Atrium Health eyes Optimist Park in Charlotte for new standalone emergency unit
Atrium Health, the largest hospital provider in the Charlotte area, wants to add another emergency department in the region. This one would go in the Optimist Park neighborhood near uptown on land currently used as an impound lot for towed cars.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, Atrium’s governing body, is asking the city to rezone 3.1 acres at the northeast corner of North Davidson Street and Belmont Avenue. Currently, the site is a transit-oriented zone designed for high-density housing and shops near the light rail.
Atrium is seeking to rezone the parcel for “community activity,” a designation that allows a mix of residential, office, retail, and entertainment uses. This would enable Atrium to build the Atrium Health NoDa Emergency Department, a standalone unit. It would be an extension of the Carolinas Medical Center on Blythe Boulevard.
With more than 100 people moving to the region every day, Atrium wants to invest in local communities by creating more options like this project, Atrium said in a statement.
A petition was filed with the city on Monday for the property at 1111 N. Davidson St. The land is owned by Thomas Hunter, CEO of Hunter Auto & Wrecker Service, and has an appraised value of over $5.7 million, according to Mecklenburg County records.
“We recognize the great responsibility that comes with caring for our neighbors, family and friends, and we are committed to transparency as this project progresses,” Atrium stated.
The hospital system, however, would not provide the cost of the project.
About Atrium’s plans in the Charlotte region
Hunter Auto & Wrecker Service uses the space as an impound yard for towed vehicles. A company representative told The Charlotte Observer that plans for the property post-sale are subject to a nondisclosure agreement, which prevents the company from providing further details regarding the deal with Atrium.
This proposal is part of a broader expansion for the health system.
Atrium is also preparing to open a new freestanding emergency department in Concord on John Q. Hammons Drive this summer. Ground was broken on that Cabarrus County project in November, and it will operate as an extension of Atrium Health Cabarrus.
More on Atrium Health
Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the U.S., serving 6 million patients across 69 hospitals and more than 1,000 care locations.
The system continues to grow its footprint in Charlotte through partnerships and infrastructure. Advocate joined with Wake Forest University and Wexford Science & Technology to launch the Wake Forest University School of Medicine–Charlotte, the city’s first four-year medical school, which enrolled its inaugural class last July.
The school is a centerpiece of The Pearl, a $1.5 billion innovation district slated to include retail, office space, apartments, a parking deck and an outdoor plaza.
Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health finalized a merger in December 2022. Wake Forest University School of Medicine remains the academic arm of the Advocate healthcare system.
