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Director's Report June 11, 2001 A. Action Items. 1. The County Attorney has advised the Commission that in order for it to secure the authority to build new in-fill structures on historic landmarks, the Board of County Commissioners will have to approve an amendment to its Capital Budget Project Ordinance for the Commission's Revolving Fund. Click here to read County Attorney's letter. Such an amendment would not require the construction of such buildings, it would simply give the Commission the opportunity to do so if it so wishes. I believe this power could allow the Commission to make more projects, especially ones that contain land, such as the Rozzell House and the W. T. Alexander House, more economically viable. I request that the Commission approve a motion asking the Board of County Commissioners to amend the Capital Budget Ordinance for the Commission's Revolving Fund to allow the construction of in-fill improvements by the Commission on historic landmarks. 2. The owners of the Electric Supply and Equipment Company Building are requesting that the building be designated as a historic landmark. The Survey Committee has recommended that the building not be recommended for designation, because in the committee's judgment the building does not possess sufficient physical integrity to meet the standard of individual historic significance. The Commission tabled its decision on this matter so that members of the Commission might have an opportunity to visit the property. The Commissioners have visited the building. The issue is whether the Commission wishes to move ahead with its decision regarding the prospective designation of the Electric Supply and Equipment Company Building as a historic landmark. 3. The Commission has voted to recommend the Charlotte Coliseum (Original) and Ovens Auditorium for designation as historic landmarks. The Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority has stated its opposition to such designation. The issue before the Commission is whether it wishes to proceed with the designation process in view of the fact that the Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority is opposed to such designation. 4. The owner of Cedar Grove Plantation, a designated historic landmark, has requested that the Historic Landmarks Commission recommend to the Huntersville Town Board that a 20-acre portion of the historic landmark be removed from historic landmark designation so that the conditions a church has advanced for purchasing that portion of the property can be met. Marvin Bethune, the County Attorney, has submitted an opinion regarding the powers of the Historic Landmarks Commission regarding this matter. The issue before the Commission is whether it wishes to make a recommendation to the Huntersville Town Board and what that recommendation shall be. 5. The owner of the Grier House on Tilley Morris Road is still considering whether she will attempt to save the home before the property is purchased by Portrait Homes. Marvin Wyatt, the realtor for Portrait Homes, believes she would welcome an offer from the Commission to purchase the house and approximately 2 acres of land. The Commission's Study of Rural Historic Resources identified the Grier House as an important historic resource, and it is so recorded on the Small Area Plan approved by the City and the County. This is what the study said about the Grier Farm. This is an excellent example of a pyramidal cottage. The pyramidal form was extremely popular in the early years of the twentieth century. It may also be called a transitional cottage form since it has influences from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The simple form is usually associated with owners of middle to lesser financial means. It is important to have such examples to give a complete summary of the history of rural Mecklenburg and its variety of people. The expansive fields are a lone survivor of the rural landscape in an area which is experiencing rapid and unremitting suburbanization. Additional research is underway to learn more about the history of this property, which was not included in the Gatza survey. I recommend that the Commission move into executive session to discuss whether it wishes to submit an offer to purchase this property.
B. Information Items. 1. The Board of County Commissioners voted on June 5th to approve the Commission's purchase of the Ratcliffe-Otterbourg House. The terms of the lease with Historic Charlotte are being finalized, and closing should occur soon. 2. The Joint Public Hearing with the Board of County Commissioners to consider the designation of the Coffey House as a historic landmark shall occur on June 19th. I will give you the time when it becomes available. 3. The Joint Public Hearing to consider the designation of the Rozzell House will occur on August 14th if the County Commission approves the resolution calling for the hearing. I will keep you advised. Bryan Turner will be handling the Mandatory Referral Form and the Request For Board Action for the purchase of the Rozzell House. Closing cannot occur until after the property is designated as a historic landmark. 4. The Survey of Industrial and Institutional Buildings is on-going. It should be completed by September. 5. The North Carolina Division of Archives and History has provided a list of consultants who are interested in conducting the Commission's upcoming survey of African American historic resources. Staff will be making the necessary contacts. 6. Repairs have been made to the Croft Schoolhouse. It is still for sale. Staff is contacting Springsteed Realty to see what actions they are taking to market the property. 7. Bryan Turner has arranged a meeting with County staff to consider the Commission's potential acquisition of the Palmer Fire School. The Commission might be in a position to receive this property and move ahead with development/restoration. 8. Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness have been submitted, so the Design Review Committee will meet on June 27th. 9. Progress continues with several projects. I turn to Bryan Turner to report on details. 10. The special ad-hoc advisory committee on potential Land Bond Projects did meet with me and made suggestions for revisions to the draft report, which were incorporated into the document. Click here to read final report. It is important to note that up to 5 percent of the monies in a Land Bond sale can be used for private purposes, meaning property that will be sold to a private party. All private purpose monies in Land Bond sales to date have been expended. Therefore, the Commission will have to wait for the next Land Bond sale, which is scheduled for sometime in 2002. 11. City Council did terminate its consideration of the Withers-Efird House for historic landmark designation.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan L. Morrill |
