Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Historic Landmarks Commission

October 8, 2001

Minutes

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

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Present:

Ms. Ava Autrey/County, Design Review Com. Chairman

Ms. Tattie Bos/Mayor, HLC Treas.,Design  Rev. Com. Vice-Chr.

Mr. Jeff Bradsher/County, HLC Chairman

Ms. Deborah Cox/City, Survey Com. Chairman

Mr. Bernard Felder/City

Ms. Phiderika D. Foust/County, Education Com. Vice-Chr.

Ms. Amy Gray/City

Mr. Scott Hirsch/City, Design Review Com. V. Chairman

Mr. John Misenheimer/County, HLC V. Chr., Education Com. Chr.

Mr. John Parker, III/Mayor, Projects Committee Chairman

Mr. Michael C. Sullivan/County

Dr. Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Bryan Turner, HLC Projects Manager

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Cons.

Absent:

Ms. Ross Richardson/County, Survey Com. Vice-Chr.

Visitors:

Mr. Fred Bolt, Pappas Properties

Ms. Patricia Nystrom, Attorney, HLC

Ms. Stephanie Cole, UNCC

Ms. Sally Baker, UNCC

MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. AUTREY THAT THE MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2001, BE APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Bradsher welcomed everyone to the meeting. Mr. Bradsher reported that Ms. Autrey will be moving from Charlotte in a short while. He said that we will all miss her very much and that we are grateful to her for all she has done for the HLC. He also said that Mr. Ritch is absent due to illness and that we all wish him a good recovery.

Mr. Bradsher reminded the Commissioners that a public hearing will be held with the City October 17th to consider historic designation for the Electric Supply & Equipment Co. Building and for additional land at the W. T. Alexander Plantation.

Dr. Morrill reported that Sherry Joines Wyatt is about to complete the Industrial and Institutional Survey, which is being funded in part by a Federal grant. He said that he will place the findings on the website when the survey is finished.

Dr. Morrill reported that Dr. Paula Stathakis and Mr. Stewart Gray will be the Principal Investigators for the upcoming Survey of African-American resources. The Division of Archives and History has approved them for this important undertaking. The office for the survey will be located at the W. T. Alexander Plantation House. Dr. Morrill reported that Dr. Stathakis has begun her work as the Editor of the Hornet’s Nest, the Commission’s INTERNET Journal. The office for this work is at the W. T. Alexander Plantation House.

Dr. Morrill reported that Dr. Vernon Herron of Comprehensive Genealogical Services has met with staff to review the procedures his organization will be following in conducting a survey of cemeteries which contain the remains of enslaved people.

Dr. Morrill reported that the HLC has closed on the Rozzell House. Mr. Bryan Turner is negotiating a contract with architect, Mr. Donny Luke, to prepare plans for the restoration of the house and an overall site plan.

He reported that architect , Mr. Joseph Opperman, is preparing plans for the Oehler House and the McAuley House. He said that the McAuley House should be moved to its new site in the near future.

Dr. Morrill reported that the owners of the Grier House have submitted a new proposal for selling the property to the HLC. He said that the matter will be discussed under the Projects Report.

Dr. Morrill said that a decision should be forthcoming in the near future about the attitude of the Coliseum Authority with respect to the designation of the former Charlotte Coliseum (Cricket Arena) as a historic landmark. He also said that he has contacted Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church about visiting their session later in the month to discuss the prospective designation of the Mallard Creek Schoolhouse as a historic landmark.

Dr. Morrill reported that the Town Board of Huntersville held a joint public hearing on September 17, 2001, to consider the Commission’s recommendation regarding the prospective removal of the designation of a portion of the land at Cedar Grove Plantation. He said that the decision should be forthcoming in the near future.

Dr. Morrill reported that the Finance Committee will be meeting in November to consider the HLC’s Operating Budget request for FY 2002. He said that Committee Chairmen should have their programmatic requests (not money requests) into the HLC’s office no later than November 21st. The Finance Committee will submit its recommended budget to the HLC at its meeting on December 10th.

Mr. Misenheimer reported that the Education Committee met September 20, 2001. Minutes from the meeting are on the HLC’s website.

THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION PREPARE A SECTION ON ITS WEBSITE FEATURING THE RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT THE HLC HAS DONE OVER THE PAST YEARS. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Mr. Misenheimer reported that the HLC’s Restoration Projects website feature will give recognition to the May/June History and Heritage Celebration sponsored by the Charlotte Regional History Consortium without the need for legal approval for the Commission’s participation. Mr. Misenheimer said that the HLC applauds the planned celebration and that even though the HLC is not participating institutionally, Commissioners are free to support and attend the events on an individual basis and are encouraged to do so.

Dr. Morrill reported that he has talked with officials at WTVI about the Education Committee’s interest in having WTVI produce a series of video tapes on the history of neighborhoods in Charlotte-Mecklenburg . He reported that WTVI has agreed to produce a pilot video on the Colonial Heights neighborhood in hopes that this will encourage companies to sponsor additional videos of this type.

Mr. Parker reported that the Projects Committee met October 1, 2001, at the W. T. Alexander Plantation. Minutes from the meeting are on file at the HLC office and are also posted on the HLC’s website.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION OFFER FOR LEASE THE CROFT SCHOOLHOUSE, CURRENTLY FOR SALE BY THE HLC. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Springsteed Realty is the current listing agent for the Croft Schoolhouse located at 9200 Bob Beatty Road. The current asking price is $490,000.00. The HLC’s listing contract with Springsteed Realty expires November 14, 2001.

THE PROJECTS COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE MR. FRED BOLT BE AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE A SALES CONTRACT WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION’S BUILDING "B" OF THE CHARLOTTE COTTON MILLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A MEMORANDUM FROM FRED W. BOLT TO DAN MORRILL, DATED OCTOBER 8, 2001, EXCEPT THAT NO DISCOUNT FOR ANY PORTION OF THE BUILDING BE INCLUDED IN THE OFFER. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The HLC asked Ms. Patricia Nystrom, the HLC’s attorney, about the proposed condominium documents for the Charlotte Cotton Mills. She and Mr. Bolt explained the situation.

MR. MISENHEIMER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. FELDER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION APPROVE THE CONDOMINIUM DOCUMENTS FOR THE CHARLOTTE COTTON MILLS AS PRESENTED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COMMISSION WILL WORK WITH PAPPAS PROPERTIES TO SATISFY WHATEVER BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS MIGHT ARISE DUE TO THE CONNECTIVITY OF BUILDING "A" AND BUILDING "B". THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

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

MR. FELDER PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. PARKER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION RECONVENE IN ITS REGULAR MEETING. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

In Executive Session the HLC established price guidelines for Building "B" of the Charlotte Cotton Mills which the HLC owns.

MS. AUTREY PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MS. COX THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION . THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

MS. BOS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. MISENHEIMER THAT THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION RECONVENE IN ITS REGULAR MEETING. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

In Executive Session the HLC agreed to hold firm on the original offer for the Grier House on the Tilley Morris Road.

Mr. Parker reported that the Projects Committee took no action on the Cox House on the Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road at the October 1, 2001, meeting.

Ms. Cox reported that the Survey Committee will meet October 18, 2001, at 6:00 p.m., at the HLC office. Survey Committee minutes and business are posted on the HLC’s website - www.cmhpf.org or www.landmarkscommission.org.

Ms. Autrey reported that the Design Review Committee will meet October 24, 2001, at 5:30 p.m., at the HLC office. Design Review Committee minutes and business are posted on the HLC’s website, along with forms which can be filled out for Applications for Certificates of Appropriateness.

Ms. Autrey reported on 17 historic landmarks in Fourth Ward and two in Third Ward. She said that the Bagley-Mullen House, 120 N. Poplar St., is for sale. She also reported that all subject properties were in excellent condition.

Ms. Bos thanked Mr. Turner for the Projects finance report and Ms. Morrill for the HLC’s finance report.

MS. COX PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. FELDER THAT DR. MORRILL BE AUTHORIZED TO PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF A HISTORIC HIGHWAY MARKER FOR THE OLD GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL (FORMER) OUT OF THE HLC’S OPERATING BUDGET. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

The Commissioners agreed that the Education Committee should make recommendations regarding the wording on the sign for the Good Samaritan Hospital (Former).

No motions were presented.