1. I did meet with Jerry
Orr, Manager of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. He continues to
be opposed to the designation of the W.P.A. Hangar as a historic
landmark but is committed to its preservation. He simply feels that
historic landmark designation is unnecessary and possibly complicating
for its future preservation. The issue before the Commission is
whether it wishes to move forward with the designation process. I
would suggest that you invite Mr. Orr to the October meeting of the HLC
to explain his position.
2. I have not heard from
the Newell Community Association about its feelings with respect to the
preservation of the William and Rachel Newell Neill House. Stephanie
Williams is a member of the Survey Committee, which will be meeting on
Thursday night. I will get an update from her and report to the
Commission at its October meeting.
3. I have been unable to
reach the lawyer who represents the owners of a substantial portion of
the Washam Farm on the Davidson Concord Road. They were supposed to
report by August what portion of the land they would support for
historic landmark designation. I will continue to pursue this matter.
4. Ron Tober of CATS and
representatives of the City and Charlotte Trolley will be meeting with
HLC staff and members this week to develop a specific strategy for
negotiating a contract for purchase of the Southern Public Utilities
Streetcar Barn at South Boulevard and Bland Streets.
5. The closing on the
Sidney and Ethel Grier House has occurred. The HLC will be moving ahead
with securing and stabilizing the property. The Projects Committee will
be formulating a recommendation on what action the HLC might take to
preserve the house.
6. The Survey of African
American historic places will be finished this month. A presentation
will be made to the Survey Committee at an upcoming meeting.
7. The HLC will be moving
forward with processing several properties for historic landmark
designation by the end of the year. These include: the Bradford Farm,
the Lee House, the Washam Farm, the sites for the Oehler House and the
McAulay House, and additional land at White Oak Plantation.
8. As you know, City
Council did not approve the rezoning petition for the Grier-Rea House.
Staff, especially Bryan Turner, has been working mightily to move the
house off its historic site. The house will be moved at 11:30PM on
September 9th. Crouch Brothers estimates that it will take
approximately six hours to move the house to its temporary staging area.
9. I anticipate that the
rezoning for the land at the Dr. George E. and Marie Davis House on
Campus Street will occur in the near future. Soon thereafter, the
Commission will be acquiring the house from Johnson C. Smith University
and undertaking restoration. The house will eventually be sold back to
the University.
10. Restoration work
continues at the W. T. Alexander Plantation. The Commission has voted to
place the property on the market once the current work is completed,
which should be by the end of October.
11. The windows are being
installed at Building B of the Charlotte Cotton Mills. Pappas Properties
will be actively marketing the property for sale.
12. Architect Donny Luke
is working on construction drawings for the restoration of the Rozzell
House, and Allen Brooks will soon be doing the same for the Auxiliary
Building at the Davidson Schoolhouse at Rural Hill.