Orangeburg County is planning to develop a new industrial park at U.S. Highway 301 near the Interstate 26 interchange.

The county plans to develop the 242-acre park behind the 7-Eleven travel center currently under construction near Exit 154.

The project, which includes about 162 developable acres, is identified as the Shamrock Commerce Center. The park will be served by the City of Orangeburg’s Department of Public Utilities with power, water, gas and sewer.

According to Orangeburg County tax records, the property is currently owned by Super Land Holdings LLC. The registered agent is James W. Roquemore.

County development officials declined to provide much comment on the planned industrial park, but the project took a step forward last month when Orangeburg County Council announced an unidentified company is planning to invest $25 million in the construction of speculative building in the park.

The speculative building will be at least 500,000 square feet.

The company developing the speculative building is being identified under the code name Project Shamrock 2.0. The county has not released its name because it has asked to remain anonymous at this time.

“This is part of the due diligence and process,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said. “We will provide further information as the project develops.”

Robinson said the building will be purely a speculative building as there is no immediate prospect of a company locating in it.

“We build it so they will come,” Robinson said.

Orangeburg County Council unanimously passed a resolution to provide the speculative building project with a 30-year, fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement.

The developer has also asked for the project to be placed in a multi-county industrial park with Dorchester County. The multi-county industrial park is not a real park. It is an incentive mechanism designed to attract companies.

The industrial park and speculative building are planned for an area that is seeing some economic growth.

Earlier this year, QuikTrip Corporation cut the ribbon on a new, $7 million travel center located near the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park at the interchange.

The interchange also has a Love’s Travel Stop.

The county currently has seven industrial parks, according to the OCDC website.

Gov. Henry McMaster announced a proposal Thursday to accelerate existing plans to widen key portions of Interstate 26 between Charleston and Columbia.

The $360 million investment from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funding will accelerate the project by at least six years.

“We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make transformative investments in our state that will accelerate the growth of our state’s economy and improve the quality of life for South Carolinians, and I can think of no better place to start than speeding up the process of widening our most vital interstates,” McMaster said.

“Everywhere you look, South Carolina is growing – families and businesses are moving here and more people are visiting every day. We must have the infrastructure necessary to support that growth, and this investment would be a major step in that direction,” he said.

“Interstate 26 was built more than 60 years ago. Since that time, traffic has increased and this segment of South Carolina’s interstate network has become plagued with congestion, delays and accidents on a routine basis,” S.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Christy Hall said.

“It is time to widen Interstate 26. The previous plan was to stretch the 30 miles of widening work out in many phases through 2029/30 based on cash flows. This proposal utilizes a one-time funding boost of $360 million to pull the widening work forward, enabling the bulk of the widening to go to contract over the next 3-4 years, including some road work that is poised to start next year,” Hall said.

The widening project has previously been determined by SCDOT to be a high priority because of the state’s growth and increased traffic on I-26. In just the last decade, statewide traffic has increased by nearly 30% with I-26 between Columbia and Charleston carrying more than 22 million vehicles per year.

One eligible use of ARPA funds is the replacement of lost revenue a state experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South Carolina experienced $453 million in revenue loss and the governor is recommending that $360 million of it be used for this project.

This investment will be included in the governor’s final recommendations to the General Assembly on how ARPA funds should be invested in the state. The governor plans to issue his final recommendations, following several meetings of accelerateSC, in the coming weeks.

City officials anticipate Orangeburg Municipal Airport will receive almost $1 million in grants to expand the tarmac.

“This will allow for the parking positions of larger aircraft that visit the airport,” City Administrator Sidney Evering said. “It will also provide a platform for expanding the terminal area.”

The first phase of the two-phase project will cost $1.2 million.

The city anticipates the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will provide a $666,666 grant. About $318,000 will come from the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, with a $212,000 match from the city, Evering said.

City Council gave Evering the authority to sign the documents to proceed with the grant.

“This will expand the airport and we can have bigger planes to come,” Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said. “It is a big economic development expansion.”

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kalu Kalu said if the money does not come through, the burden would fall on the state and the city to make up the balance.

“We can’t make any guarantees,” Evering said. “The state has communicated they would do this.”

“I think this is a good calculated risk,” Butler said.

The city has wanted to expand the airport for a long time, Butler said. He also said FAA representatives have been to the airport and expressed their commitment to the project.

Evering said the city does have capital project sales tax funds that could be spent on the project should any commitments fall through.

