1.  Preservation North Carolina will be holding its annual convention in Charlotte from September 27th through September 29th.  This will be an opportunity to meet individuals from other preservation commissions across North Carolina.  Please contact Elizabeth Stuart if you plan to attend any or all sessions.
2. I was pleased to learn that Stewart Gray is among this year’s recipients of the Gertrude Carraway Award of Merit from Preservation North Carolina.  The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission was among the recipients in 1999.  Stewart is a valuable member of the HLC Staff, and I appreciate his commitment to the Commission’s success.
3. Staff anticipates that the HLC will be closing on the Barnhardt House in the next month.  This will be a major project and will present many challenges.  Staff is operating under the assumption that the HLC intends to close on the property under the terms already negotiated. Please inform the staff now if the situation is otherwise.  The Public Hearing with the Charlotte City Council to consider historic landmark designation of the property is scheduled for October.
4. The Survey Committee will be making a recommendation regarding the prospective designation of Former Charlotte Fire Station Number Ten as a historic landmark.  Staff will be coordinating the designation process with the County’s consideration of the transfer of the Fire Station and the adjoining James C. Dowd House to the HLC.
5. The Survey Committee will be making a recommendation regarding the HLC’s funding of a Survey and Research Report on the lot on which a major shaft into the Rudisill Gold Mine is located. I am requesting a motion authorizing me to prepare the Survey and Research Report for a fee of $2000.
6. The prospective buyers of the Rozzel Farm have withdrawn their Letter Of Intent to purchase the property.  Staff will be working with realtor Eric Gamble to market the property.
7. The prospective buyers of the Torrence Lytle School have until later this month to close on the property.  If they do not close, Staff, unless informed otherwise, will work with the Projects Committee to place the property on the market.
8. Staff worked closely with the State Historic Preservation Office to determine how best to proceed in working to secure the listing of the Phillips House and the Morris Barn in the National Register of Historic Places.  The SHPO staff suggested that listing the property individually in the National Register would most likely not succeed but that it might be part of an expanded Matthews National Register Historic District.  Staff contacted the Town Board of Matthews and was informed that the Town has no interest in pursuing an expansion of the National Register Historic District in Matthews.
9. Bobby Drakeford continues to be interested in working with the HLC on a joint project in the Wesley Heights Historic District.  He has told Staff that he should have a specific proposal to present in October or November.
10. Staff will be meeting on September 12th with the Mayor of Cornelius.  The Town wants to discuss the prospect of a joint project to preserve the Cornelius Cotton Gin.  The Town is also interested in discussing a preservation strategy for the Alexander Farm in Cornelius.
11. Staff will make a presentation on September 26th to the Town of Davidson.  Staff will review past accomplishments and will discuss how it might assist the Town of Davidson in the future.
12. There has been no news with respect to the VanLandingham Estate. The owner will have an opportunity to apply for rezoning this fall.  The developer who approached me earlier in the summer about possibly working with the HLC on a preservation solution has not contacted me since.
13. The Commission continues to have an offer on the table with respect to the Morgan School in the Cherry Neighborhood.  Again, there are no new developments.  I have had no response from the City or from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
14. The Commission continues to have an active offer to purchase the Parkwood Avenue A.R.P. Church.  I have attempted to ascertain the current status of the property, but I understand that another party has purchased it.  The processing of the church for historic landmark designation continues.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Dan L. Morrill