Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.
Present:
Mr. Richard Alsop, III, Committee Chairman
Mr. Lynn Weis, Committee Vice-Chairman
Mr. Len Norman, HLC Chairman
Mr. Donald Campbell
Dr. Richard Mattson
Dr. Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director
Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner
Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant
Visitors:
Mr. Billy Raines, Ranson House
Mr. Rob Vail
Mr. Michael Stitt, Thornhill Community Assoc.Inc.(Big
Rock)
Mr. Jim Rurke-Fire Museum
AGENDA
Item #1 - Welcome: Mr. Alsop
Mr. Alsop welcomed everyone to the meeting. He
extended special greetings to Mr. Campbell as a new committee member.
Item #2 - Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill
Dr. Morrill reported that recent legislation might
relieve HLC Commissioners of required attendance at public hearings. He
said he will report the legal information he receives.
Item #3 - Study List Applications
Mr. Gray said that this will be discussed under Item
#5.
Item #4 - Consideration of Survey and Research
Reports
A. First National Bank Building,
110-112 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, N. C.
The Committee considered the Survey and Research
report. Dr. Morrill noted that this important Center City skyscraper,
constructed in 1927, was designed by Architect Louis Asbury. Survey and
Research Reports can be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org.
MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY DR. MATTSON
TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE FIRST
NATIONAL BANK BUILDING, 110-112 SOUTH TRYON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C.
(ENTIRE EXTERIOR, INTERIOR BOARD ROOM AND ELEVATOR LOBBIES), BE
PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED THE MOTION.
B. Ranson House, 412 S. Old Statesville
Road, Huntersville
The Committee considered the Survey and Research
Report. The owner, Mr. Raines, said that he supported historic
designation for the house. He said that the house has over 4,000 square
feet and that 17 of the original 18 columns survived during the
restoration. The architect is unknown at this point’ but Mr. Gray
commented that it looks like a Louis Asbury design.
DR. MATTSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS
TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE RANSON HOUSE,
412 S. OLD STATESVILLE ROAD, HUNTERSVILLE, N. C., BE PROCESSED FOR
HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE
MOTION.
C. Charlotte Fire Station Number 4, 420
West Fifth Street, Charlotte, N. C.
The Committee considered the Survey and Research
Report. Bank of America owns the building located in Fourth Ward. The
1925-26 structure was designed by Architect C. C. Hook. Mr. Weis said
that the Friends of Fourth Ward, of which Mr. Weis is a past president,
consider the building of utmost importance in the neighborhood.
DR. MATTSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS
TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT CHARLOTTE FIRE
STATION NUMBER 4 (EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR AND TAX PARCEL ON WHICH THE
STRUCTURE SITS), 420 WEST FIFTH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE PROCESSED
FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE MOTION
WITH MR. NORMAN ABSTAINING IN THE VOTE.
D. Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary,
248 Ridgewood Avenue, Charlotte, N. C.
The Committee considered the Survey and Research
Report. The property is composed of 2.97 acres. The house contributes to
the historic significance of the site.
MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR.
CAMPBELL TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE WING
HAVEN GARDENS AND BIRD SANCTUARY, 248 RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, CHARLOTTE, N. C.
(ENTIRE SITE), BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THE
COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Item #5 - Consideration of Potential Historic
Landmarks.
A. 2300 Cloister Drive, 1956 Solomon
Levine House, Charlotte, N. C.
The house was designed by Architect Jack Boyte.
Photographs were presented and the property was discussed by the
committee.
MR. CAMPBELL PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR.
NORMAN TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE
SOLOMON LEVINE HOUSE, 2300 CLOISTER DRIVE, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE PLACED
ON THE HLC’S STUDY LIST AND THAT A SURVEY AND RESEARCH REPORT BE
PREPARED. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Note: The Committee agreed that Dr. Morrill be
authorized to prepared the report with the understanding that he would
do this report in place of the one already approved for the Gerrard Tire
Company Building. Consultants will be hired from existing funds to do
the Gerrard Tire Company Survey and Research Report.
B. Big Rock Historic Site, off Elm
Lane, Charlotte, N. C.
Mr. Michael Stitt, a representative of the Thornhill
Community, reported that the Thornhill Community Association Inc., is
requesting historic designation for this important historic site and
asking that the Historic Landmarks Commission fund the Survey and
Research Report. The property, purchased by Mecklenburg County around
1989, totals 23 acres. The Committee looked at pictures of the property
and discussed its importance.
MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY DR. MATTSON
TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE BIG ROCK
HISTORIC SITE, OFF ELM LANE, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE PLACED ON THE HLC’S
STUDY LIST AND THAT A SURVEY AND RESEARCH REPORT BE FUNDED BY THE
HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE
MOTION.
C. S. B. Alexander House, 250 Cherokee
Road, Charlotte, N. C.
Dr. Mattson presented a write-up on the property
located in Eastover. The owner is willing to pay for a Survey and
Research Report.
MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NORMAN TO
RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE S. B. ALEXANDER
HOUSE, 250 CHEROKEE ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE PLACED ON THE HLC’S STUDY
LIST AND THAT A SURVEY AND RESEARCH REPORT BE PREPARED AT THE OWNER’S
EXPENSE. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
Item #6 - Old Business
No old business was presented.
Item #7 - New Business
Mr. Norman said that he thinks that Charlotte’s
modernistic and art deco architecture need special focus and
identification by the HLC. Committee members and HLC Staff agreed with
Mr. Norman. A list of important buildings of this type will be developed
for presentation to the Survey Committee.
Mr. Gray reported that the owners of the N. S.
Alexander House on N. Sharon Amity have purchased one acre of land
adjoining this designated property and would like for the HLC to
consider historic designation for this additional acreage. The Committee
agreed that the matter could be brought directly to the HLC for
consideration.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.