ECA 2-23

ECA Officers West Bryant President 704 898 5044 Kenmore Avenue west.bryant@gmail.com Evan Kettler Vice President 704 577 4901 North Laurel Avenue evan.kettler@gmail.com Sarah Crowder Secretary 704 502 7866 Greenway Avenue sarahcr@bellsouth.net Danielle Kleinrichert Treasurer 704 804 1509 Pecan Avenue danielle@neatbooks.co Paul Shipley Past President 704 651 5897 Kenmore Avenue paul.d.shipley@gmail.com

ECA Board Members Isabelle Cosgriff At-large 919 623 7855 North Dotger Avenue isabellecosgriff@gmail.com Eric Davis Transportation Chair 704 776 3013 Greenway Avenue ericadavis0123@gmail.com Lauren Gomez Membership Chair 704 728 2066 East 5th Street laurenmcjo@gmail.com

Nikki Moore Social Chair 704 576 6474 Kenmore Avenue nikki.s.moore@gmail.com Debbie Rubenstein Communications 704 998 9579 East Fifth Street debbie@flynnonline.com Elaine Scott Beautification and Trees 704 905 7352 Kenmore Avenue elainekscott@icloud.com Robert Zabel Elizabeth 8K Road Race Chair 917 873 8028 Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com Officer Jim Gilliland CMPD neighborhood community coordinator 704 336 2878 james.gilliland@cmpd.org

M VOLUNTEER M elizabethcommunityassociation @gmail.com

The ECA Newsletter

The ECA newsletter is published quarterly (March, June, September and December) and delivered to homes and businesses in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte. The production team: John McBride editor

Teddy Koch At-large 336 830 0425 Greenway Avenue teddykoch@gmail.com

Robb Beatty advertising czar

John F. McBride Newsletter 980 254 7367 East Eighth Street john.f.mcb@gmail.com

Susan Green editorial assistant and proofreader

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THE PEOPLE PAGES

Annual meeting reminder Don’t forget the annual ECA meeting will be held in September. Watch the ECA notification list for the latest information. To sign up for the ECA notification list, head to elizabethcommunity.com and click on the email groups tab at the top.

Jeremy Deese circulation czar

Little Shiva designer The UPS Store printer

We’re looking for you Frustrated by not getting enough neighborhood updates or stunning Elizabeth photos or sexy board minutes from the ECA? Help us out!

We’re looking for someone with interest and skills in social media to help with Instagram and Facebook posts and someone to help us create a new and more responsive website.

Contact Debbie Rubenstein at communications@elizabethcommunity. com if you are interested.

Stunning Elizabeth photo

by John McBride On the cover A look into the past at what was once Royal Gardens garden shop on East 7th Street is being prepared for demolition. Photo by John McBride

Ryan Allen East 7th Street fryedchickensandwich @gmail.com

Kris Solow East Fifth Street kjsolow@gmail.com

West Bryant East Fifth Street west.bryant@ gmail.com

Lois Stickell Lamar Avenue sstickell@hotmail.com

Jim Dimitroff Pecan Avenue jimdimitroff@ gmail.com

James Webb East 5th Street james.lucius.webb@ gmail.com

Mark Hermann East 5th Street markh@ carolinaadvisory.com

Cheralyn Lambeth Vail Avenue cheralyn.lambeth@ yahoo.com

Chaz Hinkle East 7th Street chazzerguy@ gmail.com

Pam Imhof Central Avenue imhofp88@gmail.com

Nikki Moore Kenmore Avenue nikki.s.moore@ gmail.com

Phil Yagla Pecan Avenue pyagla@gmail.com

Jim Morrill Kenmore Avenue jmorrill634@ gmail.com

Robert Zabel Pecan Avenue nycrcz@yahoo.com

Clifton Settlemyer Clement Avenue csettlemyer@ carolina.rr.com

This could be you!

To contribute a little of your time and talent to the ECA newsletter, write to john.f.mcb@ gmail.com

contributors

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From the president: A wonderful neighborhood with a bright future

by West Bryant It has been an eventful three months since the last issue of this newsletter! The Elizabeth 8k got faster, the egg hunt made an impressive pivot in difficult weather conditions, and we got great feedback from ECA members regarding the proposed updates to the bylaws. There were also several meetings for and against the Local Historic District (LHD). I wrote in the last issue about my journey exploring the advocates’ proposal, and why I voted with the majority of the ECA board not to support it.

In this episode I wanted to focus on one of the key themes I have heard in the meetings pitching LHD. It can be paraphrased as: Bad things are happening and things are going to get worse if we don’t accept new restrictions and fees right now.

Charlotte. It was amazing when I moved here in 2009, and it has consistently become better since. Independence Park is newly renovated and now has a vibrant mural, upgraded sports fields, new and old trees, updated playground equipment, a bathroom and beautiful walking paths for all to enjoy.

Speaking of which, about a month ago I started asking random people in the neighborhood what they loved most about Elizabeth. It was astounding how many instantly said, “Walkability!”

Friends and neighbors can be seen at almost any time of day walking their dog, heading to a nearby restaurant, or simply out and about for a stroll or a jog. Bars, businesses, gyms, offices, houses of worship, non-profits and restaurants provide great places for us to meet, work and play.

I have watched for years as these new homes have become a part of the melting pot of Elizabeth’s architecture, and I am overjoyed that the people living inside them have likewise become an integral part of our social fabric.

When it comes to people, you can’t walk two blocks in Elizabeth without bumping into a thoughtful, interesting, brilliant, unique and friendly human being. Every year, hundreds of individuals of all ages donate thousands of hours of time to making things better here. Some of the most active volunteers in Elizabeth don’t live here at all, but rather work here. I am incredibly thankful for everyone’s contributions.

