HICKORY, NC-Corning Cable Systems, a subsidiary of New York-based Corning Inc., is investing a total $100 million over the next five years in the two facilities. Area-wide, Corning plans to spend $450 million to make its fiber optics operations the largest in the world. Hickory is 50 miles northwest of Downtown Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE-Norfolk, VA-based Norfolk Southern Corp. is preparing preliminary plans for an intermodal terminal near Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The terminal wouldn't be ready before 2003.

RALEIGH, NC-Seven North Carolina State University graduate students have been given a classroom assignment that calls for rethinking a developer's redevelopment plans.

LANCASTER COUNTY, SC-Crosland Group of Charlotte plans to break ground next year on 521 Corporate Center, a $70 million, 700,000-sf venture that expects to generate 2,500 new jobs to this manufacturing-dominant area 90 miles south of Downtown Charlotte. The park will occupy 67 acres along U.S. 521, abutting the North Carolina-South Carolina border.

CHARLOTTE-Smaller stores are showing a 7% vacancy level, according to Karnes Research Co., a locally-based industry tracker. Some big box-retailers are leasing the empty properties just to keep a competitor from setting up shop, brokers say.

PINEVILLE, NC-The 52-year-old Dick's Clothing & Sporting Goods chain has bought a seven-acre site for $2.9 million or $414,255 per acre ($9.51 per sf) just south of Charlotte for the first of five planned stores. The first 45,000-sf unit will open next summer. The site housed the former Cedar Springs Hospital.

CHARLOTTE-Mecklenburg County is buying the vacant, 18,500-sf structure from William Kerns for $2.48 million. The county will house some of its growing agencies at the property.

CHARLOTTE-The locally based firm is adding five new employees to its 25-person staff to keep up with projects presently under way. Crosland has 1.6 million sf of retail under development in six local projects.