Title
Decline the Right of First Refusal to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Property - Historic Cornelius High School Agricultural Building
Action
ACTION:
Decline Mecklenburg County’s statutory right of first refusal on the Historic Cornelius High School Agricultural Building and grounds (a portion of Tax Parcel 005-201-29, totaling +/- .33 acres) located at Cornelius Elementary School
Staff Contact: Stewart Gray, Director, Historic Landmarks Department
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
On September 17, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners approved item #24-0534 which authorized the County Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between and/or amongst the County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC), the Town of Cornelius (Town), and the Cornelius History Museum (Museum) to fund the purchase, renovation, operation and maintenance of the Historic Cornelius Agriculture Building and grounds (+/- .33 acre portion of Tax Parcel 005-201-29).
The 1937 Classical Revival-styled building is located at 21126 Catawba Avenue in the Town of Cornelius on the campus of the current Cornelius Elementary School. The two-story, 4,032 square foot building was used until the 1950s to provide education and training to then-current and aspiring farmers in the northern portion of the County. In 2020, the building was designated a local historic landmark by the Town of Cornelius.
Through a partnership between the County, Town, HLC, and the Museum, the building will be renovated and opened to the public as a museum and used for other civic and non-profit uses. Prior to completing the property transactions contemplated by Board action item #24-0534, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools must first offer the County the opportunity to purchase the property as is required by North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 115C-518(a).
Per that statute, local boards of education are required to give local boards of county commissioners ...
Click here for full text