Elizabeth boasts a broad set of residents in different stages of life including students, civil servants, medical professionals, artists, retirees, bankers, teachers, musicians, architects, Buildings that had reached the writers, entrepreneurs, attorneys end of their useful life in their and households of every type. prior form have been improved or As a long-time resident, this We’ve been warned about replaced and are now beautiful viewpoint seems inconsistent developers doing nefarious places to live and work. with reality. I admit that I’m things in Elizabeth, but it turns In the residential sections biased regarding the exquisite out developers also live and work of the neighborhood, we’ve wonders of Elizabeth, but the amongst us. Most of the developmaintained a mix of new and old ers I have met aim toward creatgeneral feeling I have is that single- and multi-family dwellElizabeth rocks. I thought it ing a useful and beautiful prodwould be helpful to gently dispel ings. Over the last 34 years we uct, are willing to work toward have retained 81% of the historic rational win-win scenarios with the “things are bad” myth, with a focus on the place, the people structures in the neighborhood the ECA, and would much rather without the need for restrictive create something that is valued and the opportunities we have zoning. Great job, everyone! as a community. by existing residents rather than Neighbors have added new The place is obviously despised. In the case where Elizabeth – our cozy corner of homes to our community as well. there is a significant divergence 4

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During the reopening celebration, the county will dedicate a “permanently and strategically placed interpretive panel” commemorating a cemetery of enslaved people that is believed to have existed in the park.

RE

County-sponsored Independence Park reopening celebration Thursday, June 29 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

This event will take place on the playground/sports fields side of Independence Park in front of the newly installed permanent restrooms.

Photo by John McBride

ENING! P O

Parking is available in the CPCC deck on the corner of Charlottetowne and 7th, although the county encourages participants to walk or bike if possible.

This official reopening event will feature speakers from the county as well as ECA president West Bryant.

A food truck will be available for drinks/snacks.

ECA-Sponsored Picnic in the Park Event Thursday, June 29 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Celebrate the return of our beloved park by packing a picnic and joining your neighbors in the park for live entertainment featuring neighborhood talent.

More details to follow.

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with a developer, the ECA knows how and when to push back because of the team’s expertise that has been developed over years. I learned that some of our neighbors have specifically chosen Elizabeth as their home to escape the same restrictive zoning that we are being asked to support. These neighbors tell me that they moved here specifically because it is so much less cumbersome to improve their homes, and thus that right is one of the things that makes our neighborhood wonderful.

Lastly, the opportunities we have are exciting. Our most valuable resources are time and people, and by investing them wisely our opportunities have expanded. Due to the highly skilled efforts of volunteers, we have consistently been able to monitor and influence develop-

ment in our neighborhood. By Many new neighbors are excited working together, the ECA Trans- to learn how they can help in the portation and Land Use and neighborhood. One day, these Development committees have neighbors will accomplish audacreated a productive working cious goals, create the next great relationship with Charlotte DOT businesses and ultimately be reto work on a win-win plan for 7th sponsible for continuing to hone Street that aligns with our com- Elizabeth into the best place to munity’s goals and with the city’s live and work in Charlotte. Let’s vision. There is an opportunity make sure that we make it as to explore new zoning overlay accessible for them as it was for options in the Unified Develop- us to renovate and adapt their ment Ordinance (UDO), which homes and their neighborhood. address neighbors’ concerns in The undeniable truth about a more effective way with far less Elizabeth is that it is just plain economic and administrative wonderful and trending toward burden. Why not wait a tick and an even brighter future. Anyone see if it is a better fit than LHD? that comes to me with a glassElizabeth has been around more half-empty perspective will than 100 years so we’ve got time. receive an appropriate amount Most importantly, we have an of skepticism. I will always amazing opportunity to welcome keep listening and learning the next generation of Elizabethough, so please let me know thans to our community and pass what you think: president@ on the lessons we have learned. elizabethcommunity.com.

THEFun PEOPLE PAGES 6‘Liz Kids Run participants flee from Big E Elvis. All race photos by Jim Dimitroff

After another great Elizabeth 8K, a look back on 10 years of setting the pace

by Robert Zabel

registered this year, which was On race day, runners and volun9% more than 2022, 22% more teers were once again greeted than the average of 2013-2019 and serenaded by Elvis “The Big and 53% more than the average E” to get everyone in the mood, of 2008-2012. Growth allows us and dare I say, “all shook up.” We to exploit greater economies of upgraded our start and finish It’s been 10 years since I scale and to reinvest in the race line with Elizabeth 8K signage, inherited the role of race director and the community. and for the eighth year have had for the Elizabeth 8K, and so I Opera Carolina sing a moving 2. Experience: If not the thought it would be interesting biggest, then we shoot for being rendition of the “Star-Spangled to provide the 2023 race recap the best. Each year we set out to Banner” to start the race. Our in the context of my top 10 curate a meaningful, memorable post-race festival was our bigtakeaways over the past decade. gest and best yet, with many of and differentiated experience, 1. Growth: We often refer to from pre-race to post-race. This our amazing sponsors present and giving out cool swag, a beer the Elizabeth 8K as a “mid-major” year was our best with 96% of race. We will never be Charlotte’s survey respondents being “very garden serving “Under the Water largest road race, nor should we satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” Tower,” an IPA specially brewed be. But we have purposely grown with the event. Over the years for our race, and an awards the number of participants since we’ve increased our marketing, ceremony that included some of 2013. Nearly 1,000 people from branding, social media and the most unique and significant 12 states and 102 ZIP codes participation in run club events. prizes of any race.