“This will allow us more staging area for planes,” Airport General Manager Betty Baker said. “It will not only allow more staging area, but it also allows the opportunity to build more hangers and possibly more corporate-type hangars.”

Baker said the expansion will make the airport more attractive and will bring more individuals to Orangeburg.

“They add to the city’s economy,” Baker said. “They come in, they stay in hotels, they buy fuel, they eat at the restaurants. The more jets that our airport is taking care of, that means your community is growing in one way or another.”

The second phase of the project will complete the first phase and include new signs.

The tarmac expansion is just one of many projects ongoing at the airport.

The terminal is undergoing some minor renovations and the airport’s beacon tower is being repainted.

Baker said there is also a desire to revitalize the old airport hanger built in 1935.

The airport sees an average of about 25 planes fly in and out daily. About 32 aircraft are housed at the airport.

In other matters, council gave second reading approval to budgets for both the city and Department of Public Utilities.

Neither budget calls for a tax or rate increase. There were no changes to the city’s budget from first reading.

Details include:

• A 1% cost-of-living raise for all permanent full- and part-time employees and bonuses, with an amount to be determined by department heads. Merit increases will be awarded later in the fiscal year based on employee performance.

• There are no budgeted increases in business license rates.

• Residential and commercial sanitation fees are staying the same.

• Parks and Recreation Department rental fees will remain the same.

As part of its budget, DPU will look to maintain employee performance appraisals, with the potential for employee raises.

An amendment was made to the DPU 2021-2022 fiscal year budget prior to second reading with the addition of an assistant superintendent for the gas division.

DPU Manager Warren Harley said the new position is needed to ensure the division is adequately staffed following the retirement of division personnel in the coming years.

“They will not necessarily leave tomorrow but we will be ready for when they do leave,” Harley said.

Harley said the $75,000 to $105,000 allocated for the position includes all associated costs and does not just include the salary.

Council also gave second reading to an ordinance amending the city and DPU’s current fiscal year budgets.

In other matters:

• The Regional Medical Center Tri-County Health Network’s DeBorah Jamison informed council of a pilot program aimed at improving the health of the community.

Jamison said the network will form a Food Policy Council to ensure low-income communities in the area have access to healthy and nutritional foods.

“Some people actually buy their food from convenience stores because there are no grocery stores within walking distance,” Jamison said. “There are still pockets of food deserts.”

She cited Sprinkle Avenue, Goff Avenue and Glover Street as examples of some areas that are food deserts.

Jamison said the Food Council will target three big health challenges in The T&D Region: obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

Jamison requested council provide incentives to businesses that want to bring healthier foods to the area.

“We definitely want to see smaller stores that specialize in those healthy products,” she said.

• Council appointed Francis Fauling and Joseph L. Keitt to continue serving on the Hillcrest Golf Course Commission. The terms are for three years.

Councilman Jerry Hannah requested council look at diversifying the commission by having more females and younger people on the board.

The suggestion will be taken under consideration.

• Council reflected on the service of the late City Councilman Charles “Buddy” Barnwell. Barnwell served on council from 2001 to 2017.

“He was a tremendous advocate for the City of Orangeburg,” Butler said. “God bless you to the Barnwell family. Rest in peace Buddy.”

Barnwell died Aug. 17 at the age of 79.

• Council went into closed session to discuss an economic development project identified by the code name Project Shamrock. The project has been publicly identified as a 7-Eleven travel center on Five Chop Road near Interstate 26 Exit 154.

There are also plans to build an industrial park behind the travel center. The industrial park project has been code named Project Shamrock 2.0.

• Council met in closed session to discuss Evering’s six-month end of probation performance evaluation. Council also discussed a personnel matter related to the director of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety.

There were no actions taken on either matter.

An architectural design firm has presented the City of Orangeburg with three different possibilities for the redevelopment of Railroad Corner.

The possibilities range from complete building preservation to an entirely new development.

Each scenario calls for top-floor residential, ground-level retail/commercial, cultural/museum space and parking. They also call for green space and a walkable area.

“We need to think about the walkability of this site and to create a more inviting place between the university and downtown,” said Sarah Dickerson, a designer with the Perkins & Will Architecture Firm.

“Right now there are difficulties walking across the street and how do we make that a little bit easier for people who are walking this area,” she said.

Representatives of the North-Carolina-based Perkins & Will presented their proposals Thursday during a workshop session with city and community leaders

All three proposals would also make Boulevard Street into a one-way street and create a pedestrian retail plaza at the corner. Some discussions have also included the possibility of closing a section of Boulevard so it is used just for pedestrian traffic.

