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Director's Report
1. Mary Dominick, who
has been assisting the Commission with special projects, has graduated from
UNCC and is ending her HLC consultant position. Bill Jeffers, a
graduate student in public history at UNCC, is available to assume her
responsibilities. He would receive the same compensation as Mary ($11
per hour) and work a maximum of 20 hours per week. Funds are available
to provide this consultant service to the HLC. I am requesting that
the Commission approve a contract with Bill Jeffers to replace Mary
Dominick. Termination of the contact could be done without cause by
either party with 30 days' written notice.
2. The City Economic
Development Department has asked the Commission to attempt to negotiate a
purchase of Walker's Grocery in the Belmont neighborhood. Once the
purchase price is determined, the City would consider how it might assist
the Commission in acquiring the property. Staff will attempt to bring
a proposal to the Projects Committee at its next meeting.
3. The Torrence Lytle
project continues to evolve. The survey has been completed, and the
County has reviewed it. Bryan Turner will be working on submitting the
application for sub-dividing the property to the Town of Huntersville; Frank
Bragg is contacting prospective developers; and Stewart Gray is writing
design guidelines for prospective developers.
4. The final payment
for the sale of the Charlotte Cotton Mills was received last month.
Congratulations to all who were involved in this project.
5. Fire Station No. 4
has been bought and sold with protective covenants in the deed. Again,
thanks to everyone who was involved in this project.
6. The Charlotte
Woman's Club Clubhouse has been sold for an adaptive reuse. Staff
spent considerable time and effort working with the buyer to bring an
acceptable proposal to the Design Review Committee.
7. Staff has met with a
prospective buyer of the Sidney & Ethel Grier House to explain the
consequences of historic landmark designation.
8. An issue has arisen
concerning the ability of the Commission to pass on Federal Income tax
credits to buyers of property listed in the National Register of Historic
Places. A prospective buyer of the Grier-Rea House contacted an
official of the I.R.S., who told him that a private letter ruling on another
project had stated that this was not possible, because the entity passing on
the credits must be a tax-paying entity. Patricia Nystrom will
recommend that the Commission consider contacting a Tax Lawyer to obtain a
private letter ruling on the Grier-Rea House project. Obviously, the
inability of the Commission to pass on tax credits would adversely affect
the operations of the Revolving Fund. Solutions might be to spend
as little as possible on property before selling it or forming partnerships
with developers whereby the Commission purchases the property and the
developer rehabilitates it and takes advantage of the tax credits.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan L. Morrill
Consulting Director
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