Trolleys, Italians and cell phone towers

Just got back from the Rock Hill Economic Development Corp., meeting. Mostly predictable discussions this month, but a few interesting things that might turn into bigger stories down the road. Here's a snapshot:

- City officials have selected a consultant to look at the feasibility of a trolley that would run from downtown, through the textile corridor, and connect with Winthrop University. It's a long way before anything is in concrete, but if it happens, the trolley might eventually connect to Piedmont Medical Center. It's mainly just talk at this point, but getting closer to reality.

- Speaking of trolleys, a "rubber tire trolley" program is something we could see very soon. RHEDC officials said they're hammering out some details before launching a trolley system linking the sports venues at Manchester Meadows and Cherry Park to the hotels and shopping at Dave Lyle and I-77. The bus-like trolleys would also run downtown, transporting tourists and visitors to that area. Greenville has a similar system linking its minor league baseball stadium to the shops and dining on Main Street. Last time I was there it was packed. We'll see if Rock Hill's plan is as successful.

- An Italian manufacturing company plans to buy a 14-acre parcel at Waterford Business Park. Details are slim, but I'll be sure to report more when its available.

- The RHEDC will close on another Waterford site Wednesday, selling it to a builder for about $540,000. Local officials are very hush-hush, but I've learned plans call for the building to become a distribution center for Fresenius, a German company that makes kidney dialysis equipment. The building will be open by the end of the year and it should create about 80 new jobs.

- More Waterford-area news: Comporium is building a new cell phone tower near the business park. The RHEDC granted a right-of-way for the project a few weeks ago and requested the tower be erected as asthetically-pleasing as possible. Well, a very tongue-in-cheek Barre Mitchell, chairman of the RHEDC Quality of Life Committee, reported Tuesday that the tower will be the traditional 250-foot tall monster, surrounded by a chain link fence with barbed wire on the top. But to make it look nice, Comporium will be planting bushes around the fence, he said.

"They're even green bushes," Mitchell quipped. "I guess that's the definition of a pretty cell phone tower."