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Titanium Sponsors Thank you to our 2023 Elizabeth 8K sponsors Platinum Sponsors and partners Harris Teeter

BB+ M Architecture

Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar

Catalyst Financial Group

Novant Health

Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor

Pepsi

Cluck Design

ColsenKeane Leather Goods & Provisions ELIZABETH on Seventh

by Crescent Communities Devil’s Logic Brewing Freixenet Mionetto USA The Keith Corporation

The Crunkleton Jay Seago from Helen Adams Realty Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood Foundation ISI Elite Training St. John’s Baptist Church The Spoke Easy Summit Coffee

Lucas Chiropractic and Acupuncture

Wilder Pantazis Law Group

Rob Hall from Pridemore Properties COMPASS Queens Pharmacy THE PEOPLE PAGES

Cross Conditioning Training

Lineberger Dentistry

Main Street Insurance Group

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Gold Sponsors

The Wine Vault

Partners TreesCharlotte runCLTrun

But it’s the experience on the course as well. We all know that Elizabeth is one of the best places to run in Charlotte, and our course takes advantage of everything the neighborhood has to offer. From the beautiful tree canopies and the thriving streetscape to the enthusiastic neighbors who hosted or participated in cheer parties, to the police, medics and volunteers who helped to ensure a safe experience.

3. Competition: Another unique aspect of the Elizabeth 8K is our ability to attract some of Charlotte’s fastest runners and this year was no exception.

Congratulations to the top three male (Eric Westog, Beck Classey, Dalton Randall) and female (Hannah McEntire, Emily Cantrell, Anne Fechtel) finishers.

But there were hundreds of other runners ages 9 to 81 with all levels of experience and speed, each with their own personal motivation to compete. The Elizabeth 8K is a race for all and we congratulate you all!

4. Children: When I became race director in 2013, my daughter Alaina was 4-yearsold and participating in her second ‘Liz Kids Fun Run. At 6, she started running the untimed 1.5M race with her neighborhood friends and classmates, and at 9 ran the 8K for the first time. For the past two years she’s competed in her middle school cross country and

track teams, met and trained with new friends at running camps and is excited to continue her running next year at MPHS. I share this only to say, I LOVE the ‘Liz Kids Fun Run and 1.5M race because it provides a unique opportunity for kids to get out there and have fun with their friends, family and most certainly Elvis, and to potentially spark an interest for running that they will hold onto. I believe the Elizabeth 8K has done that for Alaina and hope it has for many others.

5. Construction: We see it happening around us every day, and it impacts us all in different ways. With the race, whether it was installation of the streetcar tracks, replacement of the Hawthorne bridge, demolition of Martha Washington apartments or renovation of Independence Park, the continuous development forced us to revise our course on several occasions. But as Churchill once said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” I won’t say this year was perfect, but it’s getting closer. The runners loved the reduced number of turns, longer straightaways, gorgeous tree canopies and the common start/ finish line.

6. Sponsors: The excitement and support for the race is not limited to runners. Organizations recognize the value of these participants, want to give back to the neighborhood they serve

and appreciate the opportunity to interact with them locally. We are fortunate to have tremendous sponsorship for this race and love that it’s a healthy mix of local, regional and national organizations. This year’s revenues from our 27 titanium, platinum and gold sponsors increased 13.6% over 2022 and was 97% more than the average of 2013-2019. We thank all our sponsors for their commitment and passion to this event and the Elizabeth community. Without their support, this race would not be possible.

7. Trees: We like to think the Elizabeth 8K has become synonymous with trees. Not only is it core to our branding, but tree replenishment has served as our primary mission for the race since 1989 when Hurricane Hugo devastated much of our tree canopy. During the early years, a portion of race revenues were used to subsidize the purchasing and planting of nearly 200 trees. In 2013, we partnered with TreesCharlotte to increase the impact our race has on replenishing and diversifying the tree canopies throughout Charlotte. The ECA has since donated over $20,000 of race proceeds to TreesCharlotte.

8. Community: I moved to Elizabeth in 2006 and immediately felt a connection to this neighborhood and ultimately to this community, which was further reinforced when I learned THE PEOPLE PAGES

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it was the host of the oldest 8K in Charlotte. In my early years as race director, as rapid growth and development was occurring in neighborhoods surrounding Elizabeth, we saw an opportunity to expand our outreach and partnerships to promote the race, which we’ve continued to do with many neighborhoods, organizations and races over the past ten years. The Elizabeth 8K is now tightly woven into the fabric of the Charlotte running community, and although we might be biased, has also indirectly supported the growth and development of our neighborhood. Every year Elizabeth welcomes participants from both near and far to showcase the beauty of this neighborhood and, more importantly, how special, and unique this community is, and for that, we thank YOU!

April showers? No problem for intrepid ECA volunteers. The ECA’s first ever drive through Easter egg hunt on Oakland Avenue next to Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church was a great, if soggy, success. Hats off to Nikki Moore, Chris Mullis and the entire team of egg stuffers and deliverers.

