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CORNELIUS The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department has secured $1.1million in federal stimulus money to begin the West Branch Rocky River Greenway in Davidson.
The grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will build the greenway's 1.1-mile first phase.
The project will combine with the existing Southeast Greenway to link several subdivisions to Davidson Elementary School and South Street Park and to an area with sidewalks and easy biking to downtown Davidson and Davidson College, Park and Recreation officials announced last week.
Construction is expected to start early next year and finish in about a year, officials said.
The new trail will run from River Ford Drive east along West Branch Rocky River and will end east of Shearer Road. It will link with the sidewalks and bike lanes of Southeast Greenway, which passes through the River Run community to a paved trail.
West Branch Rocky River Greenway is the county's second greenway to draw federal stimulus money. The first was Toby Creek Greenway, which will link Mallard Creek/Clark's Creek Greenway to UNCCharlotte.
Medical-dental-office building approved
Developers David and Marianna Calabrase of Cornelius have received the go-ahead to build their 15,000-square-foot medical-dental-professional office building at Norman Island Drive and N.C. 73.
The Cornelius Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a zoning change for the couple's planned Norman Island Office Park last week. They intend to begin construction within six months.
"This will be a beautiful building architecturally and will be more than two-thirds owner-occupied when opened," Cornelius commissioner Dave Gilroy said.
Huntersville dentist Robert Vaughan and Huntersville root canal specialist John Wells told the planning board in October that they look forward to moving into the building. Vaughan said it will allow him to expand his practice.
The planning board voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Commissioners approve the zoning change.
52-slip marina approved for Lake Norman
MOORESVILLE The town Board of Commissioners gave a Mint Hill developer approval last week to build a 52-slip marina off N.C. 150 and sell and service boats there.
The marina will include a pedestrian boardwalk, a protective seawall and a refurbished and expanded building with more storefront.
Nearby residents applauded the commissioners' unanimous votes approving a permit and rezoning for the project, because the votes excluded allowing space for dredging operations.
Residents had fought the developer's original plans to allow a local dredging company to move its operations from Williamson Road at Interstate 77 Exit 33.
The developer, dentist Ted Morris, would ultimately like to build a development called Promenade on the Lake on the 16.5 acres. It would include a hotel up to eight stories tall, 200 boat slips, a conference center, spa, condos and retail shops.
The economy doesn't favor such further development now, said Robby Johnson of Robert Johnson Architects Inc. in Charlotte, who represented Morris before the commissioners.
The marina will also include a store and restrooms. An existing boat ramp will be restored, and cars will get to the ramp via Big Dukes Lane.
Have your say on possible cutback in 83X bus service
The Charlotte Area Transit System welcomes your input Tuesday when it discusses possibly eliminating one morning trip and one evening trip of the 83X Mooresville Express bus.
Offer feedback between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Francis Auditorium at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Main Library, 310 N. Tryon St. in uptown Charlotte.
If adopted, the cutback would take effect Feb. 1.
Busy Goodwill store in Cornelius gets a makeover
CORNELIUS Goodwill's retail store and donation center on West Catawba Avenue has undergone upgrades modeled after its newest store in Concord, which opened in June.
"Of our 20 stores, Goodwill's Cornelius location is our busiest location and has become a favorite for Goodwill shoppers across the region," said Armando Barragan of Charlotte-based Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.
The Cornelius store opened in March 2000. Goodwill officials were scheduled to hold "Re-Grand Opening" festivities on Saturday.
Proceeds from the sale of donated items at Goodwill stores provide employment and job training assistance to people searching for work.
Ingle Builders to welcome public at 'green' home
LINCOLNTON What makes a home "green"?
What are the benefits of green and Energy Star designation to a homeowner?
Lincoln County-based Ingle Builders Inc. will answer those and other questions during an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the green-certified home it built at 3367 Quinlan Lane, in Quinlan Estates off N.C. 150 East in Lincolnton.
Details: 704-735-9739; mark@inglebuilders.com; www.inglebuilders.com.
