Airport says it has been 'transparent and collaborative' on fate of historic properties
Statement follows publication of 2 Ledger articles on demolition of 1914 house
The following article was published online on Aug. 6, 2024, by The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Charlotte’s airport says it has been clear about its intentions and followed all rules; seeks to ‘clear up misinformation’
Charlotte’s airport said in a statement that it sought to collaborate on preserving the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Manse (left), built in 1914 to house church pastors. It also owns other properties deemed historic, such as the William Grier House (right), built around 1828 as a plantation house. The airport demolished the manse on Friday and could knock down the Grier House as early as December. (Ledger photo, left; Landmarks Commission documents, right)
by Tony Mecia
In a detailed reply to a series of recent articles appearing in The Charlotte Ledger, Charlotte’s airport says it has been “transparent and collaborative” with preservationists and neighbors regarding its plans for properties it owns.
“The Airport has followed all federal, state and local regulations and best practices in the sale and action of each property,” the airport wrote in a statement to The Ledger on Monday. “Additionally, CLT has remained transparent and collaborative with the local Historic Landmarks Commission and neighbors. The Airport takes very seriously the protection of historic properties.”
The reply came in response to two Ledger articles, on Friday and Monday, that examined the planned demolition of a 1914 house known as the Steele Creek Presbyterian Manse. It formerly housed pastors of the nearby Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, whose property was sold to the airport in 2017.
The Ledger reported Friday that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission voted in December to declare the site a historic landmark, which would have postponed demolition, but that the recommendation was never presented to the City Council, as is customary.
The airport demolished the house on Friday, hours after the article was published. The Ledger reported the demolition on Monday and quoted a neighbor who said an airport official had told her the house would be preserved.
In its response, the airport said it wanted to “clear up misinformation and misleading statements reported in the story” and to emphasize that it followed all laws, regulations and best practices. It said that the airport has been clear for years that it wanted to demolish the manse and had worked with the landmarks commission on a possible sale that did not materialize. It suggested the airport was surprised at the effort to declare the house a landmark after years of working with the landmarks commission.
It remains unclear why the recommendation never went before the City Council. The Ledger has been asking the city that question since Thursday and has not received a reply, though a city spokesman said he has been working to get details.
Other local media also seem to be preparing stories on the issue. Fox 46 aired a story Monday. WFAE and The Charlotte Observer are believed to be reporting on the topic as well.
Here is the statement in full from Charlotte’s airport:
In the lead story today [Monday] about CLT’s demolition of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Manse, CLT Airport felt compelled to clear up misinformation and misleading statements reported in the story.
In short, the Airport has followed all federal, state and local regulations and best practices in the sale and action of each property. Additionally, CLT has remained transparent and collaborative with community organizations such as the Historical Land Commission and neighbors throughout this process. Please see full statement below:
CLT Airport Response to lead story in The Charlotte Ledger newsletter, August 5, 2024, “Charlotte’s airport defies the Historic Landmarks Commission and knocks down a 1914 church house that preservationists had hopes to save; neighbor ‘shocked’”
When Steele Creek Presbyterian Church [voluntarily] sold their properties to the Airport through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and City Council approval processes, only the Sanctuary was designated historic.
Purchase of the Manse structure and associated acreage was approved by City Council in the amount of $1,580,000 on June 26, 2017. The sale was conducted in accordance with the January 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between federal, state and local governments as a result of the FAA’s environmental assessment of the Runway 18R/36L.
The MOU was amended in 2018 to include the Manse property and the express demolition. The Airport then paid $50,000 in mitigation payments to SHPO to be distributed “for the benefit of historic resources located in the general vicinity of the airport.” Even after CLT’s payment for mitigation, Airport staff met with the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) on the opportunity to buy the property, but HLC did not pursue.
It was more than six years after the Manse property was purchased, five years after the Airport paid mitigation for the demolition and two months after the demolition permit had been submitted that HLC met to recommend an historic designation without notifying the Airport.
In short, the Airport has followed all federal, state and local regulations and best practices in the sale and action of each property. Additionally, CLT has remained transparent and collaborative with the local Historic Landmarks Commission and neighbors.
The Airport takes very seriously the protection of historic properties, including upholding the preservation of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Sanctuary.
The Aviation Department has been closely coordinating with Foundry Commercial on the preservation acquisition and redevelopment of 70 acres of Airport controlled property, which includes the former church Sanctuary. Foundry has partnered with the City, HLC and SHPO on the technical historic designation of the property and buildings.
It is the Airport’s understanding that de-designation and re-designation will be considered in the coming weeks by City Council. That technical change will allow for the preservation and adaptive re-use of the Sanctuary. It is also CLT’s understanding that Foundry is in conversation with She Built This City for the renovation of the Sanctuary and creation of a workforce development program centered around historic preservation and rehabilitation. The remainder of the site would be developed by Foundry in a manner compatible with an airport environment.
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Related Ledger articles:
“City bulldozes historic house near airport” (Aug. 5)
“Historic buildings near airport face demolition by city” (🔒 , Aug. 2)
“Deal near airport would allow nearly 1 million s.f. of warehousing and preserve historic structures” (🔒, Ledger Real Estate Whispers, June 17)
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman