AMount Pleasant-based property development company has announced it will develop hundreds of new homes in the Orangeburg area.

M&P Land LLC plans to develop 48 townhouses on about three acres of the Sixo-1 project site. This site includes 65 acres adjacent to Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College on St. Matthews Road. St. Matthews Road is also known as U.S. 601.

In conjunction with Gateway One Development LLC, the second project will feature 177 single-family homes on a 60-acre tract of land on Bruin Parkway and will be named The Park at Wilkinson. The development will be across from the Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School ball fields.

The residential developments are just one part of a larger development planned for the U.S. 601 corridor.

In August 2020, Andrew Silver announced plans to build what is called the The Sixo 1 Project, a project complete with dining, retail, entertainment, lodging and residential.

“These (residential) developments will be centered around the 601 lifestyle center,” M&P Land LLC President and co-owner Andrew Silver told those gathered for the announcement at the Orangeburg County Development Commission earlier in August. “It is also near the Y club as well. It is about accessibility. It will help support the community and what is available at the moment and forthcoming years to come.”

Ground is expected to be broken on both residential projects during the first quarter of 2022, with occupancy expected within six months after groundbreaking.

The developments will include single-family detached homes ranging from 1,700-square-feet to 2,500-square feet. Home price range will be from $180,000 to $350,000.

Home styles will also include townhomes and freedom homes that are geared toward an active adult community.

“We have a seat for everybody,” D.R. Horton Land Acquisition Manager Phil Bradley said, noting the company is excited be entering the Orangeburg market and a “growing community.”

The residential developments would have amenities such as a ballpark, cabana or playground.

“We have several different options we can do,” Bradley said.

Silver said the residential component of the project has been in discussion for the past 1-1/2 year to two years.

Silver thanked all the partners in the project including the property owners, the home builder, the professional team at M&P Land and county leaders for their support in the project.

The projects are entirely privately funded.

D.R. Horton will construct the homes. Gateway One Development will be undertaking the groundworks.

Silver and his wife, Emilee, own M&P Land. Silver also owns Gateway One, along with Mike O’Cain and Chad Rast of O’Cain Construction.

“We are looking at a micro metropolis within that 601 corridor,” Silver said, noting that over the next five years he expects the $100 million project to bring a minimum of 500 to 1,000 homes to the area all “wrapped around the 601 development.”

Silver has touted the Sixo 1 project as creating hundreds of jobs as well as spurring economic development for the City of Orangeburg by the way of utility usage. It would generate income for Orangeburg County by the way of property and business taxes.

Silver declined providing more details about the commercial and retail side of his plans on 601 but said further details will be announced in October.

“It is moving forward excellently,” Silver said, noting that COVID has impacted “everything.”

“We have been working in a very difficult environment both in securing operators and moving forward as well with the residential development. This is why it is taking this long really. I was hoping with everything, both with the residential and with the mixed-use commercial, that we would really be six months advanced. We are playing catchup.”

County government and political leaders praised the announcement.

“It’s great to see these much-needed units added to the housing market in Orangeburg County,” Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said in a prepared statement. “Thanks to M&P Land for their role in negotiating the deal to make the vision a reality.”

“The county is excited to see housing come into our area, especially as we see new industries and businesses come to our area,” Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said. “We will have the space to continue to grow and thrive in our county.”

Young praised all leaders in the county for the project.

“It truly is a team,” he said. “When I met Andrew and he started talking about things we were wanting to do, I had goals, he had goals. I had vision, he had vision.”

“It is good to see all of this stuff finally being within arms’ reach of our citizens so they can enjoy,” Young said. “The best is yet to come. We still have more to do. The citizens of this county deserve just as much as anywhere else.”

Orangeburg County Development Commission and The One Orangeburg County Initiative Chairman Kenneth Middleton said the announcement is a “testament to the love Andrew Silver has for Orangeburg County and the people who live here.”

“His commitment has been unwavering, his results impressive and his efforts will impact our community for generations to come,” Middleton said.

“Every now and then, you get what you have been praying for,” Middleton said. “The partnership that is on the table is now absolutely, unequivocally one of those prayers being answered. We just hope it works in the way we are hoping it works.”

