Winthrop proposed land sale could be more territory for ‘College Town’ development

Winthrop University intends to sell some land and an office building it owns across the street from its main campus.

A prospective buyer has not been named, but the school is asking the city of Rock Hill for a rezoning on the property to expand the types of commercial businesses that could go there. The building is located at the corner of Cherry Road and College Avenue Extension, next to a Citgo gas station and near other businesses and homes mostly used as rental properties for college students.

Winthrop bought the property – once owned by the Rock Hill Coca Cola Bottling Co. and used as the distribution office – in 2003 for $950,000, according to York County tax records. Since then, the building has been used for storage. The university’s school of visual and performing arts also has used the space for offices.

Due to the university’s tax-exempt status, there’s no public tax-assessed value for the property available.

Winthrop spokesman Jeff Perez said the university will market the property for sale once the requested rezoning is approved.

The property is zoned “office and institutional” – a limited zoning classification that allows for many residential uses, including college dorms, several education and medical offices uses, and other professional businesses like dentists and animal day cares.

The proposed “limited commercial” zoning would allow many of those uses and more including: gas stations, liquor stores, restaurants, laundromats, private clubs, banks and business offices.

Winthrop wants the limited commercial zoning to make the property more attractive to potential buyers, Perez said.

Another building and smaller lot nearby, also located across the street from Winthrop facing Cherry Road, is already for sale for $515,000. The property is zoned for commercial use. The building was once used as a cosmetology school.

If more commercial businesses move into the area, the stretch of Cherry Road near Winthrop – called the “College Town” corridor by city and university officials – could see a transformation.

Already, developers want to replace the BP Gas Station, the Pub House and Universal Financial Services on the corner of Cherry Road and Charlotte Avenue with new businesses in a plan for “College Corners.” The proposed multi-tenant development would bring a drive-thru Starbucks, a national Mexican restaurant chain and retail shops.

Morgan Property Group of Charlotte told The Herald last summer that construction could begin early next year.

A hearing on the Winthrop rezoning request will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 by the Rock Hill Planning Commission in the council chambers of City Hall, located at 155 Johnston St.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Winthrop proposed land sale could be more territory for ‘College Town’ development."