Gas stations, hotels and restaurants: Here's what's coming to Heartwood at Richmond Hill
The vision for Heartwood at Richmond Hill is coming into focus, with the first homes in the 10,000-unit planned community now occupied and the first retail tenants claiming prime commercial sites within the neighborhood.
Convenience store operator Enmarket and self-storage unit giant Stop N Stor will open businesses in Heartwood's retail epicenter, located off Interstate 95 at Exit 82. A conceptual site plan shows the possibility of two hotels and multiple restaurants for the 25.5-acre commercial hub.
“Commercial property is hot at the moment,” said Bill Cunningham, vice president of real estate for Raydient Places and Properties. “People are seeing the vision of Heartwood. It's an organic extension of Richmond Hill. It's all about the lifestyle. People can see that and they want to be a part of it.”
What's planned beyond houses?
A real estate sales listing published by Cushman & Wakefield's Savannah broker offers eight commercial sites on land bordered by I-95 and Belfast Keller Road. Nearby, St. Joseph's/Candler has broken ground on its 27-acre medical campus, which the Savannah-based hospital operator announced in August 2022.
The health and wellness facility is a "gamechanger" for Heartwood, Cunningham said. When the announcement was made last year, St. Joseph's/Candler President and CEO Paul P. Hinchey said integrating health care services into the development of a large-scale community - one that promises to double the population of Richmond Hill - is an uncommon approach.
"The trick is to do this on the front end of the development," Hinchey said.
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Heartwood community will feature multiple subdivisions as it builds out over the next 20 to 25 years, the first being Loblolly with 175 homes. There are more than two dozen families living in Heartwood now and sales of more homes are expected to close later this year.
“This is amazing to see as we just started moving them in last September,” said Cunningham. “Richmond Hill in general is a desirable community and Heartwood is the next place for people to grow with us.”
A vision 10 years in the making
Heartwood at Richmond Hill was the brainchild of Cunningham and planning began more than a decade ago when he discovered Bryan County was one of the fastest growing areas in the country. That, coupled with his love for the outdoors, prompted him to build a neighborhood where residents can connect with nature in their own backyard.
In 2013, Richmond Hill annexed property west of I-95 along Belfast Keller Road. From there, Heartwood at Richmond Hill was born.
Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter said future amenities will provide a greater level of comfort and convenience.
"We are very excited about the St. Joseph’s medical complex coming," said Carpenter. "It will provide needed medical care. We’ve been trying to recruit more specialists, perhaps a neurologist and an ENT, to come to the Richmond Hill area. This will facilitate that. There are plans for an Enmarket and a Stop N Store and this is only the beginning."
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Retailers follow residents to Richmond Hill Heartwood neighborhood
