The groundbreaking ceremony for Western State Hospital was recently held, according to The News Leader.

The new mental health facility will bring new jobs to the area and boost the local economy.

Homeowners can appreciate this type of growth that will draw more professionals into the area.

"Mirroring reforms in the field of mental health, Western State Hospital will once again get a major overhaul.

State and local officials, including Gov. Tim Kaine, were on hand Tuesday morning for the official groundbreaking ceremony for a $125 million replacement hospital. The new 246-bed hospital will be constructed on a 66-acre site adjacent to the existing facility and is scheduled to open by spring 2013.

'It represents a real step forward in the way mental health issues are addressed and mental health is treated in Virginia,' Kaine said. 'This new facility really matches up with the right way to deal with mental health issues.'

The hospital, which opened in 1950, was built to house 1,800 patients and served more than 3,000 patients at its peak usage during the 1960s. Jack Barber, director of Western State Hospital, however, said recent changes to mental health care have made long-term hospitalization far less necessary."

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