a.  Charlotte Trolley Barn Project. Dr. Morrill reported that the City has sent the application to the HLC to include renovation costs for the carbarn in its FY 2003 Budget. The application will be filed by January 23^rd. Dr. Morrill is contacting Charlotte Trolley in order to ascertain what level of financial commitment that organization can make to repay the HLC for the Land Bond money that might be used for the project. After that information is received, Dr. Morrill will move ahead with preparing the Mandatory Referral forms and the Request For Board Action forms to take this issue before the County Commission for action.

b.  The Grier House. The Historic Landmarks Commission has not yet received a signed agreement from the owner to sell the property to the HLC for the price offered. This should be happening in the near future.

c.  The W. T. Alexander Project. Dr. Morrill reported that the list of salvaged materials from the barn has been forwarded to Mr. Don Yelverton, architect for the project. Also, he clarified with Attorney Patricia Nystrom that the Commission is under no legal obligation to construct the new barn-like condominium building. Dr. Morrill did state that in his opinion the construction of the building would be in keeping with educating the public about the rural heritage of the property and would enhance the chances for allowing the house to be accessible to the public. Don Yelverton is preparing the design plans for the barn-like structure and is working with Cole Jenest on the rezoning of the property and the site plan. Bids will be let in the near future for exterior stabilization of the well house, the garage apartment, and the house. Dr. Morrill said that he had a recent conversation with a developer who has expressed an interest in the property. Considerable discussion ensued about the merit of moving ahead with the barn-like building in view of the cost involved. Some members of the Committee wanted the Commission to revisit the concept of moving ahead with the rebuilding of the barn, including completing a full set of design documents.

d.  Discussion of the Grier-Rea Project. Mr. Turner gave a brief Power Point presentation that described how the lot to which the house might be moved could be configured. The sub-lessee of the property is concerned that placing the house near the front of the property might jeopardize the nursery business that occupies a portion of the site. The Committee agreed that the house must have sufficient road frontage to preserve its historic setting. The Committee agreed that the house is extremely important historically and that every reasonable effort should be made to preserve the house.

e.  Discussion of Palmer Fire School Project. Dr. Morrill and Mr. Turner narrated a Power Point presentation and explained the status of the Historic Landmarks Commission’s acquisition of the Palmer Fire School from Mecklenburg County. A Power Point presentation has already been made to the Joint Use Task Force of City and County officials, and two presentations will be made on January 8^th – one to the Elizabeth Homeowners Association and one to the Park and Recreation Commission. The purpose of these presentations is to describe the two principal concepts involved with the project – that the land will be split into two parcels and that a new building will most likely have to be constructed on the property in order to make an adaptive reuse of the property economically feasible. Mr. Turner said that the Board of County Commissioners and the City Council will have to endorse the project. Mr. Turner did say that an RFP will probably have to be issued to potential developers of the property because more than one potential buyer has come forward.