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Director's Report
June 11, 2007
1. The operational budget for the Commission
has been approved by the County. It is essentially unchanged from
last year with two exceptions. First, the amount of money for
Survey and Research Reports has been increased to $25,000. Second,
the budget contains $30,000 as a portion of Bryan Turner's salary, which
means that his time spent on HLC projects will not come from the
Revolving Fund. As a result, less of Stewart Gray's time will be
devoted to project management.
2. Mecklenburg County has approved the HLC's
new interlocal agreement. It will be considered by Pineville this
week and then by the other outlying towns in the upcoming weeks.
3. Staff has met with the developers of the
property in Steele Creek on which the Robinson House is located.
Staff discussed various preservation solutions. The developer will
most likely be coming forward with an Application for a Certificate of
Appropriateness to demolish the house. The Design Review Committee
will consider this matter at its June 20th meeting.
Click here for Survey and Research
Report.
4. Staff continues to have discussions with the
owner of the former Atherton Mill mill houses on Euclid Ave. in
Dilworth. Neither is a designated history landmark, but both are
located in the Dilworth historic district and are under a one-year delay
on demolition. Discussions continue.
5. I have asked Stewart Gray to contact the
Urban Institute at UNCC about hosting and co-sponsoring a training
session for the Historic Landmarks Commission and other Commissions in
the area. Tentatively we are thinking about having this in
February. The North Carolina Division of Archives and History has
put the Commission on notice that it must meet its training requirements
for Certified Local Government status. It would be most helpful if
you would let me know which day of the week would best suit you for
attending.
6. A major item for the Commission in the fall
will be a determination of how it wishes to proceed with the selection
and implementation of projects. Several weeks ago I sent an email
containing a suggestion that the Commission should focus on: 1)
commercial cores of outlying towns, 2) center city properties, and 3)
African American properties. Staff will be working with the
Projects Committee to refine these issues beginning in August.
7. I have asked Stewart Gray to investigate the
prospect of the Commission's acquiring and advancing the preservation of
the Thrift Piedmont and Northern Depot, the only P&N building surviving
in Mecklenburg County. This is due primarily to the building's
level of endangerment and its historic significance.
8. Staff continues to work on the prospect of
the Commission's acquiring the Torrence Lytle School property in
Huntersville. Bryan Turner is preparing a request that the County
convey the property to the HLC at essentially no cost. This will
come before the Board of County Commissioners in August.
9. As you know, the Citizens Capital Budget
Advisory Committee did not recommend that bonds for HLC projects be
placed on this fall's ballot. The Committee's report did commend
the HLC for its oversight of the Revolving Fund.
10. Gray Newman informs me that the former Pure Oil
Station on Monroe Road is being demolished.
Respectfully submitted, Dan
L. Morrill |