Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Minutes

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Matthew Benson/Mayor - Design Review Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Jeff Bradsher - HLC Chairman

Ms. Amy Hockett/City - Design Review Committee Chairman

Ms. Yolanda Johnson/City - Projects Com. Vice-Chairman

Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz/County - HLC Projects Committee Chairman

Ms. Valerie Lewis/City - Education Committee Chairman, HLC Secretary

Mr. Len Norman/County - Survey Committee Chairman

Ms. Laura Chalk Smith/City - HLC Treasurer

Mr. Michael C. Sullivan/County - HLC Vice-Chairman

Dr. Dan Morrill, HLC Consultant Director

Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Assistant Consultant Director

Ms. Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Mr. Scott Abernethy/County - Survey Committee Vice-Chairman

Ms. Yolanda Law/County - Education Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Brad Miller - Ziem House

Mr. David Murdock - Oakley/Yandell House

Ms. Elizabeth Lord - Pappas Properties

Mr. Jason Dolph - Sidney & Ethel Grier House

Ms. Gail Marshall - Sidney & Ethel Grier House

Mr. Tom Snyder - McElroy House

Ms. Millie Snyder - McElroy House

Item #1 - Approval of Minutes

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. SULLIVAN THAT THE MINUTES FOR JANUARY 10, 2005, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #2 - Chairman’s Report: Mr. Bradsher

Mr. Bradsher welcomed everyone to the meeting. He reported that Mr. Richard Alsop, III has been appointed by the Mayor as Mr. John Parker’s replacement as an HLC member. Mr. Alsop will be present at the April HLC meeting.

Mr. Bradsher reminded the Commissioners to keep a check on their attendance. It is important to be present at the monthly HLC meetings and assigned committee meetings. Mr. Bradsher thanked everyone for the work he or she does for the HLC.

Item #3 - Director’s Report: Dr. Morrill

Dr. Morrill reported that considerable time has been spent during the past month devising a preservation solution for the Croft Filling Station located at the intersection of Old Statesville Road and Alexanderana Road. He said that the building, which has been declared eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, has come under scrutiny because a major road widening is planned for Old Statesville Road which will require the removal of the building. It is not a local historic landmark. Many local constituencies, including Hendricks Motors (the owner), and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools, support the road widening. The North Carolina Department of Transportation would most likely not widen the road to its full width unless a preservation solution is developed. Dr. Morrill reported that the solution is to move the front facade and the canopied service area approximately 400 yards west from its present site and make it the entryway for a customer service area for a Hendricks Motor Auto Dealership Park. Notations on the rezoning petition will stipulate that this relocation will be accomplished by the owner at his expense. The Projects Committee reviewed the matter at its March meeting and determined that the preservation solution was acceptable.

Dr. Morrill reported that the Town of Matthews has been working closely with HLC staff on two related projects. The first is the Bost House on West John Street. The Town has requested that the house be processed for historic landmark designation in hopes that this step will encourage the preservation of the property. The other project is the Clark House, which the Town of Matthews owns. The Town is working with Lat Purser Associates to make the house part of a commercial development on the site. Dr. Morrill said that Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager, has visited the site and is developing cost estimates.

Dr. Morrill reported that Two Center City properties are being processed for historic landmark designation. They are: Hovis Funeral Home and the Standard Oil Service Station. HLC Staff had planned to move forward with processing the Alpha Cotton Mill Village. However, negotiations are underway with the Charlotte Housing Authority to see if a representative sample of the mill houses can be saved, most likely on a new site. HLC Staff believes that these negotiations would not be helped by bringing the Alpha Cotton Mill Village before the City Council at this time.

Dr. Morrill reported that the Bethesda School should be moved to Rural Hill in the very near future. Mr. Bryan Turner has been overseeing the project. This will be an important addition to Rural Hill and will open up many possibilities for historic interpretation.

Dr. Morrill reported that Grubb Properties is moving forward with its mixed use development at the corner of Sharon Road and Colony Road. The Lloyd Presbyterian Church Cemetery will become part of the open space for the project. HLC Staff will be working closely with Grubb Properties to devise an appropriate interpretation scheme for the site.

Dr. Morrill reported that County Staff is developing a recommended budget for the Historic Landmarks Commission. One of the options is a "no property tax" budget, which would mean that 40 percent of the operational budget of the HLC would not be funded (60 percent of the operational budget comes from Demolition Permit Fees.)

Dr. Morrill said that much time has recently been devoted to a possible purchase of the Grace A.M.E. Zion Church, 219 S. Brevard Street. The historic property will be discussed later in the meeting.

