November 12, 2019 – 6:00 p.m.

1.  Chair’s Report: Edwin Wilson

2.  Director’s Report: Dan Morrill

November 2019 Project Budget

3.  Update on Projects

a.  Wallace House Property, 9425 Robinson Church Road, Charlotte, N.C.

Wallace Log House

Map of Property

Essentials

Property purchased September 2019.

Previous owners under six month lease. 

Total Expenditures to Date: $454,509 

Current expenses only include yard maintenance.

The property is currently not listed for sale.

Questions

Should the Commission solicit public input regarding future use?

Should the property (approximately 10 acres) be offered for sale in its entirety or subdivided?

When should the property be listed for sale? 

b.  Torrence Lytle School, 302 Holbrooks Road, Huntersville, N.C.

Torrence Lytle School

Map of Property

Essentials

Property acquired in 2007 from Mecklenburg County for $1. 

County mandated that the original 1938 school building must be preserved. 

HLC secured the listing of the property in the National Register of Historic Places. Tax credits are only available if all buildings are preserved.

HLC has listed the property for sale on three occasions, but none has resulted in a successful sell. 

No offers are currently on the table. 

The property is currently not listed for sale.

Total Expenditures to Date: $454,599 (includes removal of asbestos)

The HLC has secured an evaluation of the property which states that the primary value is in the land, not the buildings.

Mecklenburg County is spending over $2 million to renovate the former gymnasium for the Torrence Lytle School. 

The HLC has voted (if all efforts to sell the property are unsuccessful) to demolish all buildings except the original 1938 school building, to renovate the original school building, and then to offer the property for sale.  

Questions

Should the HLC move forward with the approved demolition of the cafeteria building and the two circa 1950 buildings attached to both ends of the original building?

What impact, if any, does the renovation of the former gymnasium have on the prospects for sale of the Torrence Lytle School? 

Should the HLC prepare the Torrence Lytle School for listing for sale? 

c.  John Douglas House, 7601 Christie Lane, Charlotte, N.C.

John Douglas House

Map of Property

Staff is preparing the materials necessary to submit a Request for Board Action to secure County Commission approval for an option to purchase the property. This will include a structural inspection and an appraisal, both of which have been scheduled. Staff has already contacted airport officials to determine their interest in purchasing all or some portion of the property. 

d.  Victor Shaw House, 2400 Mecklenburg Avenue, Charlotte, N.C.

Victor Shaw House

Map of Property

Conceptual Plan for the Shaw House Property

Preserve Mecklenburg will assign its option to purchase the Victor Shaw House to Terranova, LLC, a developer headquartered in Greenville, S.C. The assignment will occur on or before December 1, 2019. Preservation easements will be placed on the Victor Shaw House to assure its preservation in perpetuity. Arrangements are underway to have the HLC be the holder of the easements and to administer them. The HLC will retain its design review powers over the Victor Shaw House. It is contemplated that the ordinance for the Victor Shaw House will be amended to exclude portions of the current historic landmark. 

e.  John Mayes House, 435 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte, N.C.

John Mayes House

Map of Property

The owner of the John Mayes house has expressed an interest in discussing preservation strategies for the house, which is a designated historic landmark. Staff and members of the Projects Committee are scheduled to meet with the owner on November 13 to initiate substantive discussions.   

f.  Arthur Samuel Grier House, 421 Montrose Street, Charlotte, N.C.

Arthur Samuel Grier House

Map of Property

The Arthur Samuel Grier House was the home of the family that was responsible for the development of the Grier Heights neighborhood. The owner has decided that he wishes to sell the house and there is some interest among the local citizenry to have the HLC acquire and restore the house. Dr. Morrill’s recommendation is that initially the Commission should approach the owner about the possibility of securing an option to purchase. 

4.  Old Business

5.  New Business

a.  Pentes Property, 6510 Sharon Hills Road, Charlotte, N.C.

Map of Property

More Information on the Property

John Douglas House, 7601 Christie Lane, Charlotte, N.C.

John Mayes House, 435 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte, N.C.