City bulldozes historic house near airport

Plus: Hurricane Debby approaches; Understanding Charlotte's rise in economic mobility data; Arts critic takes the stage; Elizabeth streetcar stop annihilated; Peppers in Hall of Fame

Aug 05, 2024

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Charlotte’s airport defies the Historic Landmarks Commission and knocks down a 1914 church house that preservationists had hoped to save; neighbor ‘shocked’

The Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Manse, built in 1914, was described by historians as “one of the more important surviving architectural resources in the rural Steele Creek community and the finest example of the Colonial Revival style.” The airport demolished it on Friday.

by Tony Mecia

A bulldozer hired by the city of Charlotte on Friday began demolishing a century-old house south of the airport — one that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission had hoped to save.

One neighborhood leader said she was “shocked” to see the house being torn down by the city and the airport, whom she said had kept residents in the dark about their demolition plans and had implied that the house would be preserved.

“It feels very sudden,” said Stephanie Lasne, a board member of the Steelberry Acres Lake Association, a neighborhood group. “The last that I heard when I talked to the airport, they told me the home was historic and it was protected.” She said she and other neighbors would have preferred for the city to have converted the house to something that served the community.

The Ledger on Friday detailed the unusual case of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Manse, which was built in 1914 and housed pastors at one of Charlotte’s oldest churches. The landmarks commission had voted to recommend that the Charlotte City Council designate the manse as a historic landmark, which would have postponed any demolition. Landmarks commission documents called it “one of the more important surviving architectural resources in the rural Steele Creek community” and “critical” to understanding the church and the community.

Oddly, though, city staff never presented the recommendation to the City Council for a vote, as is standard practice. The landmark commission’s volunteer chair told The Ledger he considers it a “double standard” because the city gave favorable treatment to land it owns.

Typically, battles over saving historic properties pit private developers against preservationists — although the two sides can often negotiate creative solutions such as moving or adapting old buildings or constructing new buildings around the old ones. This is a rare case that pits the city government and its airport against another arm of government, the city-county landmarks commission.

The city has not explained why it failed to pass the recommendation to council members. The Ledger has been asking for an explanation since Thursday.

‘Development needs’: The airport has announced no specific plans for the 17-acre parcel containing the manse, though its long-term plans show it favors warehousing, manufacturing and office space in the area, which is about a mile south of its runways. In a written statement to The Ledger last week, the airport said it planned to demolish the manse as well as the 200-year-old William Grier House, which was designated as a historical landmark in 1978. The airport says it is fulfilling a 2018 agreement it made with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state’s historic preservation office. The document cites the city’s desire to destroy potentially significant historic buildings because of “development needs.”

On Thursday (Aug. 1), a day after a zoning hold was lifted on the property to allow demolition, the airport said in a statement to The Ledger that the “demolition will occur in August.” The bulldozer showed up the following day (Aug. 2).

City council members, who are in the middle of a two-month summer break from public meetings, say they are just learning about the issue. In an email to The Ledger on Friday, before it was known that the city had started demolishing the building, council member Tiawana Brown wrote: “I support the HLC recommendation to save it.”

Editor’s note: After publication of this article, the airport sent a detailed reply. Here is the airport’s response in full:

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.

Related Ledger articles:

“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)

Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:

Debby does Charlotte? Savannah and Charleston could get 20”+ of rain and major flooding from new hurricane; 4”-7” predicted here

Tropical storm Debby strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane overnight, made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast this morning and is headed to Georgia and the Carolinas. The most rain is expected along the coast, with officials in Savannah and Charleston bracing for 20-30” inches of rain over the next week, which is expected to cause widespread flooding. Rain in Charlotte could start Tuesday afternoon, and forecasts call for 4-7” here with increased winds. It might be a good day to clean some gutters and drains. (Graphic by National Hurricane Center as of 2 a.m. Monday)

Behind the numbers: Who gets credit for moving Charlotte up the ranking on economic mobility?

You might have seen the news last month that Charlotte rose in the rankings of economic mobility — from 50th out of 50 to 38th out of 50.

It’s an important ranking, because when Harvard researcher Raj Chetty declared that Charlotte was dead last among U.S. cities in economic opportunity in 2014, Charlotte civic leaders took notice. They found it embarrassing, devised a response and raised millions of dollars to try to improve.

Examining updated numbers, Chetty said Charlotte is making progress — which sounds like welcome news. But how? What or who is responsible for that progress?

Is it Charlotte civic leaders? National trends? Or something else?

