AGENDA #4g
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Historic Site Survey Grant Application
DATE: November 13, 2000
The Historic District Commission, in cooperation with the Chapel Hill Preservation Society, presented the attached petition to the Mayor and Town Council on October 23, 2000. The petition proposed that the Town and the Historic District Commission, work cooperatively with the Chapel Hill Preservation Society, to apply to the State Historic Preservation Office for a grant to hire a consultant to update and expand the Town’s Historic Site Survey including the old portion of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill campus.
The attached Resolution would authorize the Town Manger to apply for a 2000 Historic Preservation Fund Grant.
This memorandum describes the grant, procedurals steps and funding.
BACKGROUND
The last historic site survey undertaken in Chapel Hill was in 1992. The survey involved a descriptive block-by-block inventory. Most of the data collected during the survey, including a final report and black and white photographs are on file in the Planning Department. In addition to the Cameron-McCauley and Franklin-Rosemary Historic Districts the survey included the Northside and Gimghoul Neighborhoods, the 100 block of East Franklin Street and 32 individual sites.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed project would seek a grant from the North Carolina State Division of Archives and History to update and expand the existing architectural and historic survey of the Town and the old portion of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill campus. Significant and potential historic resources, including neighborhoods outside of the existing local historic districts and neighborhoods that have not been examined in the past, would be identified and inventoried. The survey would involve accurate recordation and documentation by a professional consultant of the architectural features in the three existing local historic districts, and a portion of the UNC campus.
We anticipate that the final product would consist of an accurate historical record of the significant architectural features and neighborhoods in Chapel Hill as identified by the consultant and the Historic District Commission. Similar to the report produced in 1992, we believe that the final product will include a narrative description, photographic inventory and a final report.
It is not within the scope of this project for the consultant to make recommendations about historic district neighborhoods or district boundaries. We also note that the Historic District is an overlay district that does not apply to state owned properties including the University property.
PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
The last historic site survey was undertaken between December 1991 and September 1992. We believe that an updated and expanded survey would provide a significant data base for the Town. We believe that the end result of this project, a current database of historical architectural features, would complement the Comprehensive Plan and contribute to attainment of the following goal stated in the chapter on Community Character:
“Conserve and enhance those elements that define Chapel Hill’s special community character and the heritage of Chapel Hill’s historic neighborhoods.”
We also agree with the petitioner’s statement that the survey could contribute to the work of the Historic District Commission. The collected data would assist in protecting of historical resources, strengthen existing Historic District regulations and identify future potential historic district neighborhoods.
PROCESS
If the Council authorizes an application for a grant, the following procedures would be initiated:
- The Town would submit the grant request to the State Historic Preservation Office by the December 31, 2000 deadline. The State Historic Preservation Office would decide by January 2001 whether to award the grant and, at what amount.
- If the grant is awarded, and if the Council authorizes acceptance of the grant and matching funds, and if the Preservation Society transfers its stated share of the matching funds to the Town, the Town would then hire a qualified consultant to conduct the survey. The State Historic Preservation Office maintains a list of qualified consultants who have had experience in assisting North Carolina communities with such surveys.
- The consultant would then conduct the survey with input and assistance from the State Department of History and Archives. The role of the Historic District Commission and Preservation Society would be to facilitate the work of the consultant and communicate with neighborhoods about the process. It is anticipated that a committee, made up of Historic District Commission members and Preservation Society members would work with the consultant.
- At the end of the project the Town Council or Historic District Commission could call for a public hearing for the consult to discuss the results of the survey and answer questions.
FUNDING
The projected total cost of the updated survey is $40,000. The grant application will request $20,000 from the State Historic Preservation Office. The Chapel Hill Preservation Society has agreed to fund $15,000 of the matching funds.
The Preservation Society and the Historic District Commission requests that the Town Council provide $5,000 in matching funds. The Society’s expectation is that the Town’s contribution to this project will not exceed $5,000, and has stated that any unforeseen overruns in cost will be totally covered by the Society.
If the State approves the grant application, we would return to the Council with a resolution, which, if adopted, would authorize acceptance of the grant and authorize allocating matching funds not to exceed $5,000. These funds would be allocated from general revenue during the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
The attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to apply for a 2000 Historic Preservation Fund Grant.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached Resolution, authorizing the Town Manager to apply for a 2000 Historic Preservation Fund Grant.
ATTACHMENTS
1. October 18, 2000 letter to Mayor and Town Council from Betsy Pringle (p. 5).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A GRANT FROM THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND IN ORDER SURVEY THE TOWN’S ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES (2000-11-13/R-7).
WHEREAS, the Town, through the Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives, has stated the goal of conserving and enhancing areas, sites, and structures of special visual, architectural or historical value; and
WHEREAS, the Town, through the Comprehensive Plan, has stated the goal of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty and atmosphere of Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, updating the architectural and historic inventory would help the Town achieve these goals; and
WHEREAS, the Chapel Preservation Society has agreed to help in implementation and funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill, that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to apply for a 2000 Historic Preservation Fund Grant to conduct a survey of the Town’s architectural features.
This, the 13th day of November 2000.