Davidson Neighbors Protest Possible Development

DAVIDSON, NC – Davidson residents are hoping to stop plans to build a retail and housing development.

“There has not been a tremendous amount of openness and engagement in this process with the public,” explains Davidson resident David Sitton.

Tuesday night commissioners will decide whether to sell 19-acres near downtown to a developer.

Sitton says the town of Davidson should live up to a commitment made decades ago.

“The original intention was that it would be a park, Davidson Central Park, and that was the original intention,” he says.

But instead a developer has presented plans for a senior living community called Luminous.

It would include a retail center, hotel, and over 100 condos.

Opponents argue the previous owner sold the land to the town in 1985 with the agreement it would be used for a park. playground, or other recreational space.

The developer maintains the site would be 60 percent open space and would include a six and a half acre park.

But neighbors also raise concerns about the number of people who would be living there.

“It’s prime land in downtown Davidson and the west side has already seen a lot of density and has very little green space,” says Davidson resident Jamie Ramsden.