What the New Smithfield Hospital Means for Buyers

Thinking about buying in Isle of Wight near Smithfield? A brand-new hospital is about to change daily life along Benns Church Boulevard, from emergency access to local jobs and traffic. You want the upside without surprises. In this guide, you’ll see what Riverside Smithfield Hospital brings, how it could affect home values, and the practical checks to make before you write an offer. Let’s dive in.

Quick facts and timing

• Location: Near US‑258 and VA‑10 along Benns Church Boulevard in Smithfield.
• Scale: A full‑service, 50‑bed acute care hospital with an adjacent multi‑specialty medical office building.
• Status: Riverside received its Certificate of Occupancy on Sept. 8, 2025, with patient care targeted for early January 2026. See Riverside’s update on the Certificate of Occupancy milestone.
• Phasing: The medical office building began phased openings in fall 2025, with hospital services to follow. Get the latest on the Riverside Smithfield Hospital project.

What services to expect

Riverside summarizes a 24/7 Emergency Department, inpatient medical and surgical care, an ICU, operating rooms and advanced diagnostics, plus outpatient specialties in the on‑site medical office building. Review the hospital’s planned services on the project page.

Riverside also projected about 190 full‑time positions across clinical and non‑clinical roles, with community hiring underway. See Riverside’s staffing plan update for context.

Why this matters for Isle of Wight buyers

Shorter trips for urgent care can be a big quality‑of‑life upgrade. Today, many residents travel roughly 10 miles to Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, and about 20 to 25 miles to Riverside Regional Medical Center depending on route. You can compare current routes using Sentara Obici’s directions page. Having emergency, inpatient, and specialty care minutes away will appeal to many buyers, including older adults and families.

Market impacts to watch

Academic research finds that hospitals can lift nearby property values in some markets, but effects vary by size, distance and local conditions. A 2019 study in the Journal of Big Data highlights these mixed, distance‑dependent outcomes. You can review the study’s findings here: The impact of colleges and hospitals on local real estate markets.

Local signals point both ways. Isle of Wight has been among Virginia’s faster‑growing counties, which supports housing demand; see the Smithfield Times summary of recent population growth trends. At the same time, hundreds of new homes are planned or proposed along the corridor, such as the Gwaltney Farms application across from Benn’s Grant. More supply can moderate near‑term price pressure even as buyer interest rises.

Infrastructure and corridor changes

To support the hospital and nearby neighborhoods, the county approved a new 750,000‑gallon water tower funded by a mix of federal dollars and developer proffers. Read the Smithfield Times coverage of the water tower approval and funding. Planning approvals along Benns Church Boulevard also addressed building height, signage and site access, all of which shape traffic patterns. See the planning and access approvals recap.

Micro‑location tradeoffs near Benns Church

Homes directly beside an Emergency Department entrance or ambulance route may hear more sirens and see more EMS movement. Traffic will concentrate at access points along Benns Church Boulevard, especially during peak hours and shift changes. If you prefer quieter streets, consider listings set a bit farther from primary access drives or oriented away from the hospital’s entrances.

Who may benefit most

• Older buyers and households managing chronic conditions who value faster emergency and inpatient access.
• Medical professionals hired by Riverside and nearby providers who want short commutes.
• Investors focused on rental demand from hospital staff and service workers.

If you want larger lots and a more rural feel, you may prefer parcels a bit farther from the campus and main corridor.

Buyer checklist near the new hospital

Use this list while touring and before you make an offer:

• Distance and orientation: How close is the home to the main hospital entrance and typical ambulance routes? Ask your agent to review likely access paths.
• Pipeline and phases: Is the home in or near an active or proposed subdivision phase along the corridor, such as projects noted in Gwaltney Farms coverage?
• Schools and planning: Confirm current school zones and follow county discussions on capacity as growth continues.
• Utilities and fees: With the new water tower investment, clarify any utility or HOA fees for new construction.
• Taxes and fiscal context: Riverside is a not‑for‑profit health system, so the campus may be tax‑exempt. Learn more about Riverside’s nonprofit status on their community page, and ask the county how proffers and private development affect local finances.
• Resale and rents: Compare recent sales and rental vacancies near Benns Church Boulevard to see whether buyers are already pricing in the hospital’s influence.

What to expect next

Construction is complete and the medical office building has begun opening. Riverside reported a Certificate of Occupancy in September 2025 and targeted early January 2026 for patient care. Hiring is underway, which should draw more employees and services to the area as the campus ramps up.

Ready to tailor your search to the opportunities and tradeoffs near the new hospital? With 15 years of home‑building experience and local market insight, Jason Dunaway can help you find the right fit in Isle of Wight and across Hampton Roads.

FAQs

Will home values near the new Smithfield hospital go up?

• Possibly, but it depends on distance, hospital scale and the influx of new homes; expect stronger interest, with prices shaped by both demand and new supply along Benns Church Boulevard.

When will Riverside Smithfield Hospital open to patients?

• Riverside reported a Certificate of Occupancy in September 2025 and targeted early January 2026 for opening; confirm current status as dates can shift.

Will traffic increase along Benns Church Boulevard?

• Yes, expect more vehicles near hospital access points and during shift changes; review rush‑hour patterns and planned improvements before you buy.

Will I hear ambulance sirens if I live close by?

• Homes immediately beside ED entrances or along primary routes will notice EMS more; noise drops with distance and site orientation, so visit at different times to gauge impact.

How does the hospital affect local taxes?

• The hospital is part of a nonprofit health system, so the campus may be tax‑exempt; fiscal effects come more from related private development, fees and proffers than from the hospital building itself.