Director's Report October 9, 2000 1. The public hearing to consider the prospective designation of the Textile Mill Supply Company and the Nebel Knitting Mill Annex as historic landmarks will occur during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Charlotte City Council that begins at 6 p.m. on October 18, 2000.
2. Bryan Turner has joined the staff of the Engineering and Building Standards Department as a Project Manager for HLC Projects. This will allow the Commission to have more direct professional supervision of its revolving fund projects. Bryan will also be providing assistance with reviewing Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness. 3. The barn at the W. T. Alexander Plantation has been dismantled down to the rock foundation. Fitzhugh Stout is conducting a "highest and best use" study, which should be completed by October 15th. The next step will be to select the architect who will provide engineering and design services for the entire site. The Historic Landmarks Commission will select the architect at its November 13th meeting. Three members of the Commission (the Chairman, the Projects Committee Chairman, and the Design Review Committee Chairman) and the Consulting Director will serve on a committee with representatives from Engineering and Building Standards as well, most likely Mark Hahn and Bryan Turner. The Committee will conduct interviews and formulate a recommendation for presentation to the Historic Landmarks Commission.
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4. The latest
word on the Oehler Property is that the four owners have signed the
contract with the HLC to purchase the property. When the contract is
received, I will work with Bryan Turner to initiate the do diligence
proceedings that are allowed under the contract. I did meet with a
developer who is interested in purchasing the property and saving the
house. There have also been discussions with County staff about the
possibility of using land bank money to acquire all or some portion of the
property. Obviously, all of these issues can be dealt with before
the HLC closes on the property. As you know, the Town of
Huntersville has agreed to commit $150,000 to the purchase price.
5. One benefit of acquiring the Oehler Farm is that it will provide a location to which to move the McAuley House. The developer of the property has agreed to donate the house to the Commission with the understanding that it will be moved off site by March 2001. Marilyn Croteau has been working with Crouch Brothers to develop a price for moving the house. That figure should be available in the near future.
6. I have been contacted by the buyer's agent for Portrait Homes regarding its plans to acquire and develop a 40 acre tract on McKee Road and Tilley Morris Road. Portrait Homes is seriously considering donating the Grier House, which is on the property, to Mecklenburg County which will then convey it to the HLC. The HLC would then restore the home and offer it for sale. I will be working with the Projects Committee as this matter unfolds. Bryan Turner and I did visit the house on October 6th. It is an excellent example of a pyramidal roofed cottage. It is also in good condition. Click here for additional photographs.
7. The closing has not yet occurred on the Charlotte Cotton Mills. It is scheduled for early November. Engineering and Building Standards has determined that it would be prudent to have the architect for Pappas Properties, LS3P, also be the architect for the HLC on this project, since the two buildings are being developed essentially as one. A specific recommendation regarding this issue will be presented to the HLC at its November meeting.
8. I have called Daniel Levine about arranging a meeting to discuss possible preservation strategies for the Thomas Griffith Warehouse Building. Final arrangements are still pending. I would be less that totally forthcoming if I did not tell you that I am pessimistic about the possibility of saving this building from destruction.
9. I have received the final report from the consultants conducting the post-World War Two Survey. It is an impressive document. The Survey Committee will be holding a special meeting at 7:30PM on November 9th to hear a report from the consultants. A plan of action to implement the findings will be forthcoming from the Survey Committee in the coming months.
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| 10. The
website, which was established in May 1997, has received 200,000
hits. I continue to get lots of positive feedback from the public,
including students. I have been talking with John Misenheimer about
the prospect of using the website as a vehicle to establish an on-line
journal on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg built environment. The concept
would be to solicit manuscripts, establish a Board of Editors, and publish
an annual issue. The tone of the journal would be scholarly, not
popular. In other words, I would see it as being a sophisticated
publications, not a "folksy" newsletter. I would welcome
input from Commissioners about features you would like to see on the
website.
11. I have met with Sherry Wyatt and Sarah Woodard to discuss arrangements for beginning the Industrial/Institutional Buildings Survey. They have already begun their work. Respectfully submitted,
Dan L. Morrill |