The Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of 29.18 acres in southeastern Catawba County during their August 18th meeting.
The property, situated between NC-150 and E. Maiden Road, will be added to 78 acres of adjacent land previously purchased by the county for the purpose of building a business park.
The 3.65 million dollar purchase was unanimously authorized by the commissioners at the request of the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), a governmental organization tasked with creating jobs and diversifying industry in Catawba County.
The move comes after an April 2024 report from the EDC determined that Catawba County could be competitive in job recruitment and drawing in “high-impact” industries, including biotech.
“Catawba Southeast was identified as a strong opportunity market with proximity to Charlotte’s
workforce and international airport, but lack of market-ready sites and established business parks was
presented as a weakness,” EDC Economic Development Director Nathan Huret wrote in a memorandum to the commissioners.
The county’s current goal is to create a business park in the style of the Trivium Corporate Center in Hickory.
“Early discussions regarding an ultimate vision for the property involve targeted development of a Life Sciences campus, a concept currently being explored by a host of partners, including the County, the EDC, Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) and Catawba Valley Community College ,” Huret wrote.
The idea to focus on life sciences, an umbrella term relating to healthcare, came when Huret heard discussions about the life science-focused Triangle Research Park in Raleigh, according to the Hickory Daily Record.
Since no official timeline or finalized plan for the business park currently exists, the preliminary ideas are subject to change.
“Next steps involve initiating master planning activities with the partners to solidify a development vision and plan,” Huret wrote.
Plans for the business park have existed since 2020, when the first 23-acre parcel of land in Chronicle was purchased by the county with the goal of “growing jobs and tax base for Catawba County and its citizens,” per Huret’s memorandum.
Thank you for this information. I had understood that area to be poised to develop a "downtown" feel: a live/work/shop/play/eat spot similar to Huntersville's Birkedale. We need more ways to come together in community here. When I look at the Hickory Tri-business area mentioned, it appears to be just an ugly conglomeration of warehouses. Can we, locals, speak into this? Can we ask for beautification? For architecture informed building? Can we keep our area beautiful with some understanding of that space needing some storefronts which serve the community? What would it take to consider the community in this build? I feel very nervous we will just turn into an industrial park space which uglifies the landscape. I only see this a bunch of uninspired warehouses for us to have to pass by on our way to 4 lane Hwy 16. Is there anything which can be done to have our voices heard?
What is currently being built on the south side of 150 behind the Food Lion shopping center? Is the Bridgewater you refer to?