisal, which will be available by next month’s meeting.
Mr. Kluttz reported that he had agreed that Dr. Morrill could move forward
with ordering the appraisal.
7. Oehler House and McAulay House. The
Committee agreed that Bryan Turner will determine what minimally should be
spent to make the Oehler House and the McAulay House more marketable. These
figures will be available by the next month’s meeting.
8. S. W. Davis House. Dr. Morrill
explained that the owner of the S. W. Davis House has approached the
Commission about the prospect of the Historic Landmarks Commission's
purchasing the property. The Committee believes that the private market
should be allowed to preserve the S. W. Davis House.
9. Bethesda School. Keets Taylor of
the Catawba Valley Scottish Society explained that the County has agreed to
build bathrooms for the site. Also, the Catawba Valley Scottish Society has
installed a well and is pursuing grant opportunities for the facility. Dr.
Morrill explained that the building, which has been moved to Rural Hill, is
subject to damage by the weather but that there is only $3000 remaining in
the HLC's budget for this project. The Committee directed Bryan Turner
to undertake emergency stabilization of the building and asked Ms. Taylor to
develop an overall project strategy and bring it before the Projects
Committee at an upcoming Projects Committee meeting so that the Committee
can make a more informed judgment as to whether the HLC should commit more
funds to the restoration of the Bethesda School.
The Committee adjourned at approximately 6:05 p.m.