Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

Minutes

September 26, 2006

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

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

Mr. Richard Alsop, III, Committee Chairman

Dr. Richard Mattson, Committee Vice-Chairman

Mr. Gray Newman

Mr. Lynn Weis

Dr. Dan Morrill, HLC Consulting Director

Mr. Stewart Gray, HLC Preservation Planner

Ms. Mary Lynn Morrill, HLC Recording Consultant

None

None

Dr. Morrill reported that the HLC has voted to pay for a Survey and Research Report on the Phillips House and Barn in Matthews. The owners have subsequently stated that they are not in favor of historic landmarks designation. HLC Staff is delaying the completion of the report until the Town of Matthews determines whether it will move ahead with the designation process regardless.

Dr. Morrill reported that a joint public hearing was held between the HLC and the Town of Pineville on September 12, 2006, to consider historic landmark designation for the McCoy Barbershop/Former Pineville Post Office (319-321 S. Main St.) and the Yandell Hotel and Grocery Store (331-333 S. Main St.). The Town Board voted to designate both buildings as historic landmarks.

Dr. Morrill reported that a joint public hearing was held between the HLC and the Town Board of Matthews on September 25, 2006, to consider historic landmark designation for the Massey-Clark House, 232 N. Trade St., Matthews, N. C. The Town Board voted uanimously to designate the house as a historic landmark.

Dr. Morrill reported that four properties in Davidson have been approved by the Committee and the HLC for historic landmark designation: 1) The Armour-Adams House, 626 North Main St. 2) The Copeland House, 305 N. Main St. 3) Restormel, 829 Concord Rd. 4) The Cashion-Moore Cemetery.

Dr. Morrill reported that HLC Staff continues to work on preparing the Survey and Research Reports on the Woodlawn Apartments, 210 S. Irwin Ave., Charlotte, N. C. and the Ada Jenkins School, 312 Gamble St., Davidson, N. C.

Dr. Morrill reported that HLC Staff has contacted the owners of eight gasoline stations to determine if the owners would support historic designation. He said that no owner has expressed opposition to historic landmark; however, no owners have requested that the HLC proceed with processing their properties.

MR. NEWMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. WEIS TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE NOTEWORTHY ROADSIDE ARCHITECTURE (GAS STATIONS) LOCATED AT N. TRYON ST. (OBLONG BOX MODERN), 4731 CENTRAL AVE. (BOX EXAGGERATED), 5401 WILKINSON BLVD (HOUSE AND BAY), 5315 WILKINSON BLVD. (HOUSE AND CANOPY), WILKINSON BLVD.(HOUSE AND CANOPY), 4733 MONROE RD.(COTTAGE STYLE), 1501 CENTRAL AVE. (COTTAGE STYLE), AND MAIN ST., DAVIDSON (COTTAGE STYLE) BE PUT ON THE HLC’S STUDY LIST, AND THAT THE HLC AUTHORIZE PAYMENT FOR THE PREPARATION OF A THEMATIC SURVEY AND RESEARCH REPORT. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Dr. Morrill reported that the HLC will be purchasing White Oak Plantation, 7729 Hood Rd., Charlotte, N. C., in October. He said that the Survey and Research Report needs to be updated to document more completely the history of the property.

DR. MATTSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NEWMAN TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT IT FUND AN UPDATE THE HISTORY OF WHITE OAK PLANTATION, 7729 HOOD ROAD, CHARLOTTE, N. C. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Dr. Morrill reported that HLC Staff continues to attempt to make contact with property owners from the Center City Survey, the Post-WWII Survey, and the Modernist Survey who have not been previously contacted, to determine if they would support landmark designation.

The Whitley House is located near Beatties Ford Rd. in Northern Mecklenburg Co. The house was moved a short distance (100 feet) to its present site. The I-house is in good condition, and has retained a high degree of integrity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the house may be ante-bellum; and the fact that it has a finely crafted interior staircase may indicate that this property may be potentially eligible for historic designation. A consultant is willing to produce a Survey and Research Report at no cost to the HLC.

b. Myrtle Apartments, 1121 Myrtle Ave., Charlotte, N. C.

Myrtle Square is an former apartment complex along Myrtle Ave. in the Dilworth neighborhood. It was identified in the Reconnaissance Survey of Superblock/Apartment Projects in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, produced in February 2006, and was found to be potentially eligible for landmarks designation. The owners of the property have requested that the property be processed for historic landmark designation.

c. Ranson House, 412 Old Statesville Rd., Huntersville, N. C.

Located along Statesville Rd., the house was one of the most substantial homes in the town and was owned by the Ranson Family, who were instrumental in the development of the town. The house is currently under rehabilitation. Owners are requesting that the property be processed for historic landmark designation.

d. Currie House, 559 North Main St., Davidson, N. C.

The Currie House is a well-preserved example of a Folk Victorian house-form with elements of the Craftsman Style. The Currie Family was instrumental in the development of a graded school system in the town. The owners are requesting that the house be processed for historic landmark designation.

DR. MATTSON PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY MR. NEWMAN TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES BE PLACED ON THE HLC’S STUDY LIST: 1) WHITLEY HOUSE, 8407 WOODFORD BRIDGE DRIVE, HUNTERSVILLE, N. C. 2) MYRTLE APARTMENTS, 1121 MYRTLE AVE., CHARLOTTE, N.C. 3) RANSON HOUSE, 412 OLD STATESVILLE RD., HUNTERSVILLE, N. C. 4) CURRIE HOUSE, 559 NORTH MAIN ST., DAVIDSON, N. C. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Dr. Morrill reported that he anticipates that the owner of the property, Beazer Homes out of Atlanta, Ga., will attend the HLC’s monthly meeting on October 9, 2006, to present a compromise proposal for the restaurant’s future. Dr. Morrill said that the structure was a roadside restaurant, not a walk-in, neighborhood restaurant.

MR. WEIS PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY DR. MATTSON TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE COFFEE CUP RESTAURANT, 914 CLARKSON STREET, CHARLOTTE, N. C., BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

Dr. Morrill showed photographs of the two buses which the HLC owns.

MR. NEWMAN PRESENTED A MOTION SECONDED BY DR. MATTSON TO RECOMMEND TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMISSION THAT THE TWO GM BUSES WHICH IT OWNS BE PROCESSED FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION. THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE MOTION.

No old business was presented.

Mr. Alsop said that the current fee of $1,500 for preparing a Survey and Research Report needs consideration. Dr. Morrill said that he will gather complete data on the matter which the Committee can consider at its next meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 a.m.