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Director's Report May 14, 2001
A. Action Items. 1. The listing of the Croft Schoolhouse with Percivals expired on May 13th. I notified Percivals of that fact and informed them that it was my intent to recommend that the listing be placed with another firm. Pervivals responded in writing, saying that they thought it should be listed with another firm. Springsteed Realty has submitted a listing agreement. Staff recommends that a motion be approved placing the listing of the Croft Schoolhouse with Springsteed Realty for a period of six months.
2. Bryan Turner and I believe that it might be helpful to seek a lessee for the Croft Schoolhouse. This might help sell the property to an investor, and it would certainly reduce the insurance premium. Staff recommends that a motion be approved instructing Dan Morrill and John Parker to consult with Springsteed Realty about the wisdom of seeking a lessee for the Croft Schoolhouse and to negotiate and approve a lease if is deemed that such would be prudent.
3. An ad-hoc committee composed of Ava Autrey, John Parker, Paul Fomberg of Archives and History, Bernard Felder, Bryan Turner, and Dan Morrill met on May 9th to interview a pool of architects (Yelverton Achitects, Joesph K. Opperman, Architectural Design Studio, The Copland Office, AB Architect, McClure Nicholson Montgomery & Severs Architects) to provide design services for prospective projects. The Committee recommends that a motion be approved pre-qualifying the six architectural firms interviewed and establishing a procedure whereby staff will recommend to the Projects Committee architectural firms for specific projects and whereby the Projects Committee will submit recommendations for architectural firms for specific projects to the Commission for approval. Special note: it might be prudent to authorize staff to negotiate a contract with Joseph Opperman to make a preliminary assessment of restoration needs for the McAuley House and the Oehler House. 4. The owner of the Grier-Rea House has submitted a proposal to the Historic Landmarks Commission. Click Here To Read Letter. The owner will donate the house to the Commission on the condition that the house will be moved off the site no later than August 1, 2002. Also, the owner is willing to sell a lot across Rea Road of approximately 1/2 acre for $125,000. The house is not now designated as a historic landmark. It must be so designated before the Commission can spend any money on moving or restoring the house. Here are the options open to the Commission. You could proceed with recommending the house and a parcel of land on which it sits for historic landmark designation. See Survey and Research Report. This would preclude the demolition of the house for up to 180 days or until City Council would hold a public hearing to consider historic designation for the house and property, which ever occurs first. You could refuse to enter into the agreement. You could agree to enter into the agreement. You could refer this matter to the Projects Committee for further review. Staff recommends that this matter be referred to the Projects Committee for review.
5. The Commission instructed staff to solicit the opinion of the City regarding the prospective designation of the Carolina Theater as a historic landmark. Click here to read Survey and Research Report. The City has responded in a letter stating that it believes such designation would be premature. Click here to read letter. There are several matters the Commission needs to keep in mind. First, designation of the interior of a building can only occur with owner's consent. Second, the City currently owns the building. Third, it is the City that will decide whether the Carolina Theater will be designated as a historic landmark. Staff Recommendation: That the Commission not move ahead with the designation process for the Carolina Theater at this time but that it maintain contact with the City to determine when designation all or any portion of the Carolina Theater will best serve the preservation plans for the building.
6. A most interesting development has occurred with respect to the Historic Landmarks Commission's having the legal right to use Land Bond Money to acquire historic landmarks. The voters approved $220,000,000 in November 2000 for land acquisition, of which approximately $60,000,000 has already been spent. The idea is to develop a comprehensive strategy for the use of this money, so that the needs of various County departments are taken into account. I have been instructed to provide by May 31st a comprehensive list of properties that the Historic Landmarks Commission might use Land Bond money to acquire. Obviously, I need input from the Historic Landmarks Commission. I would urge any members of the Commission to notify me in writing as soon as possible of properties in which they might have a special interest. Staff Recommendation: That the Commission appoint an ad hoc committee to confer with staff in preparing a list of properties for submission to the County by May 31st. 7. Discussions with the Coliseum Authority regarding the prospective designation of the Charlotte Coliseum (Original) and Ovens Auditorium continue. I have been asked to come and make a presentation regarding the prospect of designation. Click here to read Survey and Research Report Addendum. Staff Recommendation: Delay processing buildings for designation until Staff meets with Board of the Coliseum Authority.
8. The owner of the Electric Supply and Equipment Company has requested historic landmark designation for the building. Click here to read Survey and Research Report. The owner was notified about the meeting and the need to schedule a visit to the building by members of the Historic Landmarks Commission. The Survey Committee is recommending that the building not be recommended for historic landmark designation because in the committee's opinion the building does not retain sufficient historic integrity. Staff has no recommendation regarding this matter.
B. Information Items. 1. The Joint Public Hearing with City Council to consider designation of the Withers-Efird House will occur on May 21st. I will let the Commission know the time the hearing is scheduled to occur when that information becomes available. I have received word from the owner that the owner continues to be opposed to historic landmark designation.
2. The Town Board of Huntersville voted not to designate the John Milton Alexander House as a historic landmark pending additional discussions between the Commission and the owner. I have sent a packet of information to the owner. Previous contacts suggest that the owner will not consent to designation. I do believe the owner would sell the house to the Commission for movement elsewhere.
3. The designation process continues for the Coffey House, the Oehler House, the McAuley House at its new location, and the Rozzell House. The Coffey House hearing with the Board of County Commissioners should occur in June.
4. The ad-hoc committee dealing with the trolley barn met with members of the Board of Charlotte Trolley, Inc. A frank discussion ensued. The committee decided that it would meet again following clarification of two issues. They are: 1) determination of which firm is approved to develop the municipal-owned land surrounding the Hal Marshall Center, and 2) determination of whether it would be possible for the Commission to use Land Bond money to acquire historic landmarks.
5. The ad-hoc committee dealing with the issue of Cedar Grove met on two occasions, once with the owner and once with the owner and the members of a church that wishes to purchase twenty acres of land. Discussions continue.
6. Unknown to staff, the owners of the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in the Cherry Community had already signed a sales contract with a private sector buyer before the April meeting of the Commission. I have notified the Church that if the contract is not consummated that the Church should contact staff. The church is designated as a historic landmark, and every indication suggests that the new owner will work with the Commission to assure that the building is preserved.
7. Bryan Turner can bring you up to date on the status of the following projects. They are: 1. McAuley House & Oehler House. 2. W. T. Alexander Plantation. 3. Croft Schoolhouse. 4. Charlotte Cotton Mills. 5. Rozzell House. 6. Palmer Fire School. 8. Students at UNCC are conducting an archeological dig over the next two weeks at the Oehler House. This has been approved by the County attorney. 9. The contract ($7500) for the Survey of African American resources has been signed and returned to the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. Staff will request that $15,000 of the Survey Budget Betterment Request before the County be used to fund the balance of the project. 10. The Survey of Institutional and Industrial buildings continues. 11. Historic Charlotte, Inc. has not notified this office about the release of $45,000 from the Knight Foundation to assist with the building of an auxiliary building at the Davidson Schoolhouse at Rural Hill. Consequently, work cannot proceed. Marilyn Croteau will be assisting with this project.
Respectfully submitted
Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Consulting Director
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