Why SC Gov. McMaster sees a bright future for Indian Land, businesses that come there
Gov. Henry McMaster spent much of his day Thursday in Indian Land touting the business wins of a state that didn’t shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. McMaster said economic development in South Carolina grew while other states closed.
As McMaster stood in the newly completed 120,000-square-foot CrossRidge One office building in Indian Land, he reiterated the idea that South Carolina is as good a place as any in the world to do business.
“We fight way outside of our class,” he said. “We compete with places all over the world.”
One business venture that grew despite the pandemic is CrossRidge. The 190-acre, mixed-use project already has a YMCA branch and now the new office building. CrossRidge officials on Thursday announced the start of a new phase for the project on U.S. 521, near Dobys Bridge Road, that will include 57,000 square feet of retail space. Construction there should begin this year and be complete by summer 2023.
CrossRidge One had its ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday and will itself be significant in Lancaster County.
The CrossRidge location within the region is significant. It’s just south of the North Carolina line, Charlotte and Ballantyne. It sits along the gateway into Lancaster County, U.S. 521.
“CrossRidge One will bring new business to Lancaster County,” said Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce president John McCain. “This will become a destination, not just for Lancaster County residents, but for people all across the entire region.”
Jamie Gilbert, economic development director in Lancaster County, said his area has had particular success drawing corporate headquarters. McMaster and others present Thursday said decisions can be swayed by state policies and efforts that either attract or push away business growth.
“We didn’t close businesses down like they did in some other states,” McMaster said of South Carolina’s pandemic response. “And people from all over the world that I speak to, that are looking for places to do business and invest hundreds of millions and billions of dollars, are all coming to South Carolina.”
McMaster said people like CrossRidge CEO David Cerullo, who have vision and are willing to take risks to see it through, will find a willing business partner with the state.
“CrossRidge represents a lot of thinking, a lot of vision, some courage, of seeing around corners,” McMaster said. “I think it’s going to be highly successful.”
Gilbert said the four-story CrossRidge One is the first spec office building of its kind in the county. Lancaster County and project officials didn’t name incoming tenants on Thursday, but said interest has been considerable.
Almost half of the space at CrossRidge One is committed to tenants, Cerullo said. He envisions a mix of dining, shopping, recreation and entertainment, in addition to the office space, as CrossRidge grows.
“The plans are something that we have never seen in this community,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert mentioned other area projects that mix various types of business, like Kingsley in Fort Mill and Waverly in Ballantyne, as comparables to the CrossRidge additions. Spec buildings, where a developer creates the building and then leases space, are higher risk and CrossRidge One came in uncertain economic times amid the pandemic.
“They bet on us,” Gilbert said, “and that bet is going to pay off.”
County administrator Dennis Marstall sees another evolution in the Indian Land area with CrossRidge. The Lancaster County panhandle is a traditionally rural area that in the past decade or so exploded with new homes, restaurants and businesses. A massive office building and future plans at CrossRidge are another step forward, he said.
“This is the post mill town era,” Marstall said. “We are seeing the future.”
The planned retail expansion at CrossRidge also includes six outparcel retail spaces. It will have a 120-room hotel. A future phase will add 150,000 square feet of business space during a three-year buildout.
“CrossRidge is going to be an economic development engine,” Cerullo said. “It’s designed to be iconic.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 1:55 PM.
