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Minutes
Projects Committee
January 3, 2007
Present:
Gray Newman, Committee Chairman
Yolanda Johnson, HLC Vice Chairman
Len Norman, HLC Chairman
Bill Hobbs
Joe Kluttz
Yolanda Law, HLC Treasurer
Mike Sullivan
Ben Rojahn
Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director
Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner
Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager
Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney
Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant
Mr. Newman welcomed
everyone to the meeting and asked that each person introduce himself or
herself to Mr. Rojahn, a new member of the Committee.
Dr. Morrill
briefly reviewed tonight's agenda and distributed financial reports on
expenditures to date on the N. S. Alexander House and White Oak Plantation.
These were the agenda items:
1. Torrence Lytle School.
Staff has discussed with County officials the prospect of having the
Torrence Lytle School property (1937 school building with adjoining wings
and approximately 3.3 acres of land) conveyed at essentially no cost to the
Historic Landmarks Commission. The Commission, as it did with the
Palmer Fire School property, would issue a request for proposals from
developers and sell the property with restrictive covenants to the developer
who offers the best preservation solution for the property.
MR. KLUTTZ PRESENTED A MOTION
SECONDED BY MR. HOBBS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT
IT SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR BOARD ACTION TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION REQUESTING
THAT THE COUNTY CONVEY THE TORRENCE LYTLE SCHOOL AND APPROXIMATELY 3.3 ACRES
OF LAND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR ESSENTIALLY NO COST SUBJECT
TO SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE OF DUE DILIGENCE BY THE HLC WHICH WOULD INCLUDE
THE EXPENDITURE OF UP TO $7500 FOR AN APPRAISAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
AND OTHER APPROPRIATE ITEMS. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE
MOTION. 2. White Oak Plantation.
There are on-going maintenance issues associated with White Oak Plantation.
The Commission has already repaired the furnace (c. $1850) and is currently
dealing with a significant plumbing issue which will require repair.
The tenants in the house at 7810 Hood Rd. are in default of rental payments,
and the management company is handling the situation. Discussion are
on-going with the tenants of the main house about the need to conserve
energy and to maintain the swimming pool. Staff believes that a
fundamental decision must be made about White Oak, specifically whether the
Commission wants to move ahead with selling the property before the arrival
of sewer service or hold on to the property until sewer service arrives,
which could be from 3 to 5 years. Josh Purser has completed a
market analysis of the property. If the Commission does wish to move
ahead with selling the property, it should develop a developmental plan that
can be submitted to prospective buyers. The Committee agreed after
discussing the situation that the White Oak Sub-committee, chaired by Mr.
Hobbs, will continue to monitor all aspects of the matter.
3.
N. S. Alexander House.
All damaged material has been removed from the house ($15,492.41.
Repair of internal gutters is next step. A decision must be made as
to whether the windows and siding removed or damaged during repair should be
restored. (est. $10,000). Staff believes that the guidelines of
the Commission support the repair and restoration of the damaged siding and
windows to make the house more marketable. A project sign will be
placed on the property. Staff will be approaching a realtor to
advise as to what other additional repairs might be made to the property and
listing the property for sale. The Commission has submitted a request
for rezoning of the property. It is on indefinite hold pending a
decision by the Commission and prospective buyers as to what the highest and
best use of the property will be.
MS. JOHNSON PRESENTED SECONDED BY MS LAW TO RECOMMEND TO
THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE REZONING APPLICATION FOR THE N. S. ALEXANDER HOUSE,
5014 NORTH SHARON AMITY ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N.C., REMAIN ON INDEFINITE HOLD. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE
MOTION. MR. HOBBS
PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. LAW TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC
LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT IT SPEND UP TO $10,000 TO REPAIR AND RESTORE THE
WINDOWS AND SIDING DAMAGED BY WATER PENETRATION INTO THE N. S. ALEXANDER
HOUSE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
4. Rozzel House.
Property has been listed, but no offers have been forthcoming. One
interested party is performing due diligence. Tenant is in the tenant
house, and it appears that the vandalism problem has subsided. Staff
believes that the realtor should continue to list the property.
The current listing contract expires on September 20, 2007.
5. Sidney & Ethel Grier
House. Renovations to the house have been postponed because a
prospective buyer has come forward, who is currently performing due
diligence.
6. Oehler House.
Closing was delayed because the survey was not completed as
scheduled. Staff anticipates that the closing will occur within the
next few weeks. 7.
McAuley House.
The new location of the McAuley House has been identified and surveyed.
Movement and restoration of the house will occur when additional funds are
deposited in the Revolving Fund.
8. Grier-Rea House.
Renovation of the house is nearing completion. Staff believes that the
Commission should begin to make arrangements for listing the property with a
realtor. 9. Grace A.M.E. Zion Church.
Lexan for covering the windows has arrived and will be installed in
the near future. Mr. Pete Verna continues to attempt to acquire adjoining
property and anticipates that he will be submitting an offer to purchase the
church. Mr. Verna plans to incorporate the Kenneth Whitsett Mural into
the development. 10. Richard Wearn House.
Bank of America has requested and extension of the examination
period. Closing on the property will most likely occur in the next few
weeks. 11. First Baptist Church
(Former), currently Spirit Square. There is a likelihood that
the County will convey the historic First Baptist Church to the Historic
Landmarks Commission at a minimum cost. The exact nature of the
arrangement is yet to be determined. Staff will keep the Commission
advised. MS. JOHNSON
PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. SULLIVAN THAT THE COMMITTEE CONVENE IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
MS. JOHNSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. LAW
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECONVENE IN ITS REGULAR SESSION. THE COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Note: In Executive Session the Committee received
information from Ms. Nystrom about the current status of the Grand Theater
and the Charlotte Cotton Mills. She said that no action is required at
this time and that she will update members of the Executive Committee as
matters unfold regarding these properties and will ask the Executive
Committee to convene when necessary to conduct business.
Mr. Gray asked the
Committee members about a suitable regular meeting date for the Committee.
Committee members agreed that the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. is
satisfactory.
There was no Old Business.
Under New Business Mr.
Norman stated his and Ms. Johnson's interest in having the Commission focus
on specific properties to enhance the chances for sales. The Committee
agreed that the first property to concentrate upon would be the Sidney and
Ethel Grier House. The Committee asked Mr. Rojahn to visit the
property and provide his input. Staff was directed to come up with a
set of recommendations for presentation to the Projects Committee at its
next meeting.
Mr. Gray declared the meeting adjourned at 7 p.m. |