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CaroLinks’ Orangeburg plans to create ‘mini-city’
By Dan McCue
Staff Writer
Although still reportedly weeks away from closing on an 800-acre parcel near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 26, CaroLinks, the Charleston-based intermodal and real estate development company, has firmed up plans for the site.
Richard Weiser, president of the Weiser Companies, the driving force behind the hugely successful Centre Pointe development in North Charleston and CaroLinks’ partner on the Orangeburg project, said the land will be developed over about 10 years, and the site will ultimately be home to several distribution centers, light manufacturing, a hotel, a major truck stop, retail and office space.
“It’s going to be a mini-city,” he said, adding that the retail and office components won’t come to fruition until late in phase three of the multi-phased development plan.
“I think the area has to mature a bit, in terms of development, before we’ll be ready to go in that direction,” Weiser said.
He went on to say that while no residential development is planned in conjunction with the CaroLinks project, it’s likely other developers are already planning to build housing in what is rapidly becoming a highly prized development area.
Just last month, the Orangeburg County Council unanimously approved a resolution in support of a project identified only as “Project Woodland.” Although the resolution states that the project is about the same size and in the approximate location as the one that’s been floated by CaroLinks, county officials took great pains to say that the two projects are distinct and complementary.
Project Woodland will consist of a convention hotel and meeting space, a signature golf course with amenities, residential and condominium properties, as well as retail and commercial development.
The resolution also states the triangular area in eastern Orangeburg County, which is formed by the intersections of I-95, I-26 and U.S. Highway 301 and referred to as the Global Logistics Triangle, is projected to become a “regional hub of economic activity.”
There are about 2,000 acres in the triangle that have been identified as suitable for development.
CaroLinks holds an option for 800 acres owned by Jim Roquemore, president of Orangeburg-based Super Sod Inc., and Ben Copeland, CEO of Patton Seed Co.
CaroLinks will likely have a series of major announcements to make about the property in the latter part of June, Weiser said.
Right now the company is focusing on discussions with the county and other entities about the creation of infrastructure at the site, a massive endeavour in and of itself that will be the thrust of the first phase of development.
Once that work is largely complete, the partnership, a joint venture between CaroLinks Real Estate Development LLC and Weiser Links LLC, will set about creating 15.8 million square feet of industrial space, Weiser said.
“You have to make hay when the sun is shining,” Weiser said of the task of balancing major ongoing projects in North Charleston, Orangeburg, Virginia and Hawaii.
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