Last week, WFAE’s Steve Harrison took an in-depth and intriguing examination of the new numbers to try to answer that question. It’s less straightforward than you might think.

➡️ Check out the full analysis here.

Related Ledger articles and podcasts:

“Economic mobility professor praises Charlotte’s efforts” (Nov. 15, 2023)
“Is Charlotte really 50th out of 50 in economic mobility?” (March 2, 2022)
“Taking the temperature on upward mobility” (interview with Leading on Opportunity’s Sherry Chisholm, June 9, 2023; 🎧 also a podcast)
“Improving Charlotte's economic mobility” (🎧 podcast interview with Leading on Opportunity’s Tonya Jameson, Jan. 19, 2024)

When the critic takes the stage: Ledger arts critic Lawrence Toppman on his 40 seasons singing in Charlotte’s opera

Lawrence Toppman has been writing about Charlotte’s arts and culture scene for more than 40 years, including his current post as The Ledger’s arts critic, writing about everything from touring Broadway musicals to symphony performances out of mobile trailers.

What many don’t know is that Toppman has some musical accolades of his own — serving for four decades as an ensemble singer in Charlotte’s opera.

In this month’s Our State magazine, Toppman shares his operatic journey, from the time he emerged from the wings sans pants to his plight to inform the public that opera isn’t an inaccessible highbrow art form. In the piece, Larry writes:

Nowadays, after 40 consecutive seasons, I’m slower and smarter. Men’s voices descend gradually, so I’ve gone from high baritone to baritone to bass; eventually, I’ll sound like the guy who sang “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” I make myself an asset by learning the whole libretto of an opera, including soloists’ parts, and by responding emotionally to the action around me. (You’d be surprised how many chorus members fixate on the conductor like deer in the headlights of an 18-wheeler.)
Opera Carolina often imports soloists who’ve worked in big venues, such as the Metropolitan Opera House, but the chorus members are local. We get paid enough to cover our meals and gas for about 20 rehearsals and three or four performances. In my case, that’s $500 for the run.
I’ve put together the longest streak in OC history by escaping illness and injury, singing when I’ve felt rocky (though not contagious), and being lucky that outside obligations haven’t intervened. There’s no thrill like sailing your voice out over an orchestra, especially in a small solo part. I’ve had half a dozen of those, and it’s like surfing a killer wave and knowing you won’t topple off the board.

Read the entire article

Car crash flattens Gold Line streetcar stop in Elizabeth

A car crash apparently caused major damage to the Gold Line streetcar stop by the intersection of Hawthorne Lane and 8th Street over the weekend. The station was roped off and streetcars passed it on Monday morning.

You might be interested in these Charlotte events

AUGUST 15: Brews + Bytes, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Wake Forest University Charlotte Center, 200 N. College St. #150. Brews + Bytes receptions bring together our network in a casual, intimate setting to connect and build relationships with the North Carolina tech community and the NC TECH team. Join us to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, and to network with other tech professionals! Free with registration.

AUGUST 21: What is Zoning? Why Do I Care?, 5-6:30 p.m., Innovation Barn, 932 Seigle Ave. Join Planning Commission Chairman Douglas Welton and Bryan Holladay, Charlotte Area Chamber Public Policy Chair, for an informal conversation on Charlotte’s growth and the process on how new development decisions happen. Free.

➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.

In brief:

Flight delays and cancellations at CLT: Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at Charlotte’s airport on Sunday, which the airport said was caused by severe weather throughout the country. (WBTV)
Peppers inducted into Hall of Fame: Retired Carolina Panther Julius Peppers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. In his induction speech, he said: “Everyone can be a Hall of Famer in life. … Whatever it is you do, do it with respect, passion, resilience, dedication and gratitude.” (NBC Sports)
Observer parent merges with celebrity mag publisher: McClatchy, the parent company of The Charlotte Observer, said it is merging with Accelerate360, a magazine giant that publishes Us Weekly and In Touch Weekly. Chatham Asset Management, the New Jersey-based hedge fund that owns both companies, said the two are “leaders in the delivery of essential local journalism and engaging lifestyle- and entertainment-focused content, respectively.” (Miami Herald)
Buffett unloads BofA stock: Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has sold shares of Bank of America stock for each of the last 12 days, totaling $3.8B in sales. Berkshire remains the Charlotte-based bank’s largest shareholder, with a 12.1% stake (CNBC)
Cattle theft guilty plea: A man pleaded guilty in Charlotte on Friday to using bad checks to buy 3,000 cattle worth $1M in Iredell and Cleveland counties, as well as Texas and Oklahoma. (WFAE)

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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman, BC Creative

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