Richland leaders hope road projects will spark interest in Pineview Industrial Park

Richland County’s vision for an industrial park between Interstate 77 and the sprawling Lower Richland community could get a boost from upcoming road projects in the area, county leaders are hoping.

Over the past few years, the county has amassed more than 900 acres of undeveloped land between Pineview and Longwood roads, south of I-77, with a goal of attracting industrial business to the area.

With funds from the county’s transportation penny sales tax, construction will start this summer on the first phase of the $71.8 million Shop Road extension that will provide an access point through the interior of the property. The project should make Pineview a more attractive site to businesses looking for a site to locate, county leaders say.

“It’s going to be tremendous for that area,” said County Council Chairman Torrey Rush, who is a member of council’s economic development committee. “To extend Shop Road into that property is just going to open it up. It’s going to allow us to attract companies and increase jobs.”

Nearby Pineview Road also is set to be widened with penny tax funds, along with Atlas Road and portions of Shop and Bluff roads farther north of the property.

The cornerstone of the planned Pineview park is some 200 acres of land the county had hoped would be the new site of the State Farmers Market when it moved from Bluff Road in 2010. Lexington County was instead chosen to host the new market, and Richland County has been building onto that original land base in recent years in hopes of making it an industrial destination.

Logically, it makes sense for industry to locate in that area, said Jeff Ruble, the county’s economic development director. Ruble cited numerous factors that should make Pineview attractive to industrial companies: proximity to the interstate, two railroad lines and infrastructure that includes water, sewer and natural gas.

 

Pineview, Shop and Bluff roads have been havens for industry for decades.

The city’s first industrial park, Columbia Industrial Park, developed on Bluff Road more than four decades ago. And adjacent to the county’s Pineview property, a conglomeration of manufacturers anchored by American Italian Pasta Co. comprise another, privately owned industrial park.

But despite its selling points, the county has yet to lure any tenants to Pineview, though Rush said some companies have shown interest.

Ernie Williams, one of the owners of the nearby Micalline Products on Pineview Road, said he has certainly seen other manufacturing businesses join his in the area over the years — but he also has seen numerous businesses leave the area.

“I don’t know how desirable this land is,” said Williams, whose company cuts granite and marble for home projects. “If you drive up and down these roads, you’ll see there’s a lot of land available for all kinds of businesses, and it’s not filled up.”

One mark against Richland County, Ruble said, is that its taxes are generally higher than in neighboring counties, which could discourage some companies. But there are incentives to help offset the tax burden, Ruble said.

Snagging a big industrial tenant or a number of smaller ones at Pineview would help grow the county’s tax base, relieving some of the property tax burden on other businesses, Ruble said.

Generally speaking, industrial parks bring numerous benefits to communities and regions, state Department of Commerce spokeswoman Adrienne Fairwell said. The Department of Commerce helps connect prospective companies with some 400 available sites throughout the state.

“There’s a huge economic impact when a company chooses a particular community,” Fairwell said. “We love to say ... when a company locates, they are looking to become a community partner. So with that particular mindset, companies will locate where it feels right and where they can incorporate themselves into that community.”

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Richland leaders hope road projects will spark interest in Pineview Industrial Park."