Profile of I-40-NC 226 Commercial Property in Marion, NC
Roland Bass [partner]
Ol Bass House LLC
PO Box 1718
Old Fort, NC 28762
828-925-8941 [cell]
828-659-8941 [phone & fax]

*McDowell County could be one of the fastest-growing counties in the US over the next 10 years [Chuck Abernathy, Co. Manager and McDowell News]
*Part of the explosive growth are 20 developments underway that will bring at least 100 homes per development into the area [Ron Harmond, 828-652-7121 Ext.341]
*Three golf courses, including a 3000-acre Jack Nicklaus course near Exit 86, are currently under construction
*New retail businesses are coming to Exit 86, including the Waffle House [open in May]

Property Information

Location facts
City: Marion, NC [McDowell County]
Access: Exit 86, at the corner of Interstate 40 and Hwy 226
General location: Roughly midway between Hickory [east] and Asheville [west]
Visibility: Highly visible from I-40 and Hwy 226
Major businesses at Exit 86 [across from Gateway Plaza]:
Love's Travel Stop Exxon Store
Hardee's KFC
Waffle House Godfather's Pizza
McDowell Tech Community College also across from the location
Views: There are beautiful mountain views from our development
McDowell Co. population: est. 43,000 in 2006
Zoning: Commercial
Pricing: To be determined
Utilities: City water and sewage
County Manager: Chuck Abernathy, 828-652-7121

McDowell County includes Marion, Old Fort, Sugar Hill, Lake James, Linville, Table Rock Mtn., Linville Falls, and Little Switzerland.

The county borders Grandfather Mountain, Spruce Pine [to the north], Forest City, Shelby [to the south], Morganton [east], and Black Mountain, Asheville, and Chimney Rock [all 3 to the west].

Size, Elevation, and Development
Property size: 30 acres
Borders: I-40 and Hwy 226
Development status: Currently in the initial phase
Elevation: slight on some parts to an even grade with the highway
Gradework: rough grading will be completed to accommodate any structure
Additional info: A small creek on the property will be filled in with piping and packing to aid development

Traffic
-Widening of Hwy 226, currently two lanes, will begin in 2007
-New stoplight to be installed at our development and McDowell Tech
-Estimated student count of McDowell Tech is 2,000-2,500
-2 large industrial parks located within 2 miles of location [another is in progress]
-Exit 86 is a major exit for truck drivers and travelers
-We developed 5 subdivisions nearby and are currently developing 88 acres 3 miles from the location
-Currently the busiest intersection [I-40 and 226] 17 miles to the east and 21 miles to the west

*Average road count per day is 8,500 on NC226, 15,500 at I-40 point [226-40 intersection], and 25,000 along I-40

Proposed Businesses for Our Development
[one or more of the following]
hotel
family-style restaurant
fast food restaurant
coffee shop
convenience store/gas station
retail shops
-Businesses that have expressed interest: McDonald's, Applebee's, Kangaroo/The Pantry Stores, Wendy's, a hotel chain, and Cracker Barrel

For More Information
Contact Roland Bass at 828-925-8941 [cell] or 828-659-8941 [home/office and fax].

 

Gateway Plaza entrance, view to I-40

Future location of stoplight

From Gateway Plaza entrance to new entrance at McDowell Tech

 

From Gateway Plaza towards NC226 mountain view

NC226, facing intersection of 226-I40 [Gateway Plaza on right]

From Exit 86, facing NC226-I40 intersection [Gateway Plaza to the left]

Closer view of busy NC226-I40 intersection, from Exit 86

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Gateway Plaza entrance, view to I-40