‘Pretty impressive year’: Rock Hill’s economic development has plenty to show the region
The room where Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation board members gathered for their annual meeting last week — the food hall at The Power House — makes for an easy metaphor for the city itself.
Busy, fresh, still a bit under construction but brimming with new possibilities in old, familiar places.
“This is absolutely a preview of what’s to come for this community,” Board Chair Matt Dosch said of the new food hall.
The economic development group wrapped up another fiscal year with a long list of large projects either announced, ongoing or online in the past 12 months.
“It’s a pretty impressive year,” said David Lawrence, Knowledge Park development manager.
Knowledge Park
Economic development leaders got a close look at Knowledge Park growth, from where they stood in The Power House. Food hall restaurants Flip Out Burger, Ms. Lillian’s Kitchen, Chilango Tacos Y Mas, Naroodle Chibi, Javesca Coffee Roasters and The Local Scoop served their first meals. There’s also Middle James Brewing Company, and plans for the Epic Prime steakhouse.
Just beside them were the 145-unit Easley at University Center apartment building and The Park at University Center, a parking deck with 19,000 square feet of retail space. The Thread will redevelop 325,000 square feet of downtown property on West White Street into office, retail, restaurants and up to 200 apartments. White Point Partners will redevelop the former Herald site on West Main Street and Dave Lyle Boulevard into office, retail and 300 apartments.
The Exchange brought more than 200 apartments and more at the former Good Motor site at East White Street and Dave Lyle. Hoppin’ will open a self-pour taphouse later this month along Dave Lyle, at 110 Southern St. A site at Lee and West White streets will add 88 townhomes.
Industrial development
Five manufacturing projects closed from October to March brought 493 new and 250 retained or expansion jobs, with more than half a billion dollars of announced investment. They will add more than 560,000 square feet of space.
The biggest is the $443 million Pallidus project in Waterford Business Park. STIWA US in the Porter Road corridor ($30 million) and Hymec Aerospace ($7 million) on Springdale Road are also new. Expansion at WorkSpace Resources in Aspen ($13 million) and Summit Stairs in TechPark ($10 million) will keep a combined 250 jobs in Rock Hill.
Aspen Business Park is a hot spot. It has sign maker SouthWood Corporation with 73 new jobs and $6.4 million of investment, and combat tourniquet maker CAT Resources with 200 jobs and investment of $10 million. RHEDC partnered with construction and development group Childress Klein on the 210-acre business park on Celanese Road, near the city airport.
I-77 Corridor
City planners are working now on a corridor plan along I-77 in Rock Hill. It runs from north of Anderson Road to the southern part of the city. The long-range planning project looks to identify area ripe for future industrial growth. A roughly 15,000-acre study area has the potential for 11 million square feet of new commercial space and 15,000 new jobs in the coming decade or two.
“When that happens,” city industrial recruitment director Rick Norwood said, “this whole corridor is going to explode.”
Clinton ConNEXTion
A focus on the south side of the city brings new development as part of the Clinton ConNEXTion. Recent additions include Surefire Neighborhood Market with its $120,000 investment on Ogden Road, and the $75,000 FARMacy Community Farmstop project on Crawford Road.
There’s a major redevelopment at Three Points at South End. A dilapidated grocery store shopping center came down to make way for planned grocery store, restaurants or retail space, business development center and more at Heckle Boulevard, Saluda Street and Albright Road.
‘Watch the south side’: Why this new development could preview the future of Rock Hill
Other area happenings include a $1.2 million investment at Clinton College where a new nursing program will begin this fall, a $9.4 million stormwater improvement grant, a $225,000 grant aimed at making broadband internet access more equitable, a York Technical College scholarship for programs at the Emmett Scott Recreation Center, a host of business efforts by the Black Economic Leadership League, a youth engagement program and a community ambassador program.
Clinton ConNEXTion projects aim to grow traditionally under-served areas, something economic leaders say is important for Rock Hill.
“It’s growing the right way,” Dosch said of the city.
