Charlotte

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission uses the "The Secretary Of The Interior's Standards For Rehabilitation" to judge the appropriateness of proposed projects. Below are listed those guiding standards.

1. A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.

2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.

3. Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.

4. Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved.

5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a historic property shall be reserved.

6. Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or pictorial evidence.

7. Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken using the gentlest means possible.

8. Significant archeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.

9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.

10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.

The applicant is a potential buyer of the building. The proposed project would involve limited changes to the exterior of the building. These include new tile on the front porch, new porch on the rear of the building, new windows of the rear of the building, removal of exterior stairwell, and removal of metal fire escape.

Interior changes would be extensive, affecting all of the interior rooms and would involve changes in trim, new partition walls, a new stairwell, demolition of the existing stairwells, demolition of the stage, removal of other millwork such as doors and posts, and the addition of new millwork such as fireplaces.

Exterior- Elevations need to be supplied to the Commission so that the changes to the rear of the building can be better understood.

Tile on the front porch should match the existing.

The heights of the parapet walls should not be altered.

No changes to the designs of the existing windows should be allowed.

Interior - The interiors of the three front rooms of the Charlotte Woman's Club are critical interior elements, and every effort should be made to preserve the original design of those rooms including the architectural features (mill work, flooring, etc.) and the interior space itself. No new significant architectural features should be added to those rooms, and the existing space should not be compromised with the addition of new walls or doorways.

Recognizing the need to make the property work in a new capacity, the interior of the building beyond the three front rooms could be significantly altered to accommodate a change of use. With the understanding that some original features would be lost, the owner would be encouraged to rehabilitate the building using practices that allow for the retention of as much original material as possible and that new features be installed in such a way that they could be removed in the future without damaging the remaining original features.

The owner of the Grand Theater is proposing to install a new marquee on the building, replacing the existing windows and front doors, and adding new awnings to the side and rear elevations. The project would also include repair to the brickwork and rehabilitation of the interior.

Approve the marquee as shown. Signage above the marquee should be based on the design shown in archival photos. Blade sign should be differentiated from the marquee signage. Designs of new windows and doors should be based on windows shown in archival photos and applicant should bring specifications to the Commission before the August HLC meeting.