Murdock says three new buildings planned for N.C. Research Campus

By Emily Ford

eford@salisburypost.com

David Murdock told the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce this week that he plans to construct three new buildings at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis.

The billionaire owner of the campus and Dole Food Co. did not give details.

After a flurry of activity that resulted in four buildings and a parking deck that opened in 2008, construction at the $1.5 billion life sciences complex has slowed during the recession.

Only the new Rowan-Cabarrus Community College building is under way.

Lynne Scott Safrit, president of campus developer Castle & Cooke North Carolina, would not elaborate on Murdock's comments, made during the Charlotte Chamber's annual planning retreat in Pinehurst.

"We're not ready to announce particulars yet," Safrit said in an e-mail.

Natalie English, a lobbyist for the Charlotte Chamber who was in the audience, immediately posted Murdock's comments on the social media Web site Twitter.

Murdock casually mentioned the new buildings at the end of a speech about his career.

"I leaned over to the person next to me and asked, 'Did he just say what I think he said?' " English said.

John Cox, president of the Cabarrus Regional Partnership, saw English's message, which is called a tweet, and sent it out himself.

"He re-tweeted me," English said.

The region's economic development leaders soon were buzzing about the possibility that construction will pick up again at the 350-acre biotech hub, which includes branches of eight North Carolina universities and 17 private businesses.

"It's great for the region," English said. "It's another positive thing that's happening to show that we are coming out of the recession."

English said she often uses Twitter as a professional tool and to keep chamber members updated on the latest news.

She's up to 535 followers, a number that grew this week after she tweeted about Murdock's comments.

"That's how I know when I've hit on a hot topic," English said.

As for the new buildings, Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg said he is only aware of the pending construction of the new Cabarrus Health Alliance.

Unlike other buildings on the campus, which all belong to Murdock, the city will own the health alliance building, although the city has struggled to finance the project.

Murdock's plans to construct a medical office building stalled, costing him a major tenant when PPD Inc. pulled out after citing delays.

Plans for a greenhouse complex for N.C. State University and luxury townhomes also are on hold.