Middleton cited Silver’s vision for the future of Orangeburg County.

“You got to believe in what you saw,” Middleton said. “Thank you for having the foresight.”

Middleton said Silver is making Orangeburg a desirable place for people to live, work and enjoy great quality of life through his number of development projects.

“This is a wonderful jump start,” Middleton said, noting Silver’s work is in line with the TOOCI strategy for the development of the county. “The power of one. One Andrew Silver. One Emilee Silver. One DR Horton and all the other entities like the county working together as one.”

Middleton, who is also a Realtor, said the housing project is crucial for Orangeburg County.

“It is an amazing time to be a part of the growth in Orangeburg County,” Middleton said. “This is extremely helpful because we can’t find product because demand far exceeds supply presently.”

“There is a lot of pent-up demand from two years of working around and through COVID,” Middleton said. “The ordinary flow of life is something that we don’t really pay attention to until somebody disrupts it.”

Both Middleton and Silver said Orangeburg is poised for the next growth spurt being that it is between Charleston and Columbia.

“We have always known and anticipated there would be a squeeze between Columbia and Charleston,” Middleton said. “The stars are lining up.”

Silver said with traffic load increasing in the Charleston area, Orangeburg is becoming more attractive.

“People are looking for a better quality of life and spending less time in the car and more time in the home or commercial office,” Silver said.

Century 21 The Moore Group Commercial Retailer Cal Bruner echoed the sentiment.

“I have never seen it this busy,” he said. “The number of out-of-town and out-of-state inquiries of the 601 corridor is really doing well. We are running out of inventory.”

The development of U.S. 601 comes as county officials work to improve the Exit 145 interchange at Interstate 26, as well as the St. Matthews Road corridor.

The planned improvements for St. Matthews Road include mast-arm traffic signals, handicap-compliant sidewalks, paved crosswalks, planted medians and underground wiring.

Two gateway monument signs have been built by the interchange. The signs have both the county and city seals.

The beautification efforts will eventually extend from Exit 145 into Orangeburg.

Silver has developed other projects in Orangeburg County.

He’s been involved with the Orangeburg County library and conference center under construction on Russell Street; the 17,000-square-foot High School for Health Professions building; the Orangeburg County Department of Social Services building; the Sigmatex building in the John W. Matthews Industrial Park and the Goodwill building on St. Matthews Road.

“The Lord attracted me here from day one,” Silver said. “It is divine intervention. I have been very blessed as an original alien here where the community has embraced me and supported me. I have not gone away. I have been determined to help the regeneration of Orangeburg.”

Second District Congressman Joe Wilson expressed excitement and optimism about Orangeburg County’s growth after visiting two of its newest developments as part of his 2021 Annual Bus Tour on Thursday.

The Republican congressman, who represents the western portion of Orangeburg County, toured the new Orangeburg VA Clinic and North Road Recreational Complex at 151 Magnolia Village Parkway.

The 22,934-square-foot clinic, which is expected to be complete this fall, sits on 5.3 acres. It is projected to be an investment of nearly $14 million with a mission to care for the county’s growing veteran population.

Officially opened on Dec. 4, 2019, the recreation complex is a nearly $20 million investment that sits on 100 acres and houses nine ball fields, a walking trail, green space, two concession areas and restroom facilities. Conference rooms, office space and press boxes are among its other amenities.

“This is fabulous,” Wilson said as he made his way into the complex’s entrance.

“I’m honored to be here in the Orangeburg community … (6 District) Congressman (Jim) Clyburn and I are grateful that we get to share Orangeburg County,” Wilson said, noting that he and Clyburn have teamed up on different initiatives to benefit the county’s growth and development.

“Before I was elected to Congress, I supported his initiatives for the inland port to be located near Holly Hill … different transportation initiatives that he and I have worked on. … I’m grateful that significant funding is on the way relative to the expansion of broadband. So these are issues that we’ve worked together. I’m just humbled to present this community and think so positively of Orangeburg,” he said.

