By CATHY DYSON

Harris Teeter Inc. its getting its seventh extension from King George County on its plans to build a food distribution center--but this time the company is paying for the delay.

The North Carolina-based grocer will give the landowner who is selling 100 acres for the warehouse $200,000 to extend negotiations, the Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday.

The county had an agreement with the Taylor family of King George to sell the property for the Harris Teeter center. That agreement expires on Dec. 31, said County Administrator Travis Quesenberry.

Harris Teeter also will pay the landowner $2,083 per month starting in January, for each month that passes before it closes on the property, said Nicole Thompson, the county's economic development director.

The county and Harris Teeter are negotiating the extension through October, said Catherine Reuhl, a communication specialist with Harris Teeter.

It's been almost 11 months since Harris Teeter announced its plans to build a 500,000-square-foot facility in the county's industrial park. The project seemed like a win-win; King George would get $4 million for the land and the grocer would get $3 million in incentives from the county and state over the next four years under a performance agreement.

But when the economy soured, Harris Teeter had to delay its plans for the distribution center, which is expected to create 335 new full-time jobs. The grocer continues its "due diligence," and county officials say they're confident plans will speed up when the economy improves.

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com