Firefighters over the past week assisted an occupant stuck in a stalled elevator at the Davidson College Baker Sports Complex and responded to multiple alarm activations caused by burned food on kitchen stoves. Engine 1 was canceled while responding to assist with searching for a missing 2-year-old once the child was found, and emergency personnel helped manage a car wreck on N.C. 73 at Stanley McElrath Road after fluid began to leak from one of the vehicles. Details on these incidents and others (along with a tally of the week’s medical calls) may be found below. Read the full story

The chapel of Davidson United Methodist Church on South Main Street glowed against dark clouds Friday morning. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

We’re always looking for good photos of Davidson, people and events. Send us your photos for consideration at editor@davidsonnews.net. Read the full story

Consultant Mark Briggs discusses the Red Line plan at Wednesday's Lake Norman Transportation Commission meeting. Also pictured: Cornelius Commissioner Chuck Travis (left) and consultant Katherine Henderson (right) (Christina Ritchie Rogers/DavidsonNews.net)

By CHRISTINA RITCHIE ROGERS
and DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Commercial property owners along the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project will be asked to make big up-front investments if area towns agree to move forward with the line, and some say that could make the project a tough sale.

To help pay for the commuter and freight rail line north of Charlotte, owners of commercial property in special districts around the tracks could begin paying extra taxes or fees years before rail service begins – and before they see any benefits. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson’s Town Board has scheduled a public hearing Jan. 24 on the proposed Red Line Regional Rail Project, including financing plans that would help pay for construction and operation of the line. At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the board also passed a second resolution authorizing the town staff to work with other area governments on developing the “value-capture options and other policies” proposed by the Metropolitan Transit Commission’s Red Line Task Force. Read the full story

Lauren Blackburn looks at a map with citizens during Thursday's meeting at Town Hall (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Participants in Thursday's session marked up a map of the West Side of Davidson. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

If historical growth trends continue, Davidson’s population could more than double from its current 11,000 over the next few decades. That’s expected whether the proposed commuter rail line to Charlotte gets built or not, according to town planning manager Lauren Blackburn.

The rail line would only speed that growth, Ms. Blackburn said Thursday night at Town Hall, at the latest in a series of meetings to gather citizen input on development along the rail corridor.

The question is, how will Davidson develop in response to that growth? Read the full story

Workers installed a sign on South Street Wednesday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

More new signs are going up around Davidson this week, part of an ongoing town campaign to spruce up downtown and help visitors find their way to local landmarks. The newest signs, including a several along and around Main Street, point visitors to “Historic Downtown,” the library, Davidson College and the South Main area, among other sites. Read the full story

Two-hour parking signs have gone up on the north end of South Street, near the Stowe's Corner building (left).

The town has adopted parking limits on an area of South Street near downtown in response to residents’ concerns about overflow parking from the nearby Stowe’s Corner building and CVS. The changes include parking permits for residents and a 2-hour limit on parking for patrons of Main Street businesses. Meanwhile, the cost of a parking ticket in downtown Davidson is going up on Jan. 1. Read the full story

Firefighters assisted homeowners with a number of household problems this week. A woman on Cotton Gin Alley called 911 after waking up early Sunday to the smell of electrical smoke, but firefighters were unable to detect smoke or any other hazards upon investigating.  A malfunctioning residential fire alarm on Rollingdale Lane prompted an emergency response last Friday, and a homeowner on Callaway Hills Lane requested assistance for an oven broiler that would not turn off. Details on these incidents and more (along with a tally of the week’s medical calls) may be found below. Read the full story