“There is the challenge of getting people on foot,” P&W Architect Malcolm Davis said. “We know that can be a challenge here.”

Davis said suggestions include an elevated walkway or bridge connecting both Claflin University and South Carolina State University to the corner.

“We have come to understand how the students are currently moving around maybe not in the safest of ways – some walk on railroad tracks and so forth that would scare most of their parents. It is happening,” Davis said.

Davis also said there could also be improvements at the intersection of Magnolia and Russell streets to make it more pedestrian friendly.

“All would require partnerships with the SCDOT … and railroad companies,” he said.

Davis said there have been some suggestions of having students cross near the current Claflin University Visitor Center and onto the Railroad Corner, or creating a “cultural trail.”

He said the cultural trail could serve as an interpretative historical trail starting on the campus of South Carolina State University, going through Claflin or along Magnolia Street to the Railroad Corner.

Davis said the trail could mimic the paths students used to take during civil rights protests and other movements in the past.

“These are the ideas starting to flow of how we can answer the challenges and problem of getting students across in an elevated way with a potential of cultural opportunities,” Davis said.

Orangeburg city leaders have had their eyes set on revitalizing the historic Railroad Corner for many years.

The corner — which is traditionally defined as the area bounded by Russell, Treadwell and Boulevard streets — has often been called the “gateway” to the city and a key component in the future development of the downtown Orangeburg district.

Over the past four years, the city has purchased a number of properties on Railroad Corner to help lock down its plans for revitalization.

The city hired the University of North Carolina-Development Finance Initiative to walk it through the process of developing the property and to present the project to a private developer.

The purpose of Thursday’s mid-design council working session was to give an update on the progress of Railroad Corner and provide an opportunity for the elected officials, university leaders and representatives to give feedback concerning design and connectivity to the site.

Attendees split into small group discussions to discuss and reflect upon questions like:

• What are your initial reactions to the idea of turning Boulevard Street into a one-way street?
• What are your initial thoughts about a pedestrian bridge connecting the Railroad Corner to the universities?
• Do you have any feedback on the current proposed mix of uses on the site (cultural, retail, residential)?

Project officials stressed that any residential use intended for students would involve a partnership with the universities and stressed that the project is “not intended to compete in any way with current university revenue streams.”

“We want it to complement,” said Sonyia Turner, UNC-DFI’s project manager.

The general public did not participate in the group sessions but people encouraged to participate or ask questions of officials in attendance about the project.

Project developers are seeking first and foremost the preservation of buildings with historic facades if possible.

These include specifically The State Theater and the College Soda Shop. There have been discussions about locating an African American Civil Rights Museum at The State Theater.

Davis said the effort will aim to remember the importance of the corner and the civil rights movement.

“That is a proud story. We think there is a great, fertile ground in telling that story and using that nostalgic attitude – all the great things that happened with students and citizens in this town,” Davis said. “To talk very positively while still remembering that past history and how these things could be leveraged as a destination, if you will, between say Charleston and Columbia.”

The three proposed project development scenarios offered by P&W include:

• Preserve and infill: The primary objective is to preserve all the buildings on the site and restore them with targeted retail and commercial uses and overlaying the area with mixed uses and residential uses.

“It is holding the historic corner and getting it really back to the corner that was there,” P&W landscape architect Allen Pratt said.

He said there are additional tax credits that could be helpful under this scenario.

• Reuse and energize: The primary objective would keep some historic elements on the site, but not necessarily the buildings.

“It would reallocate building facades or foundations or materials in new and interesting ways that activate the site and give us a sense of nostalgia, maintain the sense of place and history, but give us the benefit of some new architecture,” Pratt said.

Pratt said this design would open up the site, creating walk-through opportunities with urban and plaza spaces combined with retail.

He said the design would allow individuals to walk to Railroad Corner or arrive to it as a destination.

• Regenerate and overlay: Building entirely new.

“Preservation may not ultimately be possible,” Pratt said. “Engineering, economics, structure and other things could come into play.”

Pratt said this design scenario would incorporate and maintain pedestrian areas and add a mixed-use development. He said there will be more flexibility when it comes to building footprints and parking.

“It is a scenario to consider, but it is a scenario where you have to be mindful about how the architecture takes shape and it does not lose that context and is grounded in site,” Pratt said.

He said even with a new build, the focus would be on the use of materials to “keep a sense of place.”

