HAMLET — A large economic development project could be coming to Hamlet in the near future.
During his report to the Hamlet City Council on Feb. 10, City Manager John Terziu said that the potential sale of 65 acres of municipal property is still on track, with a closing expected by the end of the month — though Terziu said the prospective buyers have until June to close.
Terziu said the broader development area exceeds 100 acres.
“According to this prospective buyer,” Terziu said, “if the project comes to full fruition, the development could generate over 1,000 jobs — that’s twice what (Amazon Web Services) is bringing.”
The city manager went on to say that the concept “remains tentative” and is dependent on the buyer securing “appropriate builders and partners.”
“But I’ve seen their conceptual plans and they include hotels, strip malls, green industry, small-scale manufacturing, restaurants and childcare facilities,” Terziu said, reiterating that the concept is tentative.
Prior to that announcement, Terziu updated the council on improvements to the city’s water system.
A preconstruction meeting for the water plant is scheduled for Feb. 23, according to Terziu, who added that engineers are coordinating with the general contractor to provide detailed expectations on the timelines to break ground.
“That is huge for the city of Hamlet,” he said. “We have moved a dead project, within one year, to ready for execution.”
Likewise, Terziu said the wastewater treatment plant — “another project that sat stagnant for two years” — has progressed, with the city obtaining a discharge permit and the expectation to start soliciting bids this summer or early fall.
Terziu said a groundbreaking for that project is expected “this time next year.”
Earlier in the meeting, the council approved a contract with Sanford Holshouser, for the firm to serve as bond attorney for that project.
Those two projects, Terziu said, “are going to bring long-term growth capabilities for the city of Hamlet.”
Moving to the sale of property to Habitat for Humanity, approved in October, Terziu said the city is ready to close and is waiting on the other party for finalization. That project, he added, would bring affordable housing to the city.
In regards to the City Lake trail project, Terziu said engineering is near completion and he hopes to start soliciting bids within the next 45 days.
Terziu said the aforementioned projects “signal positive momentum for job creation and community vitality.”
Also during his report, Terziu mentioned that he recently attended the N.C. City and County Managers Association Professional Development Seminar, with classes on municipal challenges and featuring talks on topics including leadership, artificial intelligence, emergency management, law teambuilding and “maintaining civility in the face of increasing incivility.”
“It’s noteworthy that many municipalities expressed a strong need for the education and guidance in these areas, as these issues are increasingly affecting municipalities across the state,” Terziu said.
The city manager also gave a shoutout to Riverside Bakery — which opened in November and had a large turnout for its grand opening earlier this year — and Dine 82, which has been in business for about a year, “because they’re both thriving and the city is excited to work with more entrepreneurs that’s ready to invest in Hamlet.”
Terziu said that the energy both businesses bring to the community “is exactly what we need.”
