Site work began Wednesday at the site of the planned Carolinas HealthCare System behavioral health hospital on NC 73 in Davidson. Equipment was at work Thursday morning. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

The land deal has closed and bulldozers have finally arrived at the site of Carolinas HealthCare System’s planned $36 million behavioral health hospital off N.C. 73 in east Davidson. Contractors on Wednesday began clearing land for a construction entrance at the west end of property, and CHS officials say the hospital could open in a year. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

CommunityOne Bank’s lawsuit against the town of Davidson over a 2011 rezoning is about to go away. The Town Board agenda published late Friday includes a public hearing and vote on a proposed settlement of the lawsuit, which had sought to overturn the board’s rezoning of the former Davidson East site off N.C. 73. Meanwhile, the board on Tuesday also will revive a two-year-old proposal to ask voters to lengthen board members’ terms to four years in a November referendum. Read the full story

Carolinas HealthCare System presented new drawings of what the proposed mental health hospital off NC 73 will look like. Download a copy of the presentation below.

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Carolinas HealthCare System showed detailed plans for its proposed $36 million behavioral health hospital off N.C. 73 and the town manager presented new data on the project’s economic impact at a forum Thursday night. But opponents said afterward they’re still prepared to sue to stop the project if the town doesn’t halt it and give residents a chance to appeal. Read the full story

A community meeting to discuss Carolinas HealthCare System’s plans for a behavioral health hospital on N.C. in Davidson is scheduled Thursday, July 12, 6:30-8 p.m., at Davidson United Methodist Church chapel in downtown Davidson. Read the full story

In a pair of 5-0 votes Tuesday, Davidson’s Town Board approved an $8.9 million general fund budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and endorsed a five-year tax-refund package for MSC Industrial Direct Co., which last week announced plans to bring up to 400 jobs to a new “co-headquarters” in Davidson. The board also met in closed session, and ended up putting off a vote on an undisclosed “settlement agreement” that had been on the agenda. Read the full story

Davidson Town Board’s monthly work sessions are usually discussion-only meetings where no formal actions are taken. That won’t be the case this Tuesday, June 26, when the board is scheduled to vote on several critical matters: the 2012-13 budget, a tax-incentive package for MSC Industrial Direct Co., and an unexplained “settlement agreement.” The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Read the full story

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

CORNELIUS – State officials have given Carolinas HealthCare System the go-ahead to build a $36 million behavioral health hospital at a site off N.C. 73 in Davidson, instead of a previously approved location on NC 115 in Huntersville. Meanwhile, a consultant for the Town of Davidson said Friday that although the non-profit hospital won’t create new property tax revenue, the project will bring millions of dollars in economic benefits through jobs and spending, and it could spark growth along the N.C. 73 corridor.

Community meeting on hospital rescheduled, again. See below. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce will take a look at the economic benefits of a planned behavioral health hospital in Davidson at the next Focus Friday issues forum this Friday morning. The forum runs from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 22, at the Lake Norman Chamber, 19900 W. Catawba Ave., Cornelius. Read the full story