Photo

by Nikki Moore PAGES THE PEOPLE 10

9. Tragedy: We are not professionals, and over the years have had to learn a lot about organizing a road race.

But sometimes events occur that even the professionals aren’t prepared for. Five days prior to the 2013 race, a tragedy occurred at the Boston Marathon, killing 3 and injuring 264, including Nicole and Michael Gross from Charlotte. Being the first race after the bombing, the Elizabeth 8K became a backdrop for local media outlets. We collaborated with CMPD on what, if any, additional security was

required. We planned how we would acknowledge the event with our participants and volunteers. We ultimately dedicated the race to Nicole and Michael, held a 26-second moment of silence, provided blue and yellow ribbons to all our runners to wear in honor and remembrance of the victims, and we collected donations for One Fund and Boston Strong.

effort. I’d like to thank Brian Rubins and Marshall Lindsay who have been there since day one leading race operations and awards/swag respectively, Tommy Franklin, who leads our large sponsor relationships, and non-Elizabeth residents, Lisa Landrum and Brian Mister who help expand our marketing, social media and outreach to the running community.

But as was once said, we must not let the memories of our past Eight days prior to the 2020 limit the potential of our future. race, we made the decision to Will the race return to Memorial cancel the event due to the Stadium, or be the kickoff to an COVID-19 pandemic. With no all-day Elizabeth Festival? Will precedent to follow, and before virtual races became a thing, we it double in size or have a timed needed to figure out how to best 1-mile sprint event? What ‘Liz unwind our race with registrants Kids of today will be future track and sponsors. In partnership with stars of tomorrow? These are the ECA, we quickly formed a new all great questions to ponder, but for now, let’s take a moment initiative called ElizabethCares to support front line workers and and celebrate this community those individuals and businesses for helping to make the 2023 in need. Through the generosity Elizabeth 8K the best race ever.

Until next year, godspeed! of our race sponsors and the ECA, more than $25,000 was LHD: A perspective disbursed to selected charities from a ‘non-contributing’ supporting COVID-19 relief. neighbor This year was a “normal” race. We continued to deal with challenges as they occurred, but one thing we’ve learned is that when we bring the right people together, any challenge can become an opportunity.

10. Committee: I’ve attempted to the best of my abilities to write this using the “we” pronoun, because since 2013 it’s been a team

signed us up to host the progressive dinner, distributed newsletters, volunteered her father and me to refine the Pumpkin Wall letters, and even created the Merry Meander. I’m mostly just along for the ride in a supporting role (someone’s got to get dinner on the table and keep the house in order).

While I’m usually the quiet one, I feel the need to speak up about Local Historic District (LHD). I had originally planned to write this article from my perspective as a residential architect and history lover. I grew up in a Virginia Historic Landmark home that was built in 1674 (yes, when the Catawba tribe ruled this land), so I know a thing or two about old houses.

I have a deeply ingrained love for them, which is why I wanted to explain my conceptual and social objections to the idea of locking the entire neighborhood into a very specific set of rules in perpetuity.

However, after seeing yard signs in support for LHD pop

by Phil Yagla up around the neighborhood, I think it’s more important now to Many of you may not know me make my voice heard as a “nonyet, as it’s my wife Lisa who is our contributing” neighbor. “Nonfamily’s more public face in the contributing” in an architectural neighborhood. sense of course, because that’s how we’re listed on the Historic Since moving to Elizabeth in Elizabeth Neighborhood 2015 with our two boys (aged 1 and 4 at the time), she’s the one Foundation (HENF) survey. who has volunteered her time to My home would not have been serve on the ECA board, the Land allowed to exist under LHD Use and Development committee, rules. The home I designed for THE PEOPLE PAGES

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our family on a vacant lot at if some supporters might also 421 Pecan Avenue (next to the be interested in having these comic book store) was born in aesthetic controls over the response to our location in the decisions our neighbors make. neighborhood: next to and across My family’s home (and many from two bustling commercial others) quite simply do not strips, backing up to a parking comply with the LHD’s design lot and facing a busy street. So standards. So I cannot help but no, I did not design a bungalow. take it personally when I walk I designed our home to meet past a sign in a neighbor’s yard our family’s needs in a style that that, in my mind, may as well we liked and within a budget we read, “We don’t want your home could afford. The freedom to do here, and we’re rallying a vote to so was a major attraction to join keep people like you out.” this neighborhood.

Perhaps that sounds extreme, At HENF’s LHD meeting but speaking as your neighbor, on Mar. 16 supporters made a this is exactly how it feels to see persuasive argument to keep the these signs every day. For the scale of the neighborhood intact first time in my eight years in – to make sure development is Elizabeth, we feel unwelcome. more “considered” and to put up Though my family’s home may guardrails to protect us from “the be non-contributing, the people worst.” But if these are in fact the inside it most certainly aren’t. goals, there is another perfectly And we are of the belief that viable method to achieve them it’s been the diverse, energetic, – one that other neighborhoods creative and forever-evolving in North Carolina have already residents that have made put in place. It’s called a Neighborhood Character Overlay Elizabeth such a great place to District (NCOD), which limits its live. Let’s keep it that way. reach to only these concerns.

A generation ago, historic Perhaps some or even many of you are unaware of this option (as I was until recently).

With an NCOD, Elizabeth could control building heights, setbacks and parking for new development without also ceding near complete aesthetic control of our homes to an unelected government board.

HENF’s pursuit of LHD instead of NCOD makes me question 12

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It didn’t last long. The council approved the Elizabeth Historic District in November 1995. A week later, one resident sued to stop it. And in 1997, a Superior Court judge ruled the ordinance creating the district “null and void,” officially ending the effort.

“It was like the air had been taken out of the balloon,” Lee Fazzi, whose wife, Chris Burns-Fazzi, was president of the Elizabeth Community Association, said. “We knew it was DOA at that point.”

Now, a quarter-century later, some residents are again pushing to make Elizabeth a historic district. Like the first time, there are neighbors on both sides.

Proponents want to protect the character of the neighborhood.

Critics again cite property rights, red tape and added costs for opposing it.

