Friday, Aug. 14, 2009

Scrutiny of research campus increases

Lawmaker to meet with university officials, take ‘a closer look at the whole matter’

A key member of the S.C. House of Representatives said Thursday he is starting an informal inquiry into Innovista, USC’s struggling research campus.

Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, chairman of the education subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he has scheduled a meeting with USC officials to be briefed on Innovista.

The inquiry indicates Innovista’s troubles have stoked concern even among its supporters in the General Assembly.

USC last week fired its second private development partner, Kale Roscoe, because the Michigan developer couldn’t land financing for a private research building that is three years overdue.

The firing came amid a public airing of Roscoe’s past legal problems, including felony tax evasion, and questions of whether he had been properly vetted by the university.

“I am aware of the situation,” Limehouse said. “But I am going to be taking a closer look at the whole matter.”

Ted Moore, USC vice president for finance and planning, said Limehouse is being “invited” to come but offered no other comment.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, said Innovista’s progress would be more heavily examined during budget hearings in January and February. Harrell has been a front-line supporter of Innovista and Columbia’s and USC’s efforts to establish a new, high-tech economy based on fuel cell and hydrogen research.

“We would expect them to be held to the same high standard that we hold all other entities during our budget hearing proceedings,” said Greg Foster, Harrell’s spokesman. Limehouse, as a subcommittee chairman, “should look into any matter like this that is of concern.”

The university has spent more than $100 million building two public research buildings — Horizon I and Discovery I — and their accompanying parking garages. The vast majority of that money is local, state and federal tax dollars.

Millions more have been spent establishing endowed chairs — three teams of special researchers — that will be housed in Innovista, as well as designing an “innovation district” and its waterfront park along the Congaree River.

Gov. Mark Sanford, who has criticized the amount of money spent by the state on both Innovista and the push to develop a hydrogen economy, also welcomed Limehouse’s inquiry.

“The governor has repeatedly raised concerns about Innovista, and we think Representative Limehouse is taking appropriate steps,” Sanford spokesman Ben Fox said. “We look forward to seeing his findings.”

The inquiry comes as Innovista faces a turning point.

Two public research buildings are up but only partially occupied. And two planned private buildings have yet to be built.

In light of the failure of two out-of-state private developers to get Innovista moving, USC president Harris Pastides last week told The State that the university will look closer to home for its next development partner.

Moore said using local developers working through the university’s foundations is one option being considered.

Reach Wilkinson at (803) 771-8495.

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