|
|
|||||||||||
|
Director's Report April 9, 2001 Action Items 1. Jeffrey Davis, president of Charlotte Trolley, has asked that the Historic Landmarks Commission assist Charlotte Trolley in finding a permanent home. An ad-hoc committee will have to be appointed to meet with members of the Board of Charlotte Trolley to discuss this matter. This is being recommended by the Projects Committee, but the Commission might want to deal with it at this time in deference to Jeffrey Davis. Staff Recommendation: Approve the Committee's Recommendation. 2. Catherine Browning has made a $1000 donation to Mecklenburg County to assist the work of the Historic Landmarks Commission. She expressed the wish that the money be used to assist the administrative work of the Commission. The Commission's fax machine is 8 years old and uses thermal paper. It would be most helpful to use approximately $300 of the $1000 donation to purchase a fax machine for the Commission, since the County has frozen all money for the acquisition of equipment. This expenditure will require approval by the Historic Landmarks Commission. Staff Recommendation: Approve purchase of a fax machine. 3. The Carolina Theater Preservation Society has asked that the designation process for the Carolina Theater proceed. The City of Charlotte is the owner of the building and will determine whether it becomes a historic landmark. The Commission will have to authorize staff to move forward with the designation process if it is your desire to do so. Staff Recommendation: Secure the City's attitude regarding designation before moving ahead with the process.
4. I did meet with Mike Crum of the Coliseum Authority to discuss the prospective designation of Ovens Auditorium and the Charlotte Coliseum (Former) as historic landmarks. Fruitful discussions continue. I believe the matter can be resolved by the May meeting. Staff Recommendation: Delay consideration of this matter until the May meeting of the HLC. 5. My last discussions with the realtors who represent the owners of the Grier-Rea House suggested that they would return with a proposal for saving the house. On Friday I received a call from attorney Joe Kluttz. He told me that the owners are attempting to finalize a proposal for presentation to the Commission. They are requesting that this matter be postponed until the May meeting of the Commission. Staff recommendation: Grant the delay.
6. Davis Properties has notified the Commission that it is not willing to donate the easement to the entry road at the W. T. Alexander property to the Commission but will sell the easement for $25,000. Brian Jenest and Don Yelverton believe that it is imperative that the Commission acquire the small portion of land to the immediate north of the site and south of the entry road. Preliminary discussions with Davis Development suggest that they would be willing to consider including the land with the easement purchase. You are hereby asked to approve the acquisition of the land and the easement and to authorize Patricia Nystrom to enter into negotiations on this matter. This will require movement into executive session. Staff Recommendation: Attempt to secure the easement and the additional land for the price set forth above.
7. The appraisal has been received on the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in the Cherry neighborhood. The Commission needs to discuss whether it wishes to move ahead with submitting an offer for the purchase of the property. This will require movement into executive session. Attempt to acquire the property for the appraised price.
8. Portrait Homes has offered to sell the Grier House and approximately two acres of land to the Historic Landmarks Commission. The issue is whether the Commission wishes to proceed to purchase the property. This will require movement into executive session. Staff Recommendation: the setting of the house will be so compromised as to destroy its rural context. Do not attempt to acquire the property. Click here to read the letter.
Information Items. 1. The joint public hearing with City Council to consider the prospective designation of the Withers-Efird House as a historic landmark will occur before City Council on April 17th. I anticipate that representatives of Queens College will be in attendance to oppose historic landmark designation. This is an important event for Commissioners to attend. I will not be in town, so arrangements will have to be made for a member of the Commission to present the case.
2. The Joint Public Hearing did occur on April 2nd on the prospective designation of the John Milton Alexander House as a historic landmark. The Board of Commissioners of Huntersville will make a decision in the near future. The vote will occur on April 16th. Attendance of HLC members is not necessary.
3. The various projects of the Historic Landmarks Commission are progressing. The boundaries of the parcels for the Oehler House and the McAuley House will be available soon, thereby allowing the designation process for both to come before the Board of Commissioners of Huntersville. The move of the McAuley House is scheduled to occur before June 1st.
4. Patricia Nystrom is reviewing contracts for the Commission's purchase of the Rozell House. The rezoning is scheduled to occur on April 10th. Archives and History has commented affirmatively upon the designation of the property as a historic landmark.
5. Don Yelverton and Brian Jenest have presented a conceptual master plan for the W. T. Alexander Plantation to a subcommittee of the Projects Committee. 6. Other projects include the Charlotte Cotton Mills, the Palmer Fire School, the Davis House, and the Croft Schoolhouse. Bryan Turner will report on the progress of each. 7. Work has begun on the replacement of the rail between Ninth Street and Tremont Avenue for the South Corridor Trolley/Light Rail commuter line. A dedication ceremony for the beginning of work was held on April 5th. 8. According to Fred Bolt of Pappas Properties, the State still intends to purchase the rail corridor on the rear of the Charlotte Cotton Mills property. 9. I have instructed Emily Ramsey to complete the Survey and Research Report on Elmwood Cemetery in the near future. I anticipate it will come before the Commission in June at the latest. 10. Interestingly, two former projects of the Commission -- the James A. Blakeney House and Ingleside Plantation -- are for sale. 11. Ron Tober of the City's Department of Transportation will come to the May meeting of the HLC to explain how the vintage trolley and the light rail vehicles will both operate on the rail line from Tremont Ave. to Ninth St. 12. Recent visits to the Neely Slave Cemetery and the Dinkins Cemetery reveal that work is underway to incorporate both within new developments in accordance with design review decisions of the HLC. 13. There have been significant developments concerning two historic structures in center city Charlotte. Daniel Levine has plans to move the Treloar House diagonally across Brevard St. if his plans for a First Ward park come into fruition. The Ratcliffe Florist Shop has been moved across Tryon Street. Respectfully submitted. |
