HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Meeting Summary 09272023 Orange County
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Approved Meeting Summary
September 27th, 2023
Bonnie Davis Center, 1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough
MEMBERS PRESENT: Todd Dickinson, Tom Loter, Cecelia Moore, Paul Noe, Steve Peck, Anne
Whisnant
MEMBERS ABSENT: Art Menius
STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck GUESTS: None
ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:34 pm.
ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
Dickinson asked for time to speak about the upcoming Preservation NC annual
conference.
ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES for August 23rd, 2023:
Loter moved to approve the minutes; seconded by Dickinson, motion approved.
ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DECISION:
a. Ridge Road School National Register Nomination: Public hearing to take comments
regarding the proposed nomination of the Ridge Road School to the National
Register of Historic Places: Vice Chair Noe opened the public hearing phase of the
meeting. After determining that no one was present to speak at the hearing, the public
hearing was closed. Staff provided a review of the HPC process for approval of the
National Register nomination in accordance with the guidelines of the Certified Local
Government program. These public hearings are required by our ordinance, so we hold a
hearing at this stage of our review of each of our new National Register properties. Staff
provided a brief overview of the significance and history of the Ridge Road School, and
outlined the steps that we take to process and approve a nomination.
b. Ridge Road School: Formal motion by HPC to find that the property meets the
criteria for listing on the National Register of Historic Places: Staff explained the
criteria for eligibility for the school. Discussion followed. Whisnant offered a motion stating
that that the Ridge Road School meets the required criteria for listing on the National
Register; seconded by Dickinson; motion passed. Menius or Noe will sign the form.
ITEM #5: DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Davis Farm Cotton Gin Historic Landmark Process: Staff provided an overview of the
joint public hearing with the BOCC, now scheduled for Oct. 17th. This will be identical to
what the HPC did in May for our three most recent landmarks. We need a quorum in order
to hold the hearing for the Cotton Gin. Four members indicated that they could attend,
giving us a quorum. As part of this discussion, staff indicated that this time commitment is
such that it might be appropriate to cancel the regular October meeting. Loter moved to
cancel the October meeting, seconded by Moore; motion passed.
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b. County-owned historic building updates: Staff provided a PowerPoint overview of the
current status of several buildings. There is a future project to fund the overall
preservation and repairs of the Old Courthouse, including interior upgrades, scheduled to
start in 2026. The project will address structural issues, exterior brickwork and woodwork
restoration, and includes enhancements for the landscaping of the entire courthouse
square. The latter would involve planning to include public input from various stakeholders
about uses of the grounds, which are also a historic cultural landscape. This includes the
old WPA-era stone sidewalks around the entire square, as well as the existing trees and
other landscape elements. We undertook a full archaeological investigation of the grounds
around the courthouse but hit pause during covid. Staff will share this report with
members. This project would include interpretive signage inside and out. The county will
hire a qualified architect with extensive experience in historic restoration, along with a
structural engineer, and a landscape architect/site planner. The HPC will guide this
process. Members viewed a PowerPoint of the courthouse and grounds. Staff then
discussed the Alexander Dickson House, now the town's visitor center operated by the
Alliance. This was moved from its original site where the present-day Walmart is located.
Staff showed historical photos and architectural highlights, followed by images of the
newly-restored farmhouse and buildings at Blackwood Farm Park.
c. Report from SHPO CLG training in Southern Pines: Staff provided a brief summary of
topics covered at the CLG training event held by the SHPO on Sept. 25th. Topics included
ideas for Preservation Month activities. One HPC showed historic films relating to
preservation or history. Discussion followed. Staff offered to arrange for a viewing of the
two films by H. Lee Waters showing Hillsborough and Chapel Hill during the 1930s.
d. CLG Virtual Training: Staff reminded the members who volunteered that we need to
have two members complete the SHPO's virtual training program prior to September 30 in
order to maintain our CLG status. A reminder email will be sent with links to the training
videos and the form to be used to document what you learned.
e. Dates for Field Trip: Staff continues to work with the Courts staff to determine some
available time slots that will work for them. The first weekend of November was best for
most. Peck asked about the future of the old jail. Staff reported that the jail site is included
in the scope of a county-wide facilities planning study now underway. Ideas for this site
include tearing the modern parts down and renovating the historic 1926 building.
ITEM #6: UPDATES AND INFORMATION ITEMS
a. Preservation North Carolina Annual Conference: Dickinson described the upcoming
annual conference to be held in Durham; this makes it easy for us to attend. Staff
explained that there is some money in the budget to pay for registration to the educational
programs and tours; send an email to indicate which sessions you want to attend.
b. Moorefields public archaeology day: Noe reported that this has been moved to Sept.
30th. There were some useful discoveries made during the current project. He is willing to
provide some visuals for our next meeting, perhaps in December.
c. Book Protect: The author is completing her review of our most recent revisions that we
did to reduce the word count. The goal is to get a finished manuscript out to the book
committee members in October.
d. Open air time: No information was shared in the interest of time.
ITEM #7: ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 8:27 pm.
Meeting summary by Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR staff
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