But there are differences The ECA favored the historic district in 1995. The board then voted unanimously to pursue it, according to city documents.

But in 2021, the board voted designation for Elizabeth 10-1 to reject a proposal to comes – and goes work with the Historic Elizabeth

by Jim Morrill Neighborhood Foundation to advance the effort. The ECA’s The last attempt to make three most recent presidents Elizabeth a Historic District oppose it. In 1995 opponents was marked by battles over formed the Elizabeth Heightsproperty rights, petition Rosemont Association and deadlines and two words in a mounted a petition drive. But legal ad. In the end, proponents Burns-Fazzi said there had been won on a tie-breaking vote by wide support for the historic the Charlotte mayor. district in the ‘90s.

“I felt that it was overwhelmingly supported,” she recalls.

“There were some people who didn’t support it because they thought it would be an infringement on their rights. But they were few and far between.”

One issue in 1995 was the city’s legal notice about the proposed district. In describing the affected property, the notice described an area “bounded by” Independence Boulevard, Central and Kenmore avenues and the Seaboard Railroad rightof-way. Ray Warren, who with his wife owned property on the west side of Kenmore, said at the time that he believed the wording was vague. He believed his property

was outside the proposed district. at least one developer who owned multiple properties. Some saw “It was not very well hardball politics involved. explained,” he said recently.

“The Elizabeth association at the time, we felt, was very much steamrolling it.”

Another issue involved a so-called protest petition. The petition originally had the signatures of enough property owners to trigger the need for approval from three-quarters of the city council as opposed to a simple majority. Protest petitions had to be signed by owners of at least 20% of all the land in the proposed district. (That process is no longer in use). But some people who’d signed the petition began taking their names off, including

“I will keep you informed of any additional contact I have with anyone from either the ‘North’ or the ‘South’ in this notso-Civil War!” a city staffer wrote the city attorney.

By October 1995, enough people had withdrawn their names to fall below the 20% land threshold needed to trigger the three-quarter vote by council. By the time other people wanted to sign it, the city said the deadline had passed. That meant a simple majority of council would decide.

In November 1995, the council voted. The result:

After 10 p.m. on Feb. 22, an SUV came barreling down East 8th Street toward Hawthorne Lane and, after narrowly navigating the traffic circle at Lamar, proceeded to sideswipe five cars parked on the west side of 8th before coming to a halt in the yard of 1710 E. 8th St. Afterward, the driver of the SUV got out and expressed surprise at what happened. No one was injured, but most – if not all – of the five cars were totaled. Photo by John McBride

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A short recap of recent HENF events

by Clifton Settlemyer

Mar. 23: The HENF board and District 1 City Council member Dante Anderson had the opportunity for a question and Editor’s note: Clifton Settlemyer answer session with the HDC on is president of the Historic Elizabeth the upcoming LHD process.

Neighborhood Foundation (HENF).

Apr 20: The second The views and opinions in this article community informational do not necessarily reflect the official meeting held by the HENF policy of the ECA. focused on the process for obtaining certificates of Much work still needs to appropriateness (COAs.) Under be done, but the HENF board LHD, property owners would be believes it is on track to achieve a required to obtain a COA before A week after the council vote, Local Historic District (LHD) for making changes to the exterior of Warren – then a Superior Court Elizabeth by the first quarter of their properties. HENF presented judge – sued to withdraw his 2024. Here is a quick timeline of nine case studies from the HDC property. Among other things, recent milestones. archives that illustrated the the suit said not letting more process from small to large.

Mar. 5: HENF submitted its people sign the protest petihistoric district application to tion after the deadline marked Apr. 29: HENF was at the the Charlotte Historic District an unfair “one way street” for Elizabeth 8K Road Race with a supporters. But the district took Commission (HDC). Among promotional table. The weather other documents it included was perfect for the runners. The effect. Cynthia Drum, who still a survey of every building in ECA volunteers’ organizational lives on 5th Street, was one of Elizabeth prepared by Susan talents were remarkable. Our two people who represented V. Mayer of SVM Historical volunteers handed out stickers Elizabeth on the city’s Historic Consulting.

Her report revealed and yard signs. Out-of-town District Commission. “We had all kinds of issues going on,” she that Elizabeth has lost over 200 visitors raved about Elizabeth’s beautiful old houses and lush recalled. “Every little thing has to historic buildings since 1988. tree canopy.

The application also proposed be approved.” a boundary for the district that May 10: HDC delayed a vote But in October 1997, Superior closely follows the National on the LHD application until Court Judge Richard Doughton Registry of Historic Places September.

If the application is formally ended the effort. Acboundary that was established approved, HDC will forward it to cording to The Charlotte Obfor Elizabeth in 1988. the State Historic Preservation server, he called the city’s legal Office (SHPO.) The state will rule Mar. 16: The first community notice “inadequate.” He also on it within 30 days. informational meeting held disputed the city’s decision to allow the withdrawal of protester by HENF was attended by an September: Voting by estimated 135 people. The signatures while not accepting property owners is planned to new ones. “It was a huge amount meeting introduced LHD to begin in late September. The the audience and the Unified of effort,” Burns-Fazzi said.

HENF will provide information Development Ordinance (UDO) on the voting process in advance “Nobody had the energy to try to do it again in pieces.” was discussed. of the actual voting.

a 5-5 tie, since one member was absent. Voting for it was one future mayor, Democrat Patrick Cannon; voting against it was another, Republican Pat McCrory. Breaking the tie in favor of the district was thenMayor Richard Vinroot, a Republican. (Republican Mike Jackson, who missed the vote, said later that he opposed historic designation. That would give council opponents a majority.)

