The new Indian Land site that’s adding a Costco and Lowes Foods might get bigger to make room for medical space that would support a new hospital.
Crosland Southeast asked Lancaster County to allow for more commercial space at The Exchange, a $400 million mix of apartments, townhomes and business space on U.S. 521. The extra room would allow the Medical University of South Carolina to set up an office about a mile north of where it’s building a new hospital.
“We’ve got interest from Longhorn Steakhouse,” Crosland senior Vice President Yates Dunaway told Council on Monday night. “MUSC is the second building. They want to have some space off the hospital campus. Dental and coffee in the third building, and then bank in the fourth.”
Only the Costco and Lowes Foods have signed contracts, Dunaway told The Herald on Tuesday. Crosland is talking with a handful of potential tenants but isn’t ready to announce them, he said.
“We would hope to have some more announcements, I would say, by the end of summer,” Dunaway said.
The county approved a development agreement for The Exchange in 2021. It allows for 400 apartments and 320 townhomes, both of which are set to start construction this summer.
The Lowes Foods grocery store, on pace to open in September, was part of the initial plan. A space set aside for economic development later turned into Costco, which could open in October.
The Costco changed plans significantly, including for the final piece of the 2021 plan. A multi-building retail storefront along Charlotte Highway would add 105,000 square feet of space. Now, Crosland wants to increase the amount to 115,000 square feet.
Big stores like Costco, the Walmart just north of The Exchange or the Target set to open this year just south of Costco at CrossRidge Center tend to attract smaller retailers, said county planning director April Williams. Developers had to widen roads they’d just built and add larger pipes for water and sewer after the Costco announcement.
“When they are announced to come to a place, other places like to follow,” Williams said.
Lancaster County Council voted unanimously on Monday to allow more retail space at The Exchange. Two more votes are needed. Dunaway didn’t give names, but said the businesses that will fill those storefronts will add to the destination feel his company plans to create.
“I think people will be pleased at the end of the day,” he said.
Council had other big business items, including:
? The county gave the first of three votes needed to set up a tax incentive agreement with a new, unnamed company. Project Block is the placeholder name for a subsidiary of a European company that operates across the U.S., said county economic development director Brian Fulk.
“The company manufactures architectural stone materials that might be found around a pool or outside living area,” he said.
The company bought a 30,000-square-foot building and 20 acres about a year ago. The site is in Dist. 1, a county council area that runs along the west side of Charlotte Highway from Bridgemill Drive in Indian Land to Firetower Road near Lancaster.
The company projects a $21.9 million investment and 30 full-time jobs in Lancaster County. The 20-year incentive deal requires $15 million and 20 jobs.
Without an incentive package, the company would pay about $1.8 million in taxes within five years, Fulk said. With the deal, the company would pay about $1.3 million and get about $319,000 of that total back in special credits. Those credits would end after five years, and the county would get about $2.5 million from then until the full 20-year term.
The county would take less money through an incentive package to avoid getting nothing without one.
“Arguably, they wouldn’t come here,” Fulk said. “Because they’ve got incentives in other counties.”
The incentive deal is similar to others created for large manufacturers across York, Lancaster and Chester counties. “It provides an incentive to get folks to come here initially,” said Councilman Jose Luis, “and then they are here for a longer term adding additional long-term value for our county.”
? The county passed the second of three votes needed to rezone nearly 39 acres for a new business park. The 6872 Waxhaw Hwy. site on the western part of the Indian Land panhandle would mix business and retail uses, said owner Justin Blackhall. It would provide affordable storefronts for someone like a plumber who works in the area.
“The vision is a flex space office park, to allow for professional and some trade use,” Blackhall said.
? Council passed the second of three readings to set a payback schedule for Keer America. The Indian Land yarn spinning plant has to repay more than $3 million based on missed requirements from a prior incentive agreement. The county is allowing that payback in four installments, with the final one due at the end of next year.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
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John Marks graduated from Furman University in 2004 and joined the Herald in 2005. He covers community growth, municipalities, transportation and education mainly in York County and Lancaster County. The Fort Mill native earned dozens of South Carolina Press Association awards and multiple McClatchy President’s Awards for news coverage in Fort Mill and Lake Wylie.