Turner said the project has created some buzz.

“There has been demonstrated interest from potential local tenants,” Turner said. “There has already been interest.”

Turner said there are two investment groups that have approached the city about the project. Turner did not provide specifics.

Thus far, the project has included a parcel analysis, a site-specific market analysis and the first phase of the public engagement process. It will soon enter the site-planning and financial-feasibility analysis.

Turner said market analysis has shown low market demand for retail, residential and office, and more market demand for affordable uses.

“We believe there is a strong case for investment for the Railroad Corner,” Turner said. “There is local, state and investor interest. We have seen similar projects like this be successful in other areas.”

She said there are signs of hope such as the new library and new city hall, as well as a proposed project at the All-Star bowling alley.

Public input has included the request for college-friendly activities, a museum, entertainment, recreation and dining.

“The community in Orangeburg is very invested about what happens on this corner,” Turner said.

After Thursday’s meeting, P&W will meet with city staff and pull together a conceptual design for Railroad Corner.

Then there will be more public engagement.

Orangeburg City Council will vote on the development plan. The plan will then be taken to a private development firm to build it out.

The completion of DFI’s site and financial feasibility study is expected in the fall and the second phase of public engagement is expected this winter.

Late 2021 or early 2022 is the target for solicitation of development partners, according to DFI.

City Administrator Sidney Evering said the city will strive to be as transparent as it can be throughout the whole process by continually engaging the public.

“This is a City of Orangeburg project,” Evering said. “That means that it includes everyone. The only way this project will be successful is to have your input, your feedback, your thoughts, your ideas, because ultimately this is your project.”

“We want this project to be transformative,” Evering said. “We want it to change and elevate the perception of Orangeburg. This project has the chance and will do that. It will be the linchpin of future development in Orangeburg. We want it to be a place where people from around the state, the world can come and visit.”

Orangeburg Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kalu Kalu said he envisions Railroad Corner as a key gathering place for students and the community such as Five Points in Columbia has become a gathering spot for University of South Carolina students.

He said the redevelopment is important to keep young professionals in Orangeburg.

“Orangeburg can be a big place and a great place to be,” Kalu said.

Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, asked if contiguous property owners and university officials have been engaged in the process.

Evering said the universities are engaged.

“They are an integral part of this project,” Evering said. “We want the students to leave campus and come here. One of the things we hear from the students is that there is nothing to do in Orangeburg. This is meant to change that. We want our students to stay here.”

Evering also said contiguous property owners are and will continue to be engaged.

The latest updates are available online at: orangeburg.sc.us/railroadcorner

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is set to improve the educational experience of students on campus and online with the update of its technological infrastructure.

OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin reported during an OCtech Area Commission meeting on Aug. 10 that the college has made investments in technology at the school.

“We have just made a significant investment in our technology and technology infrastructure. So ultimately all of our classrooms and board rooms will have up-to-date technology that we think provides a good academic experience for our students whether or not they’re online or face-to-face,” Tobin said.

Tobin said the college is also preparing for its five-year review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

“That report is due in September,” Tobin said “We’re slowly but surely putting that document together.”

“I think it’s important to mention again that our student success metric, which is a six-year completion rate, was the highest in the system. Horry-Georgetown (Technical College) was behind us, but we were only one point off of the national average. So kudos to the faculty and staff for their work,” the president said.

OCtech held its trio of summer graduation ceremonies July 29 at The Cinema in Orangeburg.

“We will continue with that fall, spring, summer graduation just because we’ve learned how valuable that experience is for our students and family members. We will be hopefully looking for bigger venues to host the graduation in the coming semesters,” he said.

The college also recently announced it is offering guaranteed free tuition this fall to South Carolina residents enrolled in at least six credit hours in an eligible career certificate, diploma or degree-seeking program.

“It is an opportunity for us to reduce the burden of going to college for our students,” Tobin said.

OCtech Vice President for Student Services Dr. Sandra Davis said federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund money was used to pay off balances students owed from the spring 2020 semester through the spring 2021 semester.

OCtech Vice President of Financial Affairs Kim Huff said, “We actually cleared 473 accounts for about $287,000.”

Also in his report, Tobin said the college would be restarting its Youth Apprenticeship initiative.

“We’ve identified some additional partners. OCtech took on some youth apprentices this spring and summer. We’ll continue that with the City of Orangeburg, the County of Orangeburg, Thermo King, Gibbes Ford. We’ve found some additional partners that will allow our students to get some back-to-work experience while they’re in school,” Tobin said.

