HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC minutes 042915Attachment 1
Orange County
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Summary -- Approved
April 29th, 2015
Special meeting location: Blackwood Farm
4215 Highway 86 South, Chapel Hill
MEMBERS PRESENT: Todd Dickinson (Chair), Susan Ballard, Rob Golan, Jaime Grant, Bob Ireland
(Vice- Chair), and Grace White
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Rich Shaw, Peter Sandbeck
GUESTS: None
ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER
Chair Dickinson called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
ITEM #2: Tour of Blackwood Farm: Rich Shaw greeted members and started the meeting with a
brief overview of the current plans to develop the farm into the County's newest park,
scheduled to open with a "soft opening" in late May or early June. Sandbeck joined the
group at 7:20 to give a more detailed tour of the historic farm buildings and farmhouse.
Members toured the various structures, including the milk house, smokehouse, granary,
chicken house, milking shed, barn and garage. Several members noted the presence of
historic farm artifacts and household items that might be stolen or damaged by visitors.
Sandbeck agreed that certain items needed to be removed from the outbuildings for
safekeeping and future cataloging and proper storage. All buildings will be secured with
padlocks. Members of the Blackwood family have stepped forward with many
photographs showing various aspects of farm life and family members. One member,
Judy Blackwood Womble, is now reviewing her extensive collection and has promised to
share new photos with staff in May. Sandbeck reviewed the various outbuilding restoration
efforts undertaken by the County over the last ten years. Members then moved inside the
old farmhouse to view all the rooms on both floors, with discussion about the original plan
and the many later alterations. More artifacts were identified as being in need of
preservation and cataloging in the second floor bedroom of the front section of the house.
Members then adjourned to the first floor back bedroom to view the site plan maps.
Discussion followed. Members asked questions about the area of future development
where the new education center and maintenance buildings will be located continue their
regular meeting. The archaeological site maps show the potential for archaeological
resources in those locations, so steps will need to be taken to survey those areas more
thoroughly prior to site planning work. Staff will make sure that a second archaeological
survey will be a component of that project. Members then took up the agenda for the
regular meeting.
ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES (March 25th, 2015): Golan moved to accept the minutes;
seconded by Ireland; motion passed.
ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DECISION: None
ITEM #5: DISCUSSION ITEMS: None
ITEM #6: UPDATES AND INFORMATION ITEMS
a. Survey Project status:
Staff provided a brief overview of the current status. Our consultants, Jennifer Martin and
Cynthia de Miranda have toured Cheeks and Chapel Hill townships with staff, viewing all
properties identified in the 1993 survey and during the 2006 update, and noted any new
properties worthy of documentation, especially mid - century modernist and African
American resources. They plan to complete the field work for the project by August. Staff
has been asked to present a program about the project for the Upper Eno Heritage
Group's monthly meeting in Efland on May 11.
b. Update on County Preservation Projects and Initiatives:
A brief update was presented by staff about current county preservation projects and
issues. A new home is needed for some doors salvaged from the 1954 Courthouse back
in 2007, when it was renovated as part of the new Justice Facility addition. The building
was designed by Durham architect Archie Davis, who also did a number of schools for the
county. The current plan is to take approx. 20 doors to the Reuse Warehouse in Durham
so that they can be repurposed. Work is underway on the renovation of the historic Cedar
Grove School, built in 1950 -56, for new use as a community center for the northern half of
the county. This long low Modernist building was also designed by Davis. This will include
a history exhibit focused on the story of the African American farm community that worked
for over 15 years to convince the County to build the only rural consolidated school for
African Americans. Work continues on the County's joint effort to reconstruct (for second
time) the former replica of the Occaneechi Village that was built in River Park around
2000. This is located between the farmer's market and the Eno. There are plans afoot for
the Vernacular Architecture Forum to take a tour of Hillsborough during their national
convention in 2016, to be held in Durham.
c. CLG Trainina Workshoo in Wake Forest:
Staff stressed the importance of having at least one or two members attend this
workshop, in order to meet the training requirements for our CLG status. This is the
closed, most convenient one available. Golan and Ireland volunteered to attend. Staff
thanked them and offered to coordinate registration for them.
ITEM #7: STAFF PRESENTATION:
a. Orange County Historic Resources PowerPoint:
The Chair asked that this be postponed until our next meeting in consideration of the late
hour.
ITEM #8: ADJOURNMENT: Golan moved to adjourn, seconded by White. Meeting adjourned at
9:08 pm
Meeting summary by Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR staff
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