Title
Land Acquisition - Cornelius High School Agriculture Building
Action
ACTION:
Authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding and any other agreements necessary between and/or amongst the County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission (“HLC”), the Town of Cornelius (“Town”), and the Cornelius History Museum, LLC (“Museum”) to fund the purchase, renovation, operation, and maintenance of the Historic Cornelius Agriculture Building and grounds ( +/- 0.33 acre portion of Tax Parcel 005-201-29):
1) From the Town of Cornelius for a purchase price of $176,300 using HLC’s Revolving Fund Account; and
2) From HLC to the Museum for a purchase price of $180,000 per terms of a 5-year, three percent (3%) amortized loan from HLC to the Museum
Staff Contact: John Howard, Historic Preservation Manager, Historic Landmarks
Presentation: Yes
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
The County, HLC, the Town of Cornelius, and the Cornelius History Museum wish to enter a four-party Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) for the purchase, renovation, operation, and maintenance of the Historic Cornelius Agriculture Building. The proposal is for the building to be owned, operated and event programmed by the Museum.
The Cornelius High School Agriculture Building, as it was known during the early 20th century, is located at 21126 Catawba Avenue in the heart of downtown Cornelius and on the campus of the current Cornelius Elementary School. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Mecklenburg County Board of Education saw the need to educate students in new technologies that were changing the agriculture industry such as mechanized farming and the use of herbicides and fertilizers. With funding from the federal Public Works Administration, the Board of Education constructed the building between 1937 - 1938 to serve then current and aspiring farmers. The Classical Revival-styled building was designated a local historic landmark i...
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