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Director's Report 1. I am happy to report that a signed contract is in hand for the purchase of the Croft Schoolhouse. The price is within the range acceptable to the Commission, and the closing should occur by the end of April. 2. Mark you calendars for May 19th. Five joint public hearings will occur that night with the Charlotte City Council. Council will consider designating the following properties as historic landmarks: Armature Winding Company, Grand Theater, Parks Hutchinson School, White Oaks Plantation Expansion, and the Newcombe McElwee House. 3. Here is the update on projects. Due diligence is continuing on the Grand Theater. The RFPs have been distributed for the W. T. Alexander Plantation. Construction should begin on the foundation of the Grier-Rea House in the near future, as will construction at the Edward Rozzell House. Architects are preparing plans for the restoration of the Sidney and Ethel Grier House. 4. I have contacted officials of Queens University about the prospective designation of the interior and grounds of the Lethco House. Those discussions continue. 5. The owner of the former Grist Mill and the former Blacksmith Shop at the Funderburk Bros. Complex in Matthews is planning to sell the buildings, probably as office condominiums. His lawyer is working with Patricia Nystrom to make arrangements for the Commission's deciding whether it wishes to exercise its right of first refusal. 6. Staff continues to meet with County officials about the Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Operating Budget for the Commission. 7. Staff is awaiting word from the City Engineering Department about the feasibility of saving all or some portion of the buildings at East Trade and Brevard Sts. at the site of the new Uptown Arena. 8. Discussions about the prospect of saving and restoring a portion of the Southern Public Utilities Streetcar Barn continue. The Board of County Commissioners will consider on April 15th whether it will commit $1.5 million of Land Bond money to purchase the building. Thereafter, the Mecklenburg Transit Commission will consider whether it will commit $5.2 million to restore the building as the home of Charlotte's vintage trolley line. A meeting is scheduled this Thursday with HLC staff, Charlotte Trolley, and CATS to discuss where the issue stands. Click here to read report that staff will present Tuesday night. Respectfully submitted
Dan L. Morrill, Consulting Director |
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