Office Park to Diversify Lancaster County Work Force-$70 Million Project May Draw 2,500 Jobs
Lancaster County is getting its first office park, a $70 million
development expected to draw about 2,500 white-collar jobs to the area in the
next five to 10 years.
The park, to be developed by the Crosland Group, will occupy a 67-acre site
on U.S. 521 next to the N.C./S.C. line, about 21/2 miles south of Ballantyne
Country Club in the fast-growing Indian Land area. It will offer 700,000
square feet of office space and an opportunity for Lancaster County to
diversify employment and boost its commercial tax base.
"This project marks a metamorphosis in Lancaster County," said County
Administrator Chap Hurst, praising the managerial, clerical and administrative
job opportunities this project is expected to create. "Any community in this
state is measured by the type of jobs it can provide its citizens."
Currently, the job base in Lancaster County is overwhelmingly
manufacturing, said Ray Gardner, president of the Lancaster County Economic
Development Corp.
Officials are excited about the office park because, among other reasons,
it won't require as much of the county's water and sewer system or place as
much strain on the environment as a manufacturing plant would.
No tenants have contracted to locate in the new park, which will be called
521 Corporate Center, but Crosland representatives said at a press conference
Tuesday they are negotiating with two prospects that could bring the park's
first 120 jobs by September 2001.
The county agreed to lock the current millage rate for the office park,
exempting it from any future increases for 20 years, Hurst said.
Hal Stone of the S.C. Department of Commerce said other, less tangible
enticements - such as proximity to Charlotte, Charlotte/Douglas International
Airport and Ballantyne - also factored heavily into the deal. "It's great
having those things," Stone said, "and not having to pay for any of
them."
Reach Amy French at (803) 327-8506 or afrench@charlotteobserver.com.
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