Applications

Charlotte-Mecklenburg

HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION

MINUTES

May 12, 2008

Location: 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N. C.

Time: 6:00 p.. - 7:30  p.m.

Present:

Mr. Richard Alsop, III/Mayor, HLC Vice-Chairman, Survey Com. Chairman

Mr. Matthew Benson/Mayor, Design Review Com. Chairman

Mr. Frank Bragg/City, Finance Vice-Chair, Torrence Lytle School Com. Chairman

Mr. William T. Hobbs/County, Projects Com. Vice-Chair, White Oak Chair

Ms. Yolanda Johnson/City, HLC Secretary, Education Com. Chair/Liaison

Mr. Joseph B. C. Kluttz,III/County, Nominating Committee Vice-Chair

Ms. Yolanda Law/County, HLC Treas., Finance Com. Chair

Dr. Richard Mattson/County, Design Review Com. Vice-Chair

Mr. Gray Newman/County, Projects Committee Chairman

Mr. Len Norman/County, HLC Chairman

Ms. Laura C. Smith/City, Nominating Committee Chair

Dr. Lynn Weis/City, Survey Committee Vice-Chair

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner

Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Ms. Patricia Nystrom, HLC Attorney

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

Ms. Mary Dominick, HLC Consultant

Absent:

None

Visitors:

Master Duncan Andrew Smith, infant son of Ms. Laura C. Smith

Ms. Diane Althouse - Historic Charlotte, Inc.

Mr. Don Yelverton, Architect(Blakeney House, Ostrow residence)

Mr. Jonathan Ostrow, owner of Blakeney House

Mr. Clay Dunbar, Charlotte Observer

Mr. Michael Sullivan - Brem House

AGENDA

Item #1 - Approval of Minutes

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. BENSON THAT THE HLC MINUTES FOR APRIL 14, 2008, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. ALSOP PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. SMITH THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES FOR APRIL 14, 2008, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

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

     Mr. Norman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He extended a special welcome to Ms. Smith upon the birth of her little boy, present tonight, since our last meeting.

     Mr. Norman said that attendance sheets are at each seat, along with a monthly calendar, the finance report and other data.

     Mr. Norman said that the HLC Preservation Conference scheduled for May 20, 2008, from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at White Oak Plantation, 7729 Hood Rd., Charlotte, N. C., will give the HLC its necessary CLG credit if at least two HLC members attend the meeting.  Mr. Gray is handling the arrangements. 

     Mr. Norman reminded the Commissioners that no HLC meetings are held in July.  He said that the election of HLC officers will be held at the HLC’s monthly meeting on June 9, 2008.

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

     A. Morning Star Lutheran Church, Matthews, N. C. - Consideration for National Register Status.  The Commission held a public hearing to consider this matter.  Nobody spoke during the hearing.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION NOTIFY THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE THAT IN THE COMMISSION’S OPINION THE MORNING STAR LUTHERAN CHURCH, MATTHEWS, N. C., MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER SITE STATUS.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

     Dr. Morrill reported that the County Manager will be releasing his recommended budget on May 20, 2008.  He told the HLC members that he will keep them advised of the status of the HLC’s operating budget for the upcoming year.

     Dr. Morrill said that he and Mr. Ron Tober will be meeting later this month with Mr. Keith Parker, the head of CATS, to discuss possible future uses for the GM New Style Bus owned by the HLC and restored by CATS.  Among the items to be discussed will be the timing of securing historic landmarks designation for the vehicle.

     On May 19, 2008, Dr. Morrill reported that on May 19, 2008, he will meet with the owner of the Tomlinson-Wilson House, 11400 Old Statesville Rd., Huntersville, N. C., a designated historic landmark,  to begin to develop a preservation solution for the property.  The owner, he said, has made a commitment to the Town of Huntersville that he will not destroy the house.

     Dr. Morrill reported that HLC staff met with a prospective buyer of the Barringer Hotel to explain the economic incentives associated with preservation.  Staff will keep everyone informed as to what transpires.  Dr. Morrill said that Staff also met with City officials this month to discuss the HLC’s possible acquisition of the Walker Grocery Store at the corner of Pegram St. and Belmont Ave. 

     HLC Staff met with County officials recently to discuss the HLC’s possible acquisition of Holly Bend (the Robert Davidson House) on Neck Road, Dr. Morrill said.

     Dr. Morrill reported that the sales of the Rozzel House and the Sidney and Ethel Grier House did not occur as anticipated.  The properties will continue to be marketed.

     Dr. Morrill encouraged everyone to attend Preservation North Carolina’s fundraiser scheduled in Charlotte for June 5, 2008.

Item #4 - Public Hearing

    A. Fire Station #4 - 420 W. 5th St., Charlotte, N. C.

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS THAT THE HLC OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER HISTORIC STATUS FOR FIRE STATION #4.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

     The property consisting of the interior and exterior of the structure and the tax parcel associated with the building were reviewed and discussed by the HLC.

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING BE CLOSED AND THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION RE-CONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. SMITH THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION AFFIRM  ITS ORIGINAL MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT FIRE STATION #4, 420 W. 5TH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C. (INTERIOR, EXTERIOR AND TAX PARCEL ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRUCTURE) BE DESIGNATED A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

     Dr. Morrill said that City Council will vote on historic designation status for Fire Station #4 on May 19, 2008.

