Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

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

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Gray Newman, Committee Chairman

Len Norman, HLC Chairman

Ben Rojahn

Thornton Withers (first meeting)

Lynn Weis, deputized HLC member

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. Chis Muller, President Dilworth Community Development Assoc. (DCDA)

1. Chairman’s Report: Mr.Gray Newman

Mr. Newman welcomed everyone to the meeting

2. Director’s Report: Dr. Dan Morrill

a. Dr. Morrill reported that Ms. Linda Kidd, realtor, continues to market the Rozzel property on Old Rozzells Ferry Road. The HLC has no active offers.

b. Mr. Turner is working with Mr. Marvin Bethune, County Attorney, to prepare an action item for the Board of County Commissioners that will allow greater flexibility for the HLC’s revolving fund, namely, that the HLC will not have to go before the Board to have funds individually recognized.

c. The Citizens Capital Budget Advisory Committee has still not made its recommendations for additional bond funds for the HLC’s revolving funds.

d. Mr. Turner is discussing with Mr. Bobbie Shields, Assistant County Manager, the details of a possible transfer of the Torrence-Lytle property to the Historic Landmarks Commission.

e. City Council has approved the interlocal agreement with the County and the Town of Pineville. The next step is to submit the agreement for approval to the Board of County Commissioners. This is being coordinated with Ms. Nystrom.

f. Ms. Lexie Longstreet continues to market the Sidney & Ethel Grier House, 4647 McKee Rd., Charlotte, N. C. (asking price: $375,000) and White Oak Plantation, 7729 Hood Rd., Charlotte, N. C. (asking price: $1.4 Million -18 acres.)

g. Repairs of the rental house at White Oak Plantation will start in the near future. There has been another plumbing problem at the property.

h. The closing for the N. S. Alexander House, 4601 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, N. C., is scheduled for April 27, 2007.

i. Bank of America has requested another extension on the closing date for the HLC’s purchase of the Richard Wearn House, 4928 Tuckaseegee Rd., Charlotte, N. C.

j. The status of the closing on the Grand Theater, 333 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, N. C., is unclear.

3. Grier-Rea House, 7601 Providence Rd., Charlotte, N. C.

Ms. Lexie Longstreet has advised HLC Staff that she believes the Grier-Rea House, 7601 Providence Rd., Charlotte, N. C., would have a much better chance to sell for an office use. The Planning Staff is willing to support a rezoning of the property. The fee for the rezoning is $4500. A site plan will have to be developed. The issue before the Committee is whether it believes the HLC should apply for a rezoning, which could be heard by City Council in September at the earliest. In the meantime the HLC would attempt to sell the property as a residence.

The Committee discussed the rezoning issue and agreed to consider the issue further at the HLC meeting on May 14, 2007.

The Dilworth Community Development Association has approached HLC Staff about the prospect of the HLC’s purchasing two mill houses in Dilworth on which the Charlotte Historic District has imposed a one-year stay on demolition. Preservation N. C. has purchased two houses in Dilworth. They are 329 Worthington Ave. for $425,000 and 1818 Euclid Ave. for $485,000. The issue before the HLC is whether it will consider purchasing the mill houses for resale.

Mr. Muller showed photographs of the properties under contract with PNC along with photographs of 2020, 2012 and 2016 Euclid Ave., D. A. Tompkins’s mill houses, which are also endangered structures. He said that there are currently 26 demolition requests within the Dilworth Historic District. He said that the DCDA is raising money to assist Preservation N. C. (PNC) in its efforts to save the endangered Dilworth properties.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ROJAHN TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT STAFF BE DIRECTED TO APPROACH THE OWNERS OF THE EUCLID AVENUE HOUSES TO DETERMINE WHAT PRESERVATION STRATEGIES MIGHT BE POSSIBLE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Dr. Morrill circulated a draft of a proposal from Bissell-Hayes whereby it would become a special partner with the HLC. The draft reads as follows:

a. Bissell-Hayes would become the listing firm for all residential properties acquired and sold by the HLC and would become the buyers agent for the HLC.

b. Bissell-Hayes would discount the listing side commission as agreed to by it and the HLC.

c. The HLC would allow Bissell-Hayes to designate itself as "The Special Partner of the HLC" and would allow Bissell Hayes to include this designation on the company website, printed materials, advertising, etc.

The Committee discussed whether or not to recommend to the HLC that it explore the possibility of establishing such a relationship with Bissell-Hayes. The Committee reached a consensus that it keep its current plan for selling properties intact which is to consider the selling of each property on an individual basis since the HLC has properties in so many different areas of Mecklenburg County. Properties offered for sale can be seen on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS THAT THE COMMITTEE CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS THAT THE COMMITTEE RE-CONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: In Executive Session the Committee discussed a possible sale of Grace A.M.E. Zion Church, 219 S. Brevard St., Charlotte, N. C. No motions were presented.

There was no old or new business.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WITHERS THAT THE MEETING ADJOURN. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.