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July 12, 2018 – 8:00 a.m.
1. Chair’s Report: Tom Egan
2. Director’s Report: Dan Morrill
a. Wadsworth House. Mark Miller is officially under contract to purchase the Wadsworth House. He will be coordinating with Staff regarding design review issues. Staff will also assist with having preservation deed covenants placed on the property. This is great news. It illustrates that the HLC can advance preservation of a property without having to purchase it.
3. Preservation Planner’s Report: Stewart Gray
4. Update on Projects
a. Torrence Lytle School. Stephen Brock Ventures is under contract to purchase the property. Due diligence runs until October 31st. Staff is working with the prospective buyer on the study of the economic feasibility of the project.
b. Wallace House. Staff is working on processing the property for designation as a historic landmark, which is scheduled for October. Peter Wasmer is performing due diligence. Closing should occur in late October or early November. Staff will be working with Sandy Carnegie on finalizing a lease agreement with the owner. The plan is to offer the property for sale “as is.”
The owners have reviewed and have accepted the terms of a lease of the property upon closing. Staff believes that this will assist with providing security for the property. Staff recommends that the Executive Committee recommend that the HLC approve entering into a lease of the property with the owners upon closing under the terms set forth in the lease.
c. Ingleside. The Commission is under contract to purchase the property. Staff believes that the future use of the property should be carefully evaluated. It has been challenging to find a buyer who will make a long term commitment to the property. Staff has talked with the Town of Huntersville and the National Trust for Historic Preservation about applying for a matching grant for an adaptive reuse feasibility study of the property. The HLC is currently paying the utilities bill and is maintaining the lawn. Emergency repairs of the air condition system were necessary.
d. Streetcar 85. The tentative date for moving Streetcar 85 from the North Carolina Transportation Museum to Charlotte is July 30th. Purchase Orders for hiring Chris Allen as a Consultant, for paying the Vendor for transporting Streetcar 85, and for paying an early termination fee for the lease of Streetcar 85 to the North Carolina Transportation Museum have been issued.
e. Excelsior Club. Staff met with County officials to discuss preservation strategies for the Excelsior Club. It was agreed that the HLC Staff should approach the owner after Peter Wasmer obtains an updated appraisal of the parcel on which the building sits and after the costs of restoring the building are acquired. That information is being gathered.
5. Proposal for Charlotte New Look Bus. In January 1992 the Commission acquired the last General Motors New Look Bus in the Charlotte Transit Fleet. The bus is a designated historic landmark. The Commission has put a refurbished engine and transmission in the bus. It is currently housed in the CATS storage garage.
Argos Real Estate Advisors, Inc. is proposing that title to the Bus be transferred to Argos, which would assume the responsibility for performing additional repairs to the bus to put it into full operational order. Staff supports the transfer of title and the relocation of the bus to the Chamberlain Ave. storage facility.
Staff recommends that the Executive Committee recommend to the Historic Landmarks Commission that the HLC approve in principle the transfer of title of the General Motors New Look Bus in “as is” condition to Argos Realty Estate Advisors, Inc. subject to HLC approval of a written agreement with Argos setting forth the terms of the transfer.
This item will be discussed in open session.
Click Here for Argos Real Estate Advisors Proposal
6. Offer To Purchase Charles Barnhardt House. The Commission has received an offer to purchase the Barnhardt House.
This item will be discussed in open session.
Click Here for Offer to Purchase and Contract
7. Old Business
8. New Business
John Howard, Administrator of the Charlotte Historic District Commission, has contacted Staff about a duplex at 1437-1439 Pecan Avenue for which a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition has been issued. The owner reportedly is interested in talking with the HLC about possible purchase of the property. I have contacted the owner. Also, I have asked Eric Gamble to take a look at the property.
1. Dowd House and former Charlotte Fire Station No. 10. The County has not yet determined how it will proceed with its plans to preserve the James C. Dowd House and Former Charlotte Fire Station Number Ten. There have been no significant developments since the HLC’s April Meeting. Staff has requested a meeting with County officials to discuss the future possibilities for Former Charlotte Fire Station No. 10.
Dowd House
Charlotte Fire Station No. 10
2. The Jerry and Tena Wallace House. Staff has received its appraisal of the property. The Due Diligence process will continue. The owners have agreed to an extension of the Due Diligence Period until October 26th. Stewart Gray reports that the designation of the property as a historic landmark is scheduled to occur on October 15th. Staff has provided the owners with the draft of a lease of the property for a yet-to-be-determined period after closing.
Wallace House
3. Wadsworth House. South State Bank has issued a formal request for bids to purchase the property. The bid documents state that the bank will consider factors other than the offered price. The Projects Committee discussed the status of the property and has not recommended that the HLC submit an offer at this time. South State Bank has notified potential buyers that the HLC can delay the demolition for up to 365 days. Staff will keep the HLC advised.
Wadsworth House
4. Wilmore School. City Council voted on May 21st to designate the Wilmore School as a historic landmark. Thanks to the Survey Committee for its initiative in this area.
Wilmore School
5. Charles E. Barnhardt House. The property is being actively marketed. Special thanks for the work of the Projects Management Committee. Len Norman and I visited with Fred Caligiuri, the developer of the Cramer’s Pond Neighborhood, and he has agreed that the HLC should submit a form requesting approval for the placement of an architectural shingle roof on the house. Staff is confident that approval can be obtained.
