AGENDA #4f
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of Historic Site Survey Grant
DATE: June 11, 2001
The adoption of the attached Resolution would authorize the Town Manager to sign a grant agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office to accept a 2001-2002 Historic Preservation Fund Grant of $8,400 and provide $5,000 in matching funds.
We note that the Chapel Hill Preservation Society is working cooperatively with the Town on the execution and funding of this project. A letter from the Society is included as Attachment 1.
The last historic site survey was undertaken in 1992. We believe 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 Plan goals. The collected data would also assist in protecting of historical resources, strengthen existing Historic District regulations and identify future potential historic district neighborhoods.
The purpose of the grant is to: hire a consultant to update and expand the Town’s Historic Site Survey, including the historic portion of the University Campus; determine potential boundary changes for the existing Local and National Register Historic Districts; and survey previously undocumented neighborhoods. The projected total cost of the project is $28,400.
On November 13, 2000, the Council authorized the Town Manager to apply for a grant to hire a consultant to update the Town’s Historic Site Survey. In April the Town was notified that the project has been selected to receive a 2001-2002 Historic Preservation Fund Grant in the amount of $8,400.
The original grant proposal submitted to the State requested $20,000 in grant funding with an matching $20,000 in local funding. Upon reviewing the grant proposal, the State decided to provide $8,400.
The State Historic Preservation Office believes the reduced funding level will not jeopardize the project. As the grant project description did not explicitly request that National Register Applications be part of the grant, the State office believes the proposed project could be completed with the lower funding level. If the completed survey indicates the possibility of National Register nominations, additional funding could be requested at a later date.
We agree that the approved funding amount from the State ($8,400), in conjunction with $5,000 from the Town and a $15,000 funding commitment from the Preservation Society, will still allow for adequate resources to update and expand the existing historic site surveys from the 1970’s and 1992.
We note that the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill has agreed to match the grant with an additional $15,000. The Preservation Society has also expressed a desire that the Town’s contribution to this project not exceed $5,000 and has stated that any unforeseen overruns in cost will be covered by the Society.
NEXT STEPS
If the Council authorizes the Town Manager to sign a grant agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office and provide $5,000 in matching funds, the next step would be to solicit proposals for a qualified consultant to prepare the updated and expanded Historic Site 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 conduct the survey with input and assistance from the State Department of History and Archives. The roles 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 consultant to discuss the results of the survey and answers questions.
We believe that the work could begin by September 2001. The project must be completed by August 30, 2002.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached Resolution, authorizing the Town Manager to execute the Grant Agreement and the Certificate of Matching Share Form and authorizing the expenditure of matching funds in the amount of $5,000.
1. Letter from Catherine Frank, Executive Director of the Chapel Hill Preservation Society (p. 4)
2. November 13, 2000 Memorandum (begin new p. 1)
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO INDICATE ACCEPTANCE OF THE 2001-2002 HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND GRANT BY SIGNING THE GRANT AGREEMENT AND THE CERTIFICATION OF MATCHING SHARE FORM AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF MATCHING FUNDS (2001-06-11/R-6)
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 Hill Preservation Society has agreed to help in implementation and funding; and
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Preservation Society agrees to provide the Town of Chapel Hill $15,000 for funding this project and cover any unanticipated cost overruns; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council indicated the need for updating the Historic District Survey through the resolution of November 13, 2000, authorizing the Town Manager to apply for a grant for this purpose;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to indicate acceptance of the 2001-2002 Historic Preservation Fund Grant by signing the Grant Agreement and the Certification of Matching Share Form and authorizes the expenditure of matching funds in the amount of $5,000.
This the 11th day of June, 2001.