Note: Ms. Law entered the meeting at this point - 6:19 p.m.

Item #5 - Design Review Committee Report:  Mr. Benson

     Mr. Benson reported that the Design Review Committee met May 29, 2008.  Minutes can be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org.

      A. Moore-Golden House, 1701 E. 8th St., Charlotte, N. C.   

 The owner of the house is proposing to add a freestanding carport to the property on the site of an earlier carport.  The carport would be composed of square brick piers and a front gabled roof.  A storage room would be attached to the rear of the carport.  Proposed design plans were distributed to commission members.

Note:  Ms. Johnson entered the meeting at this point - 6:21 p.m.

THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE MOORE-GOLDEN HOUSE, 1701 EAST 8TH STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS SUBMITTED.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

     B. James A. Blakeney House, 9214 Blakeney Heath Rd., Charlotte, N. C.

The owner of the property proposes to add a garage and pool behind the existing house.  The garage would be based on a traditional barn design.  The first floor of the “barn” would be used as a garage and the upper level would be used for guest quarters and as a recreational space.  Proposed design plans were distributed to the commission members for consideration.  Mr. Yelverton, architect for the proposed structure, said that lap siding would be used on the new building.  The committee members expressed concerns about the height of the proposed building, the upper windows, and the ridge line.  Dr. Morrill reminded the group about the fact that the Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines emphasizes differentiation and compatibility.  Mr. Yelverton showed new design plans depicting the structure at a lower height level with different window configurations, which have been approved by HLC Staff.

MR. BENSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY DR. MATTSON THAT THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE JAMES A. BLAKENEY PROPERTY, 9214 BLAKENEY HEATH ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED/REVISED WITH THE ROOF LEVEL ON THE STRUCTURE AT A LOWER LEVEL AS DEPICTED, WITH THE  WINDOWS AS DEPICTED, AND WITH THE STIPULATION THAT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EXISTING CHICKEN COOP BE PLACED ON FILE AT THE HLC OFFICE.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Item #6 - Survey Committee Report:  Mr. Alsop

     The Survey Committee is scheduled to meet June 18, 2008, at 8:00 a.m. at the HLC office. 

Item #7 - Projects Committee Report:  Mr. Newman

     Mr. Newman reported that the Projects Committee met May 8, 2008.  Detailed minutes from the meeting can be found on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org.

A. Holly Bend, Neck Road, Huntersville, N. C.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION PURSUE THE PURCHASE OF HOLLY BEND, NECK ROAD, HUNTERSVILLE, N. C.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

   B. Walker’s Grocery, corner Belmont Ave. & Pegram St., Charlotte, N. C.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION PURSUE THE PURCHASE OF WALKER’S GROCERY AT THE CORNER OF BELMONT AVE. AND PEGRAM STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C.  THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MOTION WITH MS. JOHNSON ABSTAINING IN THE VOTE.

 C. Grier-Rea House, 7601 Providence Rd., Charlotte, N. C.

     Mr. Turner explained why additional funds are needed for the Grier-Rea House.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS ($42,033)  BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE GRIER-REA HOUSE, 7601 PROVIDENCE ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. SMITH PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. ALSOP THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. BENSON THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION RE-CONVENE IN REGULAR SESSION.  THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Note: In Executive Session the Historic Landmarks Commission voted to make an offer to purchase, at a specified price, the Crutchfield, Bomar, Brem House, 307 E. Blvd, Charlotte, N. C., and also voted to make an offer to purchase with specified conditions and price, Fire Station #4, 420 W. 5th St., Charlotte, N. C.

     The Projects Committee reported the following additional information:

- A local developer has purchased the Richard Wearn House, 4928 Tuckaseegee Rd., Charlotte, N. C.; therefore the Committee has agreed to table consideration of the property until additional information is gathered.

- The potential buyer of the Edward Rozzel House, 11647 Rozzelles Ferry Rd., Charlotte, N. C., terminated the contract to purchase.  The property will continue to be marketed.

- White Oak Plantation, 7729 Hood Rd., Charlotte, N. C., remains for sale and has been staged with furniture.  $3,000 was spent on recent repairs to the plumbing and pool.  The house has roof problems which are being addressed.  A caretaker lives in the cabin in back of the house.

- The prospective buyer of the Sidney and Ehel Grier House, 4647 McKee Rd., Charlotte, N. C., did not perform.  Marketing of the house continues.

- Bids continue to be solicited for the renovation of the McAuley House, Huntersville-Concord Rd.,  in Huntersville, N. C.

- Ms. Nystrom reported that there is no change in CSX’s willingness to sell Thrift Piedmont & Northern Depot, Old Mt. Holly Rd., Charlotte, N. C.

- Mr. Turner reported that the survey of the land associated with the Torrence Lytle School in Huntersville, N.C.  will be completed in the near future.

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

     Ms. Law reported on the financial state of the revolving bond fund.  A copy of the current report was distributed to each Commission member.

No old nor new business was presented.  The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.