Dr. Morrill reported that talks continue with the Town of Pineville about how the completed survey of the town’s historic resources can impact public policy.

Item #4 - Design Review Committee Report: Ms. Hockett

Ms. Hockett reported that the Design Review Committee met January 25, 2005 and March 1, 2005. Minutes can be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmphf.org - and are on file at the HLC office.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL FOR THE PLANS FOR THE CAROLINA CADILLAC BUILDING, 1310 SOUTH TRYON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE GRANTED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROPOSED STEEL LINTELS ON THE SOUTH ELEVATION SHALL NOT BE INCLUDED AND THAT THE SILLS OF THE WINDOWS ON THE SOUTH ELEVATION BE SUGGESTED IN THE NEW DOORS BY AN APPROPRIATE MEANS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: The proposed project involves the conversion of the building’s interior into offices. The up-fit would involve the demolition of interior partition walls in the front section of the building and the construction of new window and door openings on the south elevation. The project also includes new mezzanine floors in the rear section of the building, new interior stairways, and a new roof patio.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE PROPOSED PLANS FOR THE McELROY HOUSE, 10915 BEATTIES FORD ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL STIPULATIONS: 1) THAT THE PRESENT FENCE AND PLANTINGS THAT SCREEN THE ADDITION FROM BEATTIES FORD ROAD BE MAINTAINED AND 2) THAT A CONTRASTING SIDING BE USED TO DIFFERENTIATE THE ADDITION FROM THE PRINCIPAL SECTION OF THE HOUSE. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: The proposed project involves: adding a one-story wing to the southwest corner of the house; removing a bathroom in the original section of the house and restoring the original hallway; new double windows in the rear of the one-story section of the house; converting the existing one-story section into a bathroom; renovating the kitchen.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE PLANS FOR THE ZIEM HOUSE, 1812 E. 8TH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C. BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: Renovation of the interior of the original section of the house will include the conversion of an upstairs bedroom into a bathroom, the rehabilitation of the doors and windows, restoration of tin ceilings, and a renovation of the ca. 1980 kitchen design. The most significant proposed change for the property is a two-story addition with a basement level.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT PLANS BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED FOR THE OAKLEY HOUSE, 129 MAIN STREET, PINEVILLE, N.C., IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINAL PROPOSED APPLICATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #5 - Projects Committee Report: Mr. Kluttz

a. Mr. Turner, HLC Projects Manager

b. Ms. Nystrom, HLC Attorney

Mr. Kluttz reported that the Projects Committee met March 7, 2005. Minutes from the meeting can be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org and are on file at the HLC office.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. SMITH THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DISTRIBUTED COSTS FOR ADVERTISING AND MARKETING MATERIAL BY MARSHALL, INC., ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH AUCTIONS BY MARSHALL, INC. TO OFFER THE SIDNEY AND ETHEL GRIER HOUSE, 4647 McKEE ROAD, USING THE SUBJECT TO OWNER CONFIRMATION AUCTION METHOD AND THAT THE HLC CHAIRMAN OR VICE-CHAIRMAN AND THE HLC’S CONSULTING DIRECTOR BE AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE THE SALE PRICE FOR THE SIDNEY AND ETHEL GRIER HOUSE. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: Ms. Marshall was present at the meeting. She explained all the specifics of the auction and answered questions.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. HOCKETT THAT THE HLC CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. NORMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. HOCKETT THAT THE HLC RECONVENE IN ITS REGULAR SESSION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: In Executive Session HLC motions were approved granting the HLC’s Executive Committee authority to take action between now and the next meeting regarding the Charlotte Cotton Mill, 508 W. 5th Street and approving an option price for Grace A.M.E. Zion Church, 219 S. Brevard Street.

Item #6 - Survey Committee Meeting: Mr. Norman

Mr. Norman reported that the Survey Committee will meet March 31, 2005.

Item #7 - Education Committee Report: Ms. Lewis

Ms. Lewis said that the Education Committee will meet soon and that Committee members will receive written notice when a date is set. for the meeting.

Item #8 - Treasurer’s Report: Ms. Smith

Ms. Smith distributed a written report which is on file at the HLC office.

No old business was presented.

Ms. Nystrom asked that the HLC consider a motion regarding the Palmer Fire School.

MS. HOCKETT PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. JOHNSON THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION OR ANY OFFICER OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS FOR THE PALMER FIRE SCHOOL, 2601 E. 7TH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., WHICH AMENDMENT NARROWS THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO THE TRAINING SCHOOL BUILDING OR TOWER, OMITTING THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONDOMINIUM UNITS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.