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2 <br />Jay Miller to consider Murphey School for designation into the Local Landmark Program, thus <br />initiating the application process. Mr. Miller's application materials were forwarded to the State <br />Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for review and comment. The HPC received a favorable <br />response from the SHPO staff (Attachment #3) at its December meeting. The HPC concurred <br />with the SHPO's evaluation — that the application materials were complete and that "the <br />Murphey School has the requisite special significance and integrity for local landmark <br />designation" (Attachment #4). At that same meeting, the HPC scored the Murphey School <br />highly on its historic site evaluation form and voted unanimously to request a public hearing with <br />the BOCC, as required by Section 3.7 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance. <br />Murphey School was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 2009 <br />under Criteria A for its association with statewide efforts to improve education, and Criteria C for <br />its distinctive architecture. Named for North Carolina's "Father of Public Education" Archibald <br />D. Murphey, Murphey School was constructed in 1923 as part of the early twentieth century <br />consolidated school movement. Well- preserved, the rectangular one -story brick building <br />features elements of the Classical and Spanish Revival styles. An auditorium was added to the <br />west side of the building in 1936 and fronted with a two -story classical Doric portico (temple <br />front). The building was designed by Henri Colvin Linthicum, a specialist in school design and <br />partner with his father in the architectural firm of Linthicum and Linthicum. A handful of <br />outbuildings survive on the property dating to the first half of the twentieth century, including a <br />1923 frame bungalow that served as the teacherage. <br />Though primarily honorary in nature, designation programs remain the most powerful tool to <br />promote historic preservation at the local level. With the County's design standards adopted <br />(October 5, 2010), the HPC is eager to promote the local landmark program more diligently to <br />further identify and protect the County's most significant cultural assets. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with the public hearing. Should the <br />Board adopt the proposed ordinance designating Murphey School as a Local Landmark, the <br />owner of the property would be eligible for the 50- percent property tax deferral. <br />(Mr. Miller purchased the Murphey School in 2009. The assessed value of the property at that <br />time was $181,820; the total property tax bill due on September 1, 2008 was $1,981.20. The <br />current (post renovation) assessed value of the Murphey School property is $533,207. This <br />year's property tax bill due on September 1, 2010 was $4,969.31. Should Mr. Miller apply for <br />the 50- percent property tax deferral, the property tax bill would be approximately $2,485.00. <br />This equates to an approximate $500 net gain for the County tax base.) <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board 1) receive public comment <br />on the application and the draft designation ordinance for Murphey School, and 2) refer the <br />designation ordinance to the Historic Preservation Commission for its recommendation. The <br />HPC will forward its formal recommendation back to the Board of County Commissioners for the <br />Board's April 19th meeting. <br />