The Wrightsville Beach Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) gained two members and lost one during recent appointments to the town’s boards, commissions and advisory committees in January. Saundra Files was reappointed, while Catherine O’Quinn is newly appointed to the HLC. HLC member Wright Holman was drafted to serve on the Wrightsville Beach Planning Board. Now, the landmark commission seeks to replace Holman for the remainder of his two-year term.
The commission reviews local historic landmark applications and makes recommendations to the State Historic Preservation Office. Once the state reviews the application, it is returned to the landmark commission for a final recommendation before it is passed on to the board of aldermen for confirmation.
If the property receives the designation, the property owners are eligible for a 50 percent reduction in property taxes. If the property is sold, or a certificate of appropriateness is issued for its demolition, all uncollected taxes must be paid.
Once designated, property owners may also purchase and display a plaque for their historic structure.
In its discussion of goals for 2010, commission chairman Marjorie Way said that all designated houses, including those that had received historic appreciation, would be photographed and described on the town’s Web site. Way also suggested that commission members might visit plaqued houses, and that property owners who have received the historic designation should be encouraged to purchase and display plaques if they have not already done so.
Wright Holman suggested that the commission inventory the town’s historic structures and through that process identify other suitable candidates for designation.
Planning department staff liaison, Eryn Moller said she was currently researching grant opportunities for house moving or site preparation to offset the cost of relocating historic structures to the town’s proposed historic square.
In other business, the commission accepted a new trolley stop marker to replace one that was destroyed at the Carolina Yacht Club location. The new marker was replicated by local stained glass artist, Susan Tharin.