While media access was limited during Wilson’s tour of the veteran complex, he was warmly greeted by city and county officials at the recreation complex, including Orangeburg District 5 City Councilwoman Liz Zimmerman Keitt; Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson; Holly Hill Mayor William Johnson; Shawn Taylor, superintendent of recreation for the City of Orangeburg, and Shaniqua Simmons, the city’s director of parks and recreation.

“We are excited to bring sports tourism to the City of Orangeburg,” Simmons said, citing the need to make the city a destination, not just a pass-through.

Taylor said, “We’re just glad to have our elected officials thinking of us and to look at our progress. It’s a wonderful thing that they can come down to see the progress and know that our efforts in improving the quality of life is something that’s important to us.”

He said there was an effort to make the city and county a place to live, work and play.

“We see the power of parks. When we can expose people to things and when they can experience a quality facility, they garner excitement. So having an active community is a healthy community, and a healthy community is a prosperous community,” Taylor said.

Johnson said, “This complex is something. I’ve been over to see it before, but this is something. This is really a space for Orangeburg County kids as we try to come out of the pandemic. We’ve got some space for these kids to come back in.”

World, national issues

Wilson expressed concern about what he considered the lack of careful consideration in the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, where the Taliban regained governmental control.

“I really think it should have been conditions-based. As a former National Guard member myself, I’m really grateful for our National Guard serving in Afghanistan. I know what they did for the people of Afghanistan. My youngest son served for a year in Afghanistan. So it’s quite personal to me that it was precipitous the way we left the country,” Wilson said.

The congressman said the U.S. should have maintained a presence in Afghanistan.

“America has been very successful in maintaining a presence around the world, whether it be Japan, Germany, Korea, Spain or Kosovo. It doesn’t need to be a large presence, but it provides the stability for the local population to control their lives and create very modern, dynamic societies,” he said.

Wilson continued, “What’s occurred now is a mass murder of women because they will be beheaded, particularly teachers. They (the Taliban) have a really bizarre view of the world, and part of it is that women should not be teaching each other how to read. And then another concern is that the children are being sold as brides.”

The congressman said it is even more serious that Afghanistan will likely become for terrorists “a safe haven to again attack the United States.”

“I appreciate so much that our military has protected us for 20 years, but 20 years ago there was an attack on America with 3,000 Americans murdered from a cave in Afghanistan. So we should have learned from that to make sure that there could not be future attacks from Afghanistan. That was the reason we were there, so that wouldn’t occur again,” Wilson said.

The congressman also weighed in on the Senate passing both a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a budget resolution that paves the way for Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending package, which includes funds for social and environmental programs.

Wilson said both bills have a good chance of getting through Congress, something that has him very concerned.

“I’m very concerned by how large they are. By being trillions of dollars, the consequence of that is inflation. We already have the highest rate of inflation in 20 years. In fact, sadly, inflation is outpacing income. And then we see the cost of gasoline has gone up 41.78% in the last year. Over and over again, we’ve got other basic necessities that inflation is taking hold (of),” he said.

Wilson continued, “By borrowing so much money, I think it is not in the immediate interest, but then I’m also concerned for the young people of America. They will be absorbing the debt and having to pay it back, and then I’m concerned for people of age.

“With inflation and the devaluation of the dollar, those of us who put money aside for our retirement, there may not be enough. So there should be restraint of spending. It can be done to have infrastructure and restraint.”

He said an “everything free for everybody” mentality may be appealing, but it does not work.

Orangeburg County is asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand the scope of the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency project.

The modification would allow the county to extend the project to include the placement of water lines along U.S. Highway 15 near Vance to Interstate 26 with the ability to interconnect with Holly Hill, Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said.

The modification would also allow the construction of an elevated storage tank at the Pilot station at Interstate 26, Young said.

Young said the modification will also allow the extension of transmission lines in the lower part of Calhoun County to serve Cameron and rural areas of St. Matthews.

The modification would also extend the Harleyville reach to the Shady Grove community in Dorchester County from Interstate 95 to U.S. 178 and would also connect the St. George community near I-95 and U.S. 78.

The modification would also enable the project to receive more federal funds into the future. How much is not yet known.

Orangeburg County Council on Monday unanimously passed a resolution supporting the request for modification.

