The Historic Landmarks Commission will meet
next on August 11, 2003, in its offices in the
Ratcliffe-Otterbourg House at 2100
Randolph Road, Charlotte, N.C. The meeting shall commence at 6 p.m.
Click Here For
Agenda For August 11th Meeting
Click Here For
Director's Report
1. Approval of Minutes.
Click here for draft of minutes of June Meeting.
Click here for minutes of Special July 16th
Meeting
2. Cedar Grove. Consideration of
historic designation for a reduced amount of land surrounding the plantation
house.
The owner of Cedar Grove is requesting that
the amount of land designated as a historic landmark be reduced. Staff
has visited the site and believes that the suggested acreage does provide
sufficient protection for the property. The area is indicated within the
dark black lines on the map below. Staff Recommendation: Amend the
ordinance to reflect the inclusion of the reduced acreage.
3. Oehler Plantation.
Consideration of historic designation for an increased amount of land
surrounding the plantation house. 
The Commission was asked
by the Huntersville Town Board to consider recommending historic designation
for the entire 135+ acre parcel located on Huntersville-Concord Road,
containing the historic Oehler House and the historic McAuley House.
Commission Staff has judged that the property possesses special significance
and bases its judgment on the following considerations:
A) Approximately
98.5 acres of the current property appears to have been purchased by George
Oehler 1852. The Oehler House is located on this portion of the
property. This property was willed to two of the Oehlers’ sons, Miles
and James, by Elizabeth Oehler in 1883.
B)
In 1896 Miles, who inherited the Oehler House, purchased the remainder of
the current acreage from the widow, Margaret Pharr.
C)
The farm property is a tangible reminder of the agricultural economy that
shaped life in largely rural nineteenth-century Mecklenburg County.
D)
Designation of the additional farm property could enhance the rural setting
of the George and Elizabeth Oehler House, recalling the rural landscape of
pre-twentieth century Mecklenburg County.
Wayne Weston, Director of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, has
requested that this matter be tabled until such time as HLC Staff can appear
before the Stewardship Committee of the Park and Recreation Commission.
Dr. Morrill is scheduled to meet with that group on August 27th. Mr.
Weston anticipates that these discussion can be completed by January 2004.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the designation process
be tabled until January 2004 so that discussions with Mecklenburg County
Park and Recreation can occur.
4. Ford Motor
Company Assembly Plant. Eckerd Corporation owns the original plant
buildings designed by industrial architect Albert Kahn. After several
months of consideration, Eckerd has decided to oppose designation for the
property.
Click here to
view Eckerd's response. The sprawling complex has a total of
five owners, two have voice support for designation. Staff
Recommendation: To terminate the designation process in view of
owner's opposition because the building appears not to be in immediate
danger and because the building owned by Eckerds is the most significant
historic component of the complex.
5. Lethco House,
2038 Roswell Ave., Charlotte. Queens University is seeking designation
for only the exterior of the Lethco House.
Click here to
view a letter from Laurie Guy, Vice President of the University.
Staff Recommendation: Support designation of only the exterior of
the building.
6. American Legion
Memorial Stadium. Wayne Weston, Director of Mecklenburg County Park
and Recreation, has requested that this matter be tabled until such time as
HLC Staff and an HLC subcommittee can enter into discussions with Park and
Recreation Commission's Special Projects Subcommittee to determine what
portions of the stadium might be preserved as future development of the site
occurs.
Click
here to view a letter from Wayne Weston, Director of Mecklenburg County
Park and Recreation. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends
that the designation process be tabled until January 2004 so that
discussions with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation can occur.
7. Merle King, owner of the Bethesda
School, which has been placed on the Study List for the National Register of
Historic Places and which is the oldest extant African American primary
school building in Mecklenburg County, is requesting that the HLC determine
whether it would commit itself to purchase the aforesaid property when
sufficient money from the Revolving Fund becomes available. Mr. King
has agreed to a specific selling price. The reason for his request is
that he is willing to withdraw the property from the market if the
Commission agrees to purchase at some point in the future. Staff
Recommendation: Strongly consider making a commitment to purchase the
Bethesda School and refer this matter to the Projects Committee for a
recommendation to be presented at the October meeting of the HLC.
8. Pappas Properties has worked with
Staff during July to develop plans for a new entrance to Building A at the
Charlotte Cotton Mills and modifications to the rear of the building (see
below). The owner is requesting that the Commission consider whether
the proposed changes meet the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines and to
act on its Application for a Minor Works Certificate of Appropriateness,
since the Design Review Committee does not meet in July. 
5th Street Elevation
Rear Elevation
The canopy is made of steel tube and
channel with a standing seam roof. It will abut and will not be
affixed to the building. The owner has agreed to take record
photographs of the window that will be removed and to deposit the
photographs and negatives with the Historic Landmarks Commission. This
will allow the windows to be replaced in the future. The rear doorway is
being placed in an existing doorway and will not require the removal of
original material.
Staff Recommendation: Consider
the Application For A Minor Works Certificate Of Appropriateness and issue
the Certificate because Staff judges that the proposed changes and
associated requirements for documentation meet the Secretary of the
Interior's Guidelines. This must be treated as a Minor Works
Certificate of Appropriateness because notice has not been given to adjacent
property owners.
9. The recent buyer of the
former Hunter Dairy property on Shopton Road in southern Mecklenburg County
intends to demolish the Lizard Hill School House in the near future unless
it is moved. I have contacted Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
and arranged a meeting for August 20th. The purpose will be to discuss
if there is park land to which it could be moved. The Commission would
have to pay to move the structure and would have to arrange for continuing
upkeep. The issue is whether the Commission wishes to pursue this
matter?
10. Progress continues on the various
projects of the Commission.
Click here for
Project Status Report. |
