SPCC, Wingate University announce newly focused feasibility study

WAXHAW, N.C. — South Piedmont Community College and Wingate University announced on Monday that they shifted the focus of a feasibility study designed to create a partnership between Waxhaw, SPCC and Wingate University.

In the initial concept, a site in Waxhaw was a potential location to build a small academic building and a city-operated park.

After some consideration, both institutions determined that the six-month feasibility study would be enhanced if the study team did not have a potential site to consider from the onset.

This would allow the concept to help determine the potential location.

The focus will continue to determine the best way forward in establishing a new education center in western Union County that would offer a continuum of higher education, from the associate's level through the graduate level, officials said.

“SPCC and Wingate are grateful to Waxhaw’s mayor and Board of Commissioners for its unanimous support to explore this public-private partnership,” officials from SPCC and Wingate said in a joint news release.

Residents to fight plan for campus

Residents in Waxhaw plan to fight a proposal for a satellite campus of South Piedmont Community College.

A feasibility study will look into whether part of this 34.6-acre land on Waxhaw-Marvin Road should be turned into the satellite campus.

"Why are you looking at this piece of land when you have so many other options closer to town that may benefit the businesses that are there?" resident Scott Miller said.

Residents are concerned that the proposed site is surrounded by neighborhoods and that the two-lane road to the site won't support increased traffic. They also believe the campus will take away park space.

Town leaders said using all of the acreage for a park was never promised.

"This is a textbook case of breach of public trust and we are willing to fight this," resident Stavros Bakirtzis said.

Town leaders weren't available for an interview, but sent a statement to Channel 9: "Everyone agrees that the focus is quality of life enhancements and that green space is a priority.

"We're really confused why the town leadership is not hearing our voice on this and not letting us ask questions," resident Kevin Hillinger said.

The feasibility study is scheduled to begin Jan. 8 and to be completed in April. In May, Waxhaw town commissioners will decide on whether to move forward with a campus on the land.

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