A blighted shopping center on Rock Hill’s south side is coming down. What this means
A blighted Rock Hill shopping center is a step closer to new life, in an area where new beginnings are the goal.
On Monday night the city approved a development agreement with Impact Change for the Three Points project near Heckle Boulevard, Albright Road and Saluda Street. The project will be designed to transform a former grocery store and shopping center.
“It’s been a blighted property for quite some time and thankfully we’ve had a person come to the forefront...who believes in the people of the south side, and believes this is the best way we can get started,” said Mayor John Gettys.
Gettys thanked project developer Vincent James, of Charlotte, who received something unusual Monday night for developers in search of decisions at area municipal meetings — applause.
James spent several years on the project.
Almost two years ago James worked through issues with the city planning commission on plans that at the time included apartments and a daycare, and focused on teaching technology and entrepreneurship to serve the Black community.
“This is one area that is needed,” James said two years ago. “What I see that can happen is to improve entrepreneurship from the cradle going forward, and this is a great opportunity. It’s not just a babysitting nursery.”
More work followed from that earlier plan, as James said someone needed to spark community growth on the south side.
“It would be a very positive project for an area that has been overlooked for many years,” James said two years ago. “The rest of Rock Hill is developing while this area has been neglected. We want to be an anchor to spread further growth in the south end area.”
Now the project involves demolition of existing structures on the four acres to start within 90 days, and be completed within 180 days. A sketch plan for the property shows four buildings. One nearest an access point off Albright is about 19,000 square feet. Another on Heckle would have a 10,000-square-foot ground level, almost 5,800-square-foot upper level and 2,000-square-foot roof terrace. Two buildings along Saluda Street would have 3,200 square feet.
“We’re not here just to demolish and build a parking lot,” said Jennifer McAdams, city economic and urban development director. “This is going to facilitate the construction of several commercial structures.”
The agreement between Rock Hill and Impact Change commits the developer to demolish, clear and grade the site, McAdams said. The city will reimburse the developer for public improvements, up to $500,000. That money would come from the city economic development fund, and possibly future tax increment funding sources.
David Vehaun, city manager, said it depends on final investment at full buildout what the impact to the city tax base will be.
“With all the buildings that they talked about,” Vehaun said, “the city taxes alone would be about $85,000.”
Yet there’s another way the project aims to serve the city.
“It is a key project within the Clinton ConNEXTtion Action Plan,” McAdams said.
Clinton ConNEXTtion is an effort to attract jobs, business and housing in the area aroundof Clinton College. It’s been several years in the making, combining public and private partners.
The development agreement approved Monday night doesn’t specify which businesses might come into the new buildings. Yet this far into years of work to redevelop the property at Heckle, Albright and Saluda for new growth, Gettys offered his appreciation for the work James has done.
“I’m not sure I’ve met somebody so determined to get past every road block,” Gettys said.
This story was originally published May 11, 2022 at 12:19 PM.
