KANNAPOLIS — In a flurry of action Monday night, City Council officially began development of a business park in Coddle Creek that leaders hope will be the gateway to Kannapolis’ economic future.
Once built out, city leaders hope the 100-acre Kannapolis Gateway Business Park will house $50 million in industrial, commercial and retail investment and provide up to 600 new jobs.
The council approved the purchase of about 83 acres north of N.C. 73 near the future intersection with the Kannapolis Parkway, financing for the project and a development agreement with MarkPierce Properties of Charlotte.
The city expects to spend around $3.65 million for the projected five-year project. Council gave city staff permission on Monday to apply for a $2.4 million federal Housing and Urban Development loan to cover most of the cost.
Money from various accounts will make up the rest, including $300,000 from the general fund earmarked for economic development, $250,000 from the water and sewer fund and $706,500 in unused federal grants.
MarkPierce Properties, which specializes in industrial and commercial development and brokerage, has exclusive rights to develop, market and sell land in the business park for the city. The company also will construct the first building there this year and market it.
“This will begin to set the image of what will be done with this project,” City Manager David Hales said.
The park site sits near an interchange under construction at Interstate 85 and Crisco Road, which will be part of the Kannapolis Parkway.
The city and MarkPierce have approached the N.C. Department of Transportation about speeding up construction of the parkway through the business park site, north of the intersection of Crisco and N.C. 73.
In other business, the council:
- Approved a five-year, $990,171 waste collection contract with a new contractor, Waste Management Inc. The contract takes effect July 1. The city will buy its own containers.
- Approved a measure suspending fees charged water customers for meters used exclusively for irrigation while the city remains under mandatory water restrictions prohibiting irrigation.
- Recognized the Piedmont Adventure Club for assisting the city’s Parks and Recreation Department with the first plotting and cataloging of the 250-year-old Kannapolis Cemetery.
- Recognized Phil Bullard, Kannapolis Police Officer of the Year, and three officers recently promoted to sergeant, B.L. Lear, T.L. Gulledge and M.T. Grier.
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