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THE PEOPLE PAGES

More information is available at www.historicelizabeth.org

The proposed local historic district boundary, provided by the Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood Foundation.

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Remodeling your home?

There’s a state tax credit for that

by Mark Herrmann

rehabilitation.

• This is for non-income producing properties.

you have to have a floor plan of your existing home, photos, the suggested improvements with the new floor plan and a description of the work being done.

Regardless of total rehabilitation expenditure, If a deduction is available on Part B: The “request for the state Historic Preservation my taxes, I will take advantage of certification of completed work” it. Fortunately, the intersection Office will review all work for consists of photos documenting compliance with the Standards. of tax credits and preservation the rehabilitated property and of our home comes together An example is a renovation documentation that the building beautifully through the costing $250,000. Only the first contributes to a National North Carolina State Historic $150,000 is eligible: $150,000 x Register Historic District. No Preservation Office. In the 15% = $22,500. documentation is needed for span of our homeownership in properties individually listed on The state income tax rate is Elizabeth, we have personally 4.75% for 2023, so a family with the National Register. saved tens of thousands of earned income of $200,000 Fee payment is due with Part dollars in state taxes. We are would owe $9500 in state income A and B applications, based about to embark on our third taxes. Once the above project graduated fee schedule. renovation (hopefully last!). is completed, you can apply the Claiming the credit Overview $22,500 tax credit toward 2023 The credits cannot be claimed taxes, leaving $13,000 to be To qualify for the 15% tax against the cost of acquisition, applied to future years. credit, the requirements are new additions (volume increase), pretty simple: Application process site work or personal property.

• The rehabilitation of the Property owners are strongly Generally, costs incurred historic structure must exceed advised to consult with the state for rehabilitating the existing $10,000 within a 24-month Historic Preservation Office structure will qualify as period. before beginning a rehabilitation rehabilitation expenses. In our • Eligible rehab expenses to resolve potential design and case, years ago we “popped the must be incurred within the rehabilitation problems that top” converting a bathroom, defined 24-month period, could result in the denial of the bedroom and closet into a much though the overall project may credits. larger space. The location of take longer than 24 months. the exterior walls didn’t change.

There is a two-step tax credit • Eligible rehabilitation We simply made better use of application process. expenses are limited to the perimeter to maximize the Part A: The “description $150,000, with a maximum tax interior. of rehabilitation” consists credit of $22,500.

The tax credits must be of detailed descriptions of • Taxpayers may undertake claimed the year the remodeling existing conditions and the one rehabilitation project every proposed work, overall before is completed and placed back in five years for this program. rehabilitation photos and plans service. Any unused credits from year one may be carried forward or drawings, as needed, to • All rehabilitation work for the following nine years. fully describe the scope of the must meet the secretary of the interior’s standards for rehabilitation project. For this Credits may be transferred 16

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with property so long as transfer of property occurs before the structure is placed in service.

My contacts at the preservation office were: Brett Sturm, brett.sturm@ncdcr.gov and Mitch Wilds, mitch.wilds@ ncdcr.gov.

Mark Herrmann has been an Elizabeth resident for over 28 years.

He can be reached at markh@ carolinaadvisory.com Water pressure good?

Thank the Tank

by Lois Stickell Seventeen years ago the City of Charlotte contracted to dismantle four water towers.

Three were demolished. However, the decision was made to keep the fourth because Charlotte had experienced significant growth in the late 1990s and 2000s, including infill development.

connected to city water. That night it was filled with a chlorine solution, which firemen flushed with hoses before the tower was put into service. From that point on, through the miracle of gravity, thousands had consistent water That water tower still stands pressure no matter how many at the corner of Pecan Avenue people were using the system. and East Eighth Street. Charlotte The stabilized pressure also Water’s official name for it is the ensured optimal fire protection Pecan Avenue Tank but most in for the public and continues to the neighborhood know it as the do so today.

Elizabeth Water Tower.

The Elizabeth Water Tower Construction on the 150-foot- was built during the Great tall steel tower took place quickly. Depression when surrounding The contract was awarded in the houses on side streets were summer of 1937 and the tower typically small bungalows. was completed nine months Grander residences lined later. On March 28, 1938, it was Clement and Seventh.

The neighborhood icon watches over a trio of stores in this photo from the late 1940s.

Photo courtesy of Millican Pictorial History Museum - MillicanPictorialHistoryMuseum.com THE PEOPLE PAGES

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Page A. McCleary, chief clerk for Southern Railway, could see the tower take shape from his vantage point at 2016 E. Eighth St., a house that still sits just below the water tower.

Real estate developer J. P. Hackney’s large house with wraparound porch, where Pecan Point is today, also had a front row seat. The Hackney house is long gone, but other buildings from the era remain, some repurposed. In 1938, residents purchased groceries at the A&P where Crunkleton’s now sits and picked up prescriptions at Stanley’s Drug Store, now a Starbucks.

In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, a person or persons unknown clandestinely climbed the water tower and painted “Stanleyville, U.S.A.” in huge letters. The area was broadly known as Stanleyville because of Stanley Drugs. Although the city painted over the lettering, some disappointed supporters held a benefit concert to raise money to re-paint the name Stanleyville on the water tower. The director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department warned that was illegal and would be considered vandalism.

Eventually, Stanley Drugs closed and even the “state of mind” known as Stanleyville has faded.

One rare piece of concrete evidence is the remnant of a small sign near the back door of Starbucks.