He announced that the following faculty and staff members won peer-selected awards administered by the South Carolina Technical Education Association:

• Faculty of the Year – Dave Odom, engineering graphics instructor

• Staff of the Year – Youlanda Johnson, administrative assistant to the vice president of financial affairs

• Faculty Award for Teaching and Innovation Excellence – Billy Ethridge, dean of the college’s criminal justice department

• Faculty of the Year for Advising and Recruiting – Lynn Fralix, program coordinator for the college’s physical therapy assistant program

“In the summer I created four faculty/staff awards that are based on objective information,” Tobin said “Those folks get a monetary award, and we’re trying to figure out what kind of recognition we can provide to those folks.”

The president said the future of the college’s Fine Wines and Foods event, which is generally held in the fall, was also discussed at an OCtech Foundation board meeting on Aug. 9.

With the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, he said the board is not sure whether the event will be held this fall.

“I think folks are eager to gather and have a good time, but at the same time, we are keenly aware we need to keep folks safe,” he said. “We may be in a situation where that event is held possibly in the spring, or not at all. I think we just need to decide what the best route to take is, but at the same time making sure folks are safe and feel safe coming on campus.”

Tobin welcomed Cindy Garrick as the new executive assistant to the president. She previously served as the administrative specialist for the college’s vice president of academic affairs.

Academic affairs

OCtech Vice President of Academic Affairs Williette Waring Berry said the college’s fall orientation on Aug. 10 went well.

“The individual program sessions and the Early College sessions were well attended. We had a lot of questions. So we’re looking forward to starting the new academic year,” she said.

Richard Murphy, the college’s former dean of engineering and advanced manufacturing technologies, has been hired as the college’s assistant VP of academics.

“We want to welcome Richard aboard in his new position,” she said.

Student affairs

OCtech Vice President for Student Services Dr. Sandra Davis said nearly 200 students arrived on campus Aug. 10 for fall semester orientation, which was also held virtually.

“It was very refreshing to see so many of them on campus. That’s our first in-person orientation since fall of ’19 because of spring of 2020,” she said.

Davis said student refunds will also be delivered faster and more efficiently beginning this fall.

“We typically have had to print a check and mail a check to students if there was an overage of any kind left on their student accounts, but beginning this fall those funds will be delivered to those students by an EFT (electronic funds transfer),” she said.

She said the flow of paper forms would also be more streamlined through the college’s partnership with Dynamic Forms.

“One of the things that we learned when we had to go virtual March of last year was that we very heavily dependent upon students completing certain forms for different things that we need in student services. While we were able to provide them with those forms electronically, we’re looking to streamline that now a little bit more. We’re working with Dynamic Forms so it allows students to not only complete a form online, but also be able to submit it online,” she said.

Davis continued, “We are beginning to plan for some semester activities. … both virtually with some in-person activities as well.”

Finance

OCtech Vice President of Financial Affairs Kim Huff delivered a June finance report. The college reported revenue of $20.1 million at the end of June, with expenses standing at $18.7 million.

“It is not the final numbers. We still have year-end entries that are happening. July is a heavy month to do journal entries for the year end, even into August where we are now. So we’re getting closer, but there’s still a few more entries to be made,” Huff said.

Expenses were down from a budgeted $19.5 million, he said.

“We were blessed to have funds help us with the revenue side, but we were down in expenses,” Huff said. “So financially for the operating account, it was a very good year.”

The college is working to address grading issues around the nursing building.

“We’re getting close to having a contractor over there to fix some of those grading issues. Hopefully that will be the last piece of what we need to do for that building,” Huff said.

As far the health science building, he said, “We are in the middle of working on phase 1 with the architects.” The commission will be presented with some estimates on the project cost.

“We have capital project funds that could cover that, and we also have received for this year from the state maybe $3.9 million in deferred maintenance and renovation money. So we’ve got that project. We’ve got other projects that we need to do. It might be some shuffling of the funds to know what’s going to be used for what,” Huff said.

He said the college is also going to have an architect study the area for a potential student learning commons area and “give us some ideas on flooring, acoustics and lighting.”

Huff said the college received an additional $2 million in state funds to help purchase equipment and move its machine tool department to from Building J to Building T.

“Once we have better cost estimates for these things is when I can come back to you for some kind of official approval to move forward,” Huff said.

Other business

The commission approved the transfer of $500,000 from the college’s operating fund to the plant fund. It also approved the revision and/or review of five policies.