Charles E. Barnhardt House
6. Torrence Lytle School. Staff is endeavoring to establish contact with the previous prospective buyer to see if a mutually acceptable arrangement for the preservation of all or some portion of the property can be negotiated.
Click Here for Preservation Covenants
7. Charlotte Streetcar 85. Funds for the transport of Streetcar 85 to Charlotte have been encumbered. Staff is working with Sandy Carnegie, HLC Attorney, to finalize the lease of the Streetcar to Lakewood Trolley. Hopefully, the Streetcar will arrive in Charlotte on some date in July. Click Here for the Lease Agreement Click Here for Agreement with Savona
Charlotte Streetcar 85
8. Ingleside. Staff has been working to finalize arrangements for the purchase of Ingleside, 7225 Bud Henderson Road, Huntersville, N.C. The Projects Committee will have a recommendation to bring before the HLC later in this meeting. Staff has encumbered money to perform maintenance of the property. The Old Huntersville Historical Society is also assisting with maintenance.
Click Here For Photographs Of Ingleside
9. The owner of the McConnell House has filed a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the McConnell House, 4009 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, N.C. The Design Review Committee shall recommend that the demolition be delayed for 365 days, so that Staff can investigate preservation strategies.
10. Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Mt. Carmel Baptist Church at 412 Campus Street, Charlotte, has been cited by the Charlotte Code Enforcement Agency for numerous building violations. Sometimes these violations can result in an order for the demolition of the building. The building is owned by JCSU.
Click Here for S&R Report
11. Excelsior Club. The owner of the Excelsior Club, 921 Beatties Ford Road, has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness application for the demolition of the Excelsior Club. The Design Review Committee shall recommend that the demolition be delayed for up to 365 days, so that preservation strategies can be investigated.
Excelsior Club
12. Reconnaissance Survey of Mid-Century Modern Architecture in Charlotte. The money to perform the Mid-Century Modern Architecture Survey has been encumbered.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Dan L. Morrill
1. Dowd House and former Charlotte Fire Station No. 10. The County has not yet determined how it will proceed with its plans to preserve the James C. Dowd House and Former Charlotte Fire Station Number Ten. There have been no significant developments since the HLC’s April Meeting. Staff has requested a meeting with County officials to discuss the future possibilities for Former Charlotte Fire Station No. 10.
Dowd House
Charlotte Fire Station No. 10
2. The Jerry and Tena Wallace House. Staff has received its appraisal of the property. The Due Diligence process will continue. A Survey and Research Report on the property will be presented later in this meeting.
Wallace House
3. Wadsworth House. Staff has received its appraisal on the property. Mark Miller is pursuing purchase of the property. The Projects Committee will present a recommendation on this property later in the meeting.
Wadsworth House
4. Wilmore School. City Council will vote on the designation of the property at its meeting on May 21st.
Wilmore School
5. Charles E. Barnhardt House. Restoration Work continues on the Charles E. Barnhardt House. The property is being actively marketed. Special thanks for the work of the Project Management Committee. The Projects Committee will present recommendations concerning this property later in the meeting.
Charles E. Barnhardt House
6. Torrence Lytle School. The Commission has approved a contract with a prospective buyer of the Torrence Lytle School. The Projects Committee will report later in this meeting on the current status of the contract.
7. Charlotte Streetcar 85. The Projects Committee will update the Commission on the status of the Lease of Streetcar 85 to Lakewood Trolley and the termination of the lease with the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
Charlotte Streetcar 85
8. Delburg Mill House. The Davidson Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a zoning variance that allows the owner to move ahead with the approved material alterations to the Delburg Mill House.
9. Ingleside. Staff has worked to ascertain the status of the property and has had on-going contact with the owner. The Projects Committee will have a recommendation concerning this property later in the meeting.
Click Here For Photographs Of Ingleside
10. Impending Demolition Of The McConnell House, 4009 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, N.C.
The owner of the McConnell House, a designated historic landmark, has filed for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the house. The house is being severely impacted by a major widening of Beatties Ford Road.
The Design Review Committee will consider the Certificate of Appropriateness at its May meeting. Staff will recommend that the effective date of the Certificate of Appropriateness be delayed for 365 days from the date of issuance. Preservation North Carolina has visited the house. The owner has reportedly expressed a willingness to donate the house to anyone who will relocate it. Preservation North Carolina will keep HLC Staff advised about possible preservation solutions.
11. Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Mt. Carmel Baptist Church at 412 Campus Street, Charlotte, has been cited by the Charlotte Code Enforcement Agency for numerous building violations. Sometimes these violations can result in an order for the demolition of the building. The building is owned by JCSU.
Click Here for S&R Report
12. Huntersville Jail
Stewart Gray has worked with the Town of Huntersville in developing preservation strategies for the Huntersville Jail, a designated historic landmark. The Historic Landmarks Commission provides on-going professional advice to the communities it serves.
13. Reconnaissance Survey of Mid-Century Modern Architecture in Charlotte. The Commission has $10,000 of unencumbered funds in its Consultant Services Account for FY 2018. This money must be encumbered by early June. Staff recommends that this money be used to hire a consultant to initiate an update of a reconnaissance survey of portions of Charlotte that contain concentrations of mid-century modern architecture. The purpose would be to develop a contextual understanding of potential historic landmarks.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Dan L. Morrill