THEofPEOPLE 18 The state mind knownPAGES as Stanleyville has faded. Photo by John McBride

Today the Elizabeth Water dependent metro in the US. carbon footprint, how I am saving the planet, blah blah blah. Yes, Tower is one of 11 Charlotte water The new transit plan hopes I am a blast at parties. All of this towers. The tank’s one million to add 90 miles of rapid transit. gallons of water is turned over The goal: get single car ridership while letting traffic be somebody daily to assure the highest quality down to 50%. Our neighborhood else’s burden. water. It is inspected and cleaned is a model of what is envisioned This is not my fastest option. every two to three years. A metal for the Charlotte 2040 The inbound 27M bus stops fence surrounding the tower is Comprehensive Plan, with five outside my door. Taking the bus decorated with artwork. streetcar stops on our doorstep. would save me twenty to thirty But not everyone is taking minutes, but it’s frequently Although the water tower advantage of the streetcar.

So my standing room only by the time may seem a vestige of the past, it goal in writing this is to maybe, it gets to Elizabeth. Additionally, continues to serve the community. Each night, water treatment just maybe, get you to consider a CATS has had some reliability different way. issues (and bad press) with operators fill the tanks to prebuses showing up late or not at pare for your morning shower.

Getting transit to work for the City of Charlotte means first all. Meanwhile my experience Special thanks to Cam Coley with the Gold Line has been of Charlotte Water for providing getting it to work for Elizabeth. positive. It is reliable and oninformation for this article. And My morning commute? We time. Knock on wood. a tip of the ECA newsletter hat live at the Elizabeth Station Some balk at the bus. My to longtime Elizabethan Mike Apartments, the tacky orange experience has been trains and Watson for this story idea. and blue (go Clemson?) buildbuses that are clean and well ings just up the hill from Lupie’s Why I use the Gold Line Cafe. My destination is Optimist maintained. The rail fleet is allstreetcar for my daily Hall, five days a week. I leave no electric, and much of the bus commute fleet is hybrid. Eighteen buses later than 7:20 a.m. and walk to

by Chaz Hinkle Hawthorne. The streetcar arrives in a new pilot program are 100% around 7:45, and from there it’s electric. Charlotte’s Strategic Stuck in traffic on 7th Street? 15 minutes to the transportation Energy Action Plan calls for an There is a safe and reliable alter- center. After a short wait (10 all-electric fleet by 2030. native: the Gold Line streetcar minutes or less), I transfer to the Each one-way trip is $2.20. operated by the Charlotte Area Blue Line, arriving three stops While you can buy physical fare Transit System (CATS) – and it’s later at Parkwood Station around cards, most people choose to use not just for getting to concerts 8:15. I am at my desk by 8:20. the CATS pass phone app. You and weekend sporting events.

I know what you are thinking: buy virtual passes in advance. A According to the city’s button in the app activates your “That’s an HOUR! I could drive Charlotte MOVES Task Force pass, and you have 90 minutes to that in TEN MINUTES!” Yes, report from 2020, three start your journey. Seniors, the you could. But I would make an quarters of commuters drove disabled, and school children argument in favor of the quality solo to work. Another study of my commute. The walk, seeing cost $1.10. You can also purchase published in 2022 by Compare neighbors – it’s a nice way to start weekly or monthly unlimited Car Insurance estimates an the day. I can hotspot my phone passes. The Gold Line is still free astounding 89% and ranked for now. Some employers, like and connect my laptop. And I Charlotte as the sixth most car get all self-righteous about my mine, cover transit costs.

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THE PEOPLE PAGES 20 The Sunnyside Avenue station is the eastern terminus of the Gold Line. Photo by John McBride

As far as schedules are concerned, everything is on the CATS website, but your best bet is Google Maps or the CATS app.

The rule of thumb for the Gold Line is easy: Every 20 minutes starting at 6 a.m., until midnight, 8 a.m. on weekends. Blue Line trains are every 15 minutes during the weekday rush, 20 minutes otherwise.

Not everyone is back in the office yet, and may never be.

And transit isn’t going to work for everyone. Even as a transit cheerleader, I drive into the office every Tuesday.

But transit can work for many people some of the time. And I would argue as we continue to pull our hair out regarding traffic, we all have a role to play in shaping the transportation future, not just of our community, but of the city. Even if everybody tried it just once a week, that adds up.

Nakato, a traditional hibachi restaurant, in 1976 (Ted still owns the University City location). Growing up, his family’s restaurants gained a reputation for quality, authenticity and traditional Japanese cooking.

Ted’s culinary journey continued in Portland, OR, where he spent six years managing a farm-totable Japanese restaurant. And in 2019, Ted and his partner/ executive chef Vince Tien began to conceptualize what would one day become Menya Daruma.

“Ramen is noodle soup that originated in China and was brought over to Japan over 150 years ago,” Ted shared. “Over the years it has become a staple of Japanese food culture, where ramen shops can be found on every street.”

“Menya” means noodle shop in Japanese. And Daruma is a doll that is a cultural icon in Japan, a symbol of good fortune and perseverance often given as a gift to friends and family.

When Sandwich Max left its 7th Street location in December 2021, it took perseverance just for Menya to get open.

“We jumped at the space, and had been eyeing Elizabeth since 2019… Sourcing and construction delays were our biggest challenges. Equipment especially,” says Ted. Menya’s open kitchen concept may feel unique to Charlotte, but in Japan it’s the standard for noodle shops. All cooking and service is done from the inside out. Diners order from

Menya Daruma brings authentic Japanese ramen to Elizabeth

by James Webb Ted Nakato, owner of Menya Daruma, describes ramen quite simply: “It’s a noodle soup that is popular in Japan.” But after listening to Ted describe his journey and love for authentic Japanese cuisine, I learned that good ramen is anything but simple. Ted grew up in Charlotte, and grew up in restaurants. His grandmother and father opened THE PEOPLE PAGES Ted Nakato (right) at work in Menya Daruma.

