The initial construction on 60 acres along North Road is scheduled to begin by the end of the year.

Fort Motte Partners officials say initial engineering on the front 30 acres of the tract has been complete and all permitting applications have been submitted to begin construction. Fort Motte Partners is a partnership of Century 21 The Moore Group and C.F. Evans Construction.

“We should have the permits before the end of the year and I think they will be moving there and moving a lot of dirt this coming January,” said Marion Moore, president of Century 21 The Moore Group. “I still think that is a greatest piece of real estate in Orangeburg County right now, particularly for commercial application.”

Moore said “nothing is off the table” at this point, plus a residential application on the back end of the property is a possibility.

“We don’t have anybody in line right now, but we have had several inquiries over the last couple of years,” Moore said.

Negotiations have been conducted with some Midwestern and Southeastern companies. Interest has been shown by small tenants such as banks, restaurants and retailers.

The plans to develop the 57-acre tract of land adjacent to the North Road Walmart with homes and stores was first announced in 2006. Construction was to begin around the middle of 2006.

But the project construction has been delayed by economic challenges.

Initially, the development, to be named Magnolia Village in recognition of the number of magnolias on the property, was to include about 25 acres of retail and food shops, with about 25 acres developed with single- or multi-family homes. The retail sector has been looked at more heavily recently.

But Moore said before there can be any talk of development, the land must be prepped. Moore said the land will be developed so the property and entire site will be easily visible from the road.

“We have a lot of work to do out there,” he said. “We have to bring it down to the grade of the road. It is way above the grade of the road. We have to take all that down and take it roadside.”

Moore said he expects when the economy turns around in 2011 or 2012, the property will be ready for growth.

“I think if a new company would come into Orangeburg looking at demographics, that is where they will want to locate.”

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