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A Feasibility Study For A Survey Of Surviving

Historic Structures And Sites In Center City Charlotte

Dr. Dan L. Morrill and Mr. Stewart Gray

Statement of Purpose.   It is the purpose of this document to explain the parameters and purposes of a proposed survey of extant historic structures and sites in Center City Charlotte.  All of the buildings depicted on the cover sheet of this feasibility study have been demolished within the last 20 years, a fact which bears dramatic testimony to the level of  endangerment of historic resources in Uptown Charlotte.

The threat continues. An example? These four 1920s-era buildings in the 400 block of East Trade St. are scheduled to be demolished to make way for the new Arena.

There is no prospect that the pressure on Center City structures will abate. A contributing element to the loss of historic buildings and sites in Uptown Charlotte is the absence of a comprehensive survey of extant historic resources in the Center City.  The last comprehensive survey of Center City Charlotte’s historic buildings and sites was conducted in the early 1980s, and it only included properties in the four original wards.  More recently the Commission undertook a survey of industrial and institutional buildings and a survey of post World War Two architecture.  Although both did include some structures in Uptown Charlotte, they did not focus primarily upon the urban core of the city.  It is altogether fitting and proper, especially in view of the unremitting pace of growth in Uptown Charlotte, that the Commission should endeavor to identify those structures and sites in the Center City that most likely qualify for designation as historic landmarks.

Parameters of Study.  Staff believes that Dr. Dan L. Morrill and Stewart Gray are uniquely qualified to conduct the proposed Survey for a stipend of $12,000.  Dr. Morrill has served as Director of the Historic Landmarks Commission since 1974 and is, therefore, intimately familiar with the historic resources of Uptown Charlotte.  Stewart Gray, Assistant Preservation Planner for the Commission since 2001, has worked closely with Dr. Morrill in processing properties for historic landmarks designation, was a principal investigator for the African American Survey that the Commission completed in 2002, and is pursuing a Masters Degree in Historic Preservation at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

For purposes of this study, Uptown Charlotte shall include all buildings and places within the area bounded by Big Sugar Creek on the west, Little Sugar Creek on the east, the CSX (Seaboard Air Line) tracks on the north, and Summit Ave.-Bland St.-South Blvd.-Interstate 277 on the south.

Scope of Services.  Dr. Morrill and Mr. Gray propose to produce by June 30, 2004, the following products.  All will be posted on the Commission’s website.

a.         an historical context essay for Uptown Charlotte, focusing especially upon developments since the mid-twentieth century.  This essay will allow the Commission to understand how a particular structure or site reflects patterns of historical development in the Center City.

b.         digital photographs of structures and sites judged to be eligible for historic landmark designation.  These will be sufficient to meet the requirements of Survey and Research Reports.

c.         synoptic essays on the associative and architectural  history and character of structures and sites judged to be eligible for historic landmark designation.

d.         A map or maps depicting the location of structures and sites judged to be eligible for historic landmark designation.

Benefits of Study.  In addition to its intrinsic educational value, the Survey of historic structures and sites proposed herein for Center City Charlotte will enable the Commission to develop a comprehensive approach to the designation of urban properties as historic landmarks and will allow it to notify public and private agencies of what properties in Uptown Charlotte deserve special consideration because of their special historic significance.  Even more importantly, discussions with the Division of Archives and History suggest that this survey will allow the Commission, if it so chooses, to process numerous urban properties for historic landmark designation without preparing Survey and Research Reports on each.