Franklin, Tenn.-based Acadia Healthcare has withdrawn plans to relocate Village Behavioral Health to Friendsville, Tenn., the company said in a statement shared with Becker’s.
Village Behavioral Health, a residential center for adolescents, is currently located in Louisville, Tenn. A spokesperson for Village Behavioral Health told Becker’s the provider purchased and studied a site in Friendsville but found it would not have necessary access to city water and fire resources.
“This is a critical resource, and one that presents a serious roadblock to the site we had aimed to develop,” the spokesperson said. “The distance to access city police or fire department support was also a concern for prompt response times. As a result of this, we decided not to move forward with a facility in Friendsville.”
Residents expressed opposition to the facility, NBC affiliate WBIR reported July 3, voicing concerns about patient and resident safety. Some residents also worried the site would suppress property values.
The decision to abandon the Friendsville site “in no way diminishes our commitment to serving youth facing mental health challenges,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to treat patients from our Louisville location as we assess other locations in the region to build a new Village Behavioral Health that can continue to deliver high-quality care and be supported by the appropriate infrastructure.”
