A. Action Items.
1. Dowd House and Former Charlotte Fire Station Number 10.
Mecklenburg County owns the Dowd House at 2216 Monument Street and the Former Charlotte Fire Station Number 10 at 2136 Remount Road. The County is considering conveying these properties to a private party that will convert them to an economically sustainable adaptive reuse. Because the County cannot conduct private sales, it intends to transfer ownership of these properties to the Historic Landmarks Commission for resale to the private party. The Dowd House is a historic landmark. The Former Charlotte Fire Station Number 10 is not. The Fire Station must be designated as a historic landmark in order for the Commission to acquire it. The County has stated that it wants the Historic Landmarks Commission to prepare a Survey and Research Report on the Former Charlotte Fire Station Number 10, which is the first step in the designation process.
Action Requested: Authorize the production of a Survey and Research Report on the Former Charlotte Fire Station Number 10. The Consulting Director would receive a fee of $2000 for the preparation of the report. If approved, the report will be presented to the Historic Landmarks Commission at its September 11th meeting.
Dowd House and Former Charlotte Fire Station No. 10 Proposal
2. Ratification of Payment of Invoices for Survey and Research Reports on Parkwood Avenue A.R.P Church and on Charlotte Historic Fire Equipment.
In October 2003, the Historic Landmarks Commission took the following action:
THE SURVEY COMMITTEE PRESENTED A SECONDED MOTION THAT THE CONSULTING DIRECTOR OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION BE AUTHORIZED TO SELECT PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS TO PREPARE SURVEY AND RESEARCH REPORTS FOR PROSPECTIVE HISTORIC LANDMARKS AND THAT THE CONSULTING DIRECTOR, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SURVEY COMMITTEE OR, IF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SURVEY COMMITTEE IS UNAVAILABLE, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE SURVEY COMMITTEE, BE AUTHORIZED TO PREPARE SURVEY AND RESEARCH REPORTS ON PROSPECTIVE HISTORIC LANDMARKS, ALL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY SURVEY AND RESEARCH THAT COSTS MORE THAN $1,500 TO PREPARE FOR THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION IS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.
The Consulting Director of the Commission received approval from the Chair of the Survey Committee to prepare the Survey and Research Reports on the Parkwood Avenue A.R.P. Church and the Charlotte Historic Fire Equipment.
Action Required: Authorize payment of $3000 to the Consulting Director of the Historic Landmarks Commission ($1500 for the Survey and Research Report on the Parkwood Avenue A.R.P. Church and $1500 for the Survey and Research Report on the Charlotte Historic Fire Equipment) in keeping with action taken by the Historic Landmarks Commission in October 2003 to pay the Consulting Director $1500 per Survey and Research Report when authorized by the Chair of the Survey Committee to prepare Survey and Research Reports.
S&R Approval Form – Charlotte Historic Fire Equipment
S&R Approval Form – Parkwood Avenue A.R.P. Church
S&R Approval Form – Former Charlotte Fire Station #10
B. Information Items.
1. The duplex at 817-819 Walnut Avenue and the house at 821 Walnut Avenue. A developer has approached the Historic Landmarks Commission about participating in the purchase of structures located in the Wesley Heights Historic District. The Commission can purchase any contributing property in a local historic district. In concept, the project would involve the subdivision of the lots. The Commission would purchase the house and the duplex, and the developer would construct townhouses on the rear of the lots. The developer will present the specifics of the proposal.
2. Prospective Sale of the Edward Rozzel Farm at 11647 Old Rozzelles Ferry Road. The Historic Landmarks Commission has received a Letter of Intent from a prospective buyer of the Edward Rozzel Farm. The intent is to establish rental housing on the property that will have an affordable component. There will be an agricultural component to the project. Tenants will receive instruction on best farming practices. The Projects Committee has instructed the prospective buyers to enter into a 30-day study period, during which they will meet with planners to determine whether the property can be rezoned.
3. Strategic Planning. The Executive Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. on August 24th to discuss strategic planning for the upcoming year. The Historic Landmarks Commission has discretionary money to spend during the next year. The approximate amount is $41,000. The principal item for discussion at that meeting will be to consider how best to allocate that money. Staff has suggested three major areas of potential need. They are: assistance with design review; conducting surveys of historic properties, including Survey and Research Reports; and public education, including videos, press releases, and internet posts. Staff would welcome suggestions from Commissioners.
4. VanLandingham Estate: 2010 The Plaza. A developer has approached the Historic Landmarks Commission about participating in an infill development at the VanLandingham Estate. The concept would be that the property would be subdivided. The Commission would purchase the house and an appropriate sized lot. The developer would construct infill townhouses on the remainder of the property. Staff asked the developer to provide specific numbers. No response to this request has yet been received.
5. The Morgan School: 500 South Torrence Street. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools have not yet acted on the offer submitted by the Historic Landmarks Commission for the purchase of the former Morgan School. The City continues to investigate the possibility of purchasing the property.
6. Parkwood Avenue A.R.P. Church: 1017 Parkwood Avenue. The owner has not responded to the Commission’s offer to purchase the former Parkwood Avenue A.R.P. Church.
7. Torrence-Lytle School: 302 Holbrooks Road, Huntersville, N.C. The Commission remains under contract to a prospective buyer of the Torrence-Lytle School until mid-September.
8. Charles E. Barnhardt House: 2733 Country Club Lane. The Commission remains under contract to purchase the Barnhardt House. Staff has met with the owner. The owner hopes to have a plat recorded by September 1st. If so, a public hearing will be held in September with City Council on the designation of the property as a historic landmark, which will allow the Commission to close on the property.
9. Star St. Matthews Lodge: 124 Morris Road, Matthews, N.C. The public hearing for the prospective designation of the Star St. Matthews Lodge will be held with the Board of Commissioners of Matthews, N.C. in September.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Dan L. Morrill