Photo

by Ryan Allen

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their phones, and the staff as a collective cook, serve and clean.

Ted says their most popular dishes are the Tonkotsu ramens.

Another element brought over The base is a rich pork bone broth, simmered for 18 hours. from Japan: self-service water stations at each table. The decor Its origins are from southern Japan, an area he characterized is also traditional, and includes as agricultural with lots of hog yakisugi (burnt cypress), a wood production.

Ted imported as a finishing This summer, be on the material, giving Menya its lookout for a few seasonal dishes authentic Japanese character. to be added to the menu. And The streamlined aesthetic car- stay tuned for the opening of ries over to the menu. Ted says he Kappo En, a 10-seat Omakasebelieves that there is confusion style dining experience with and clutter when a menu is too bar seating wrapping around a broad. So their team has focused flat top grill. Kappo En will be on “simple ingredients, flavor, located in a private room in the authenticity and traditional back of Menya, and there will be methods for making the stock, two seatings a night. It will be seasonings and noodles. a completely different concept than Menya Daruma, but Ted “Some of our bone broths says it will remain authentic simmer for 18 hours before they’re ready. We let our noodles and approachable – just like Elizabeth. rest overnight, so they’re the proper texture,” says Ted. How many finger puppets Menya’s abura soba (dry make a world record? noodles) are thicker and have

by Cheralyn Lambeth more texture than the noodles you’re probably accustomed to.

I’ve been a resident of ElizaThey’re very flavorful and Ted beth for many years and greatly strives for them to be light on enjoy our beautiful neighborhood. I travel fairly often with the stomach. Menya uses a high work and am sometimes gone for quality flour with a consistent days or weeks at a time. But I’m protein level that has helped always glad to return home to them perfect their noodles.

Vail Avenue and catch up with all Everything at Menya is made that goes on in our community. in-house, whereas many ramen shops buy frozen broth or don’t All that changed in 2020, make their own noodles. Menya when – like so many others – also serves pork and incredible my travels came to a grinding fried chicken sandwiches, if halt, thanks to the pandemic. you’re looking for something Luckily, I was able to continue other than noodles. partly working at home, but my 22

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traveling days were over (at least for the moment). I found myself at home with unexpected time on my hands.

For someone who’s constantly on the run, it was hard staying put in one spot. I started looking for ways to keep myself occupied.

Sure, I could have caught up on chores around the house, but what fun is that?

I’ve always enjoyed doing crafty things. Part of my work is creating costumes, props and puppets for film and television.

I soon realized this might be the perfect opportunity to start a project I’d had in the works for some time: building a side business creating simple puppet ideas that children (and even adults!) could make/perform at home. I started creating various puppets from felt scraps and googly eyes and even “found” objects from around the house – spoons, paper bags, etc.

I shared my puppet-building ideas on social media with others who were caught at home in need of a creative outlet. As I worked on my patterns and prototypes, I realized I had built up a sizable collection, and I had to wonder what the current Guinness World Record number was for the largest collection of puppets.

While there was no record for puppets in general, I learned that the record for finger puppets at that time was 359. Realizing I had far more than that, I decided to apply to break the current record.

My application was accepted, As before, it took several and I spent the next few months months for Guinness to rephotographing my collection, spond. But in November, 2022, video-documenting my progress, I received the email informing and broadcasting my first attempt me that I had, indeed, broken on WCCB’s “Wilson’s World” in the world record. This gave me February, 2021. an incredible sense of accomplishment at having built Once I submitted my something good out of someevidence, it took several more months for Guinness to respond thing as hard as the pandemic.

I received my certificate soon asking for further documentaafter and, for a while at least, I tion. Since by that point I had added even more puppets to my was officially the record holder for the World’s Largest Colleccollection, I decided to break tion of Finger Puppets. my own initial attempt, repeating the process of submitting my evidence and airing my second attempt in June 2022 with a grand total of 563 finger puppets.

Unfortunately, records are made to be broken. My record was broken by an Illinois man on Jan. 1 of this year. The new record is 1,517. But not for long!

Elizabethan Cheralyn Lambeth used pandemic free time to create a world record in finger puppets.

Photos by Cheralyn Lambeth

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Bike lane mural coming to Hawthorne Bridge

by Pam Imhof

both the natural and industrial potential subject matter and elements of our city. It is my design elements via surveys and hope that this project inspires community meetings. There will more people to get involved with also be at least one community Hello, Elizabeth neighborthe preservation of elements that paint day planned where anyone hood! My name is Pam Imhof and make our city unique. can join in to help me contribute over the summer and fall of this For the first installment of the to the mural. year, I will be painting part of the mural, I will be focusing on part I’m really looking forward Hawthorne Bridge bike lane. of the nature concept with the to bringing the community of The concept includes one side hope of receiving more funding representing the nature of North from the city to continue the project in the future.

Carolina and Charlotte and the other side representing the The first part will include industrial side of Charlotte. animals, flowers and insects na-

Elizabeth together with this project and enhancing the already beautiful neighborhood.

For more updates on the Hawthorne Bridge bike lane mural tive to the state. I will be seeking project, you can follow me on The purpose of this concept is to promote the preservation of input from the community about Instagram @theleftbrainedartist.

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Left: some of the concept images by Pam Imhof for the bike lane mural project.

This page: a gorgeous hydrangea bush dropping petals.

Photo by PAGES John McBride THE PEOPLE 25

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