Drawing shows what MSC’s illumniated sign facing I-77 would look like. (Davidson Planning Department)

By CHUCK McSHANE
DavidsonNews.net

The Davidson Town Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to allow an interior-lit sign and other signage for the new MSC corporate center on Harbour Place Drive, off I-77 Exit 30.

The signs were not allowed under town rules but the board approved a  conditional-use permit to allow them, in a 4-0 vote.  Commissioner Connie Wessner was absent. Read the full story

Davidson’s Town Board meets Tuesday, Feb. 12, with an agenda that includes a public hearing and vote on signage for the new MSC corporate headquarters off I-77 Exit 30. The board also will discuss 2013 goals and a 2013 Legislative Agenda, get an annual report from officials of Visit Lake Norman and hold a closed session on a personnel matter. Read the full story

Proposed retirement residence on Peninsula Drive.

The Davidson Planning board meets Monday, Jan. 28, with an agenda that includes discussion and possible recommendations on signage for MSC Industrial Direct and a master plan for the Davidson Retirement Residence, on Peninsula Drive in the Exit 30 area. The board also will review plans for a “pocket neighborhood” on Delburg Street. See the full story in REAL ESTATE & HOME»

MSC Industrial Direct’s new 400-employee headquarters off I-77 Exit 30 is expected to spur additional development in the area. The town is developing a new small area plan to guide future growth. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Construction of the MSC Industrial Direct corporate headquarters off Harbor Place Drive in Davidson is widely expected to spur related development in the coming years. The question is, what will it look like? Davidson’s Planning Board on Monday night got its first look at the draft of a new plan for the Exit 30 area that envisions new hotels, housing, offices and shops. The plan also incorporates a new I-77 overpass – with a separate pedestrian and bike path – that could improve the connection between Davidson Landing and the rest of town. Read the full story

Jerry Broadway

Jerry Broadway, who has led the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corp. since 2006, said Thursday he will step down in the first quarter of 2013. The organization said its executive committee will meet soon to discuss hiring a successor.

Over the past six years, Mr. Broadway has helped to recruit a variety of high-profile businesses to the region, including MSC Industrial Direct, which is currently building its “co-headquarters” off I-77 Exit 30 in Davidson, and ABB Inc., a Swiss-based based cable manufacturer that recently opened its $90 million plant in Huntersville. His other recruiting successes included Microban, SAERTEX USA, Lime Energy, Positec Tools and Rubbermaid Home Products. Read the full story

Work has begun at the 14.7-acre site off Harbor Place Drive, near the Homewood Suites, where MSC is building a new $31 million headquarters. See a rendering of the planned building below (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Town officials this week gave final approval to a $14 million package of state and local incentives that helped lure MSC Industrial Direct Corp. to choose Davidson for a new “co-headquarters.” The approval came as workers have begun grading the site off I-77 Exit 30 in preparation construction of the $31 million office project. Read the full story

The Town Board will vote Tuesday on a final economic development incentive package for MSC Industrial Direct Corp., which is building a $31 million headquarters off I-77 Exit 30 in Davidson. The board also will hold a public hearing and vote on several minor budget amendments and hear an update about the Davidson Design 4 Life program.

The meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Davidson Town Hall, 216 S. Main St.

Full agenda and documents on the town website.

Town Board members will hear from new Charlotte-Mecklenburg Superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison during the board meeting Tuesday night, as part of his tour of Mecklenburg County. Last week he visited the Cornelius and Huntersville town board meetings with District 1 School Board Rep. Rhonda Lennon to introduce himself and field questions from commissioners. He plans to visit all of the Mecklenburg towns in an effort to reach out and work with town leaders and citizens, to learn about all of the CMS schools, and to make himself available for questions and comments, he said last week.

Also Tuesday, board members will: Read the full story