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Director's Report

January 8, 2000

1. Negotiations continue with the City and the County regarding acquisition of the Palmer Fire School property. The City wants to make sure that future development of the property will be sensitive to the concerns of the neighborhood. The concept remains the same: the County will convey the property to the Historic Landmarks Commission at a nominal cost. The Commission will repair or restore the buildings and place the property on the market. Whatever profit is made will be returned to the County. If the Commission wishes to move forward with this project, it should pass a motion authorizing staff to process the papers necessary to finalize the acquisition of the Palmer Fire School property.

2. The listing agreement with Percivals for the Croft Schoolhouse has expired. The County recommends that the Commission continue to use a realtor when selling property. Staff recommends that the listing agreement with Percivals for the Croft Schoolhouse be renewed.

 

3. The Buyer's agent agreement with First Charlotte Properties expired on December 31^st. The County recommends that the Commission use County services when acquiring property. Staff recommends that the buyers agent agreement with First Charlotte Properties not be renewed.

1. The following properties have been designated as historic landmarks by Charlotte City Council: Frederick Apartments, Neely Slave Cemetery, Helms-Bell House, and the exterior of the Thies House. Thanks for everyone who attended. All ordinances have been filed.

2. Joint Public Hearings will be scheduled soon with the Charlotte City Council to consider the designation of the Withers-Efird House and the Coffey House and with the Huntersville Town Board to consider the designation of the John Milton Alexander House.

3. I am having Lara and Emily Ramsey update the Survey and Research Reports on the Rea House and the former Charlotte Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium.

4. The budget for the Historic Landmarks Commission will be submitted this month to the Engineering and Building Standards Department.

5. Progress continues on the W. T. Alexander property and the Charlotte Cotton Mills.

6. The situation with the Oehler Farm is complex. The County has secured the house and the gate. The Planning Committee of the Planning Commission has recommended that the County purchase the tract. This matter is scheduled to come before the Board of County Commissioners on February 7^th. Staff will be working with Park and Recreation in preparing the Request For Board Action. The plan is that the Historic Landmarks Commission will identify the amount of land needed to protect the Oehler House and possibly the McAuley House. The Historic Landmarks Commission will purchase that portion of the property once it is designated as a historic landmark by the Town Board of Huntersville. Thereafter, the HLC will restore the house or houses and offer it or them for sale. We have been approached by Ray Killian and Gary Knox, who would like to purchase a portion of the property for private development. I hope to hear from them before Monday night's meeting about whether or not they are interested in pursuing this matter.

7. The grant for the survey of African American sites will be submitted to the North Carolina Division of Archives and History by the end of January.

8. The ceremony for the unveiling of the W. T. Alexander Slave Cemetery Marker is scheduled at the site at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 18^th. I hope everyone can come.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dan L. Morrill