“The federal authorization originally was insufficient, so we requested an increase to do additional reaches,” Young said.

Currently, the Lake Marion Regional Water project has a number of reaches including the Santee, Elloree/Calhoun, Holly Hill, Wells Crossroad, Holly Hill to Harleyville, Dorchester, Winding Woods, Highway 27 to Camp Hall, Providence and Orangeburg County to Berkeley County.

“These reaches provide water to areas that were previously underserved,” Young said. “The modification was needed to go through the process so that Orangeburg, Calhoun, Berkeley, Dorchester and all counties who were a part of the Lake Marion Regional Water Authority will be able to improve public safety and ISO (Insurance Service Office) ratings and give sufficient water to their constituents.”

The Lake Marion Regional Water System was formed to help bring clean, quality water to parts of Berkeley, Calhoun, Dorchester and Orangeburg counties and the Town of Santee. Santee Cooper runs the water plant near Santee.

M&P Land LLC announced Wednesday it will develop hundreds of new homes in the Orangeburg area.

One project consists of 48 townhomes on M&P Land’s Project SIXO-1. This site includes 50 acres adjacent to Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College on St. Matthews Road.

In conjunction with Gateway One Development, the second project will feature 177 single-family homes on a 60-acre tract of land on Bruin Parkway and will be named The Park at Wilkinson.

“The County is excited to see housing come into our area, especially as we see new industries and businesses coming to our area. We will have the space to continue to grow and thrive in our county,” County Administrator Harold Young said.

D.R. Horton, a national house builder since 1978, will be building both the townhomes and single-family homes.

Gateway One Development will be undertaking the groundworks.

“I have been working closely with D.R. Horton in Columbia for the past 18 months to secure their support for developing new homes in Orangeburg County,” said Andrew Silver, president of M&P Land, LLC.

He said, “M&P Land would like to thank the continued support of the McLean family, D.R. Horton, Orangeburg County, Gateway One Development and the M&P Land professional team. It’s another great day in Orangeburg!”

Phil Bradley, land acquisition manager for D.R. Horton Homes, said, “D.R. Horton is excited about the opportunity to partner with M&P Land and Gateway One Development to break into this market and provide new homes for this growing community.”

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said “I am thrilled with the proposed development of 177 homes on Bruin Parkway and another 48 townhomes on the SIXO-1 site. It’s great to see these much-needed units added to the housing market in Orangeburg County. Thanks to M&P Land for their role in negotiating the deal to make the vision a reality. I’m extremely pleased that D.R. Horton has stepped up and will build these two housing developments.”

Ken Middleton, Chairman, One Orangeburg County Initiative, said, “This announcement is an additional testament to the love that Andrew Silver has for Orangeburg County and the people who live here.

“His commitment has been unwavering, his results have been impressive and his efforts will impact our community for generations to come.”

Texas-based 7-Eleven, Inc. is building a travel truck stop on U.S. 301 near Interstate 26 in Orangeburg.

The company broke ground on the $6.7 million, 6,600-square-foot travel center in May. The travel center will bring about 29 new jobs.

The travel center will be located on about five acres on the east side of Interstate 26, across from the Day’s Inn and the Orangeburg County Fire District headquarters.

The address of the new center will be 3417 Five Chop Road.

The center will include about eight gas pumps as well as a convenience store.

The project is expected to be complete by July 2022.

It is going to be the first 7-Eleven in The T&D Region.

Orangeburg County Council gave third and final reading to a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement for the project at its July 19 meeting. The project was formerly identified by the code name Project Shamrock.

The site’s proximity to interstates 26 and 95 were the main attraction. About 33,000 cars travel on U.S. 301 daily.

Based in Irving, Texas, 7–Eleven operates, franchises and licenses more than 77,000 stores in 16 countries and regions, including nearly 16,000 in North America.

The company operates Speedway, Stripes, Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits locations.

7-Eleven brands include Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp. The company has expanded into sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos.

There are several 7-Elevens throughout the state. There are two located in the Columbia area, one in Irmo, four in Lexington and one in Gaston, according to the company’s website.

The travel center would be the latest development in the area in recent years.

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.