Master plan could include retail, residential, says Cartwright
The updated master plan for the 250-acre Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research could include retail and residential in the next 20 years, according to CU-ICAR Executive Director Fred Cartwright. It all depends what Greenville wants, and the sky’s the limit, he said.
“I think some people might have different ideas of what ICAR is. They might think it’s this monolithic research institution… and it’s not,” said Cartwright, who hopes to solicit public input via online surveys in January. “It’s blue-sky input we’re looking for. … What do we want to focus on over the next 10 years, and how is that going to happen in time?”
Cartwright leads the CU-ICAR Forward committee tasked with developing a plan for the remaining undeveloped parts of the campus. Clemson publicized its initial master plan nearly a decade ago, and it described a system of five interconnected technology neighborhoods that included industry partners and research and development facilities. Technology Neighborhood I is the only one under development, and includes the BMW Information Technology Research Center, the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Research Center, a 118,000-square-foot building that hosts Koyo Bearings USA and other buildings.
The sixth and final building, One Research Drive, is slated for completion in 2016, marking a shift to the development of other neighborhoods.
“Per that master plan, we pretty much accomplished what we set out to do, which was to establish ourselves as a serious player in automotive development,” he said. “We’ve accomplished what we wanted, but we’re not done… Beyond next summer, the question is, ‘What’s next? Where are we’?”
Funded by a $395,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the planning process began in earnest in October and is expected to continue until May. The university will collect faculty input during a research summit towards the end of January, and from industry at a different subsequent summit. Cartwright expects to have a more specific focus in February, but even then, some of the previous guidelines may be up for discussion.
“Do we go from neighborhood to neighborhood? Do we leave it open for companies to go wherever?” he said. “The original plan called for an academic anchor – does that still make sense? Does each neighborhood need to be around certain themes?”
The area around the CU-ICAR campus has also grown to include its own residential and retail assets, he said. Part of the challenge is making sure the campus integrates with its neighbors in the present and as Greenville grows.
“The Swamp Rabbit Trail is going to be extended to this site – what does that mean, if we’re going to be moving people from downtown to here and back?” he said. “We’re on the southeast frontier of Greenville, and frankly, a lot of people have not been here. They’ve heard about it, and they think it’s great, but to what extent should ICAR be a mixed-use location?”
