Refrigerated Trailer for Rent in Bluffton, SC

Novant Health officials said March 24 it received a Certificate of Need to move forward with constructing a new hospital in Bluffton. The hospital is planned to have 50 beds and could expand to 100.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health approved Novant Health’s Certificate of Need (CON) application to build a state-of-the-art, 50-bed hospital in Bluffton, Carter Mello, Public Relations Manager for Novant in S.C. said March 24.

"This milestone marks a significant step forward in Novant Health’s commitment to expand healthcare access and deliver comprehensive medical care to the rapidly growing Lowcountry region," Mello said.

Joel Taylor, President of Hilton Head Hospital, said, "the new hospital will be a game-changer for the Lowcountry, bringing much-needed specialty care to one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing areas."

“Not only will Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center transform healthcare access, but it will also drive significant economic growth in the region, creating as many as 1,000 jobs in the Bluffton area over the next five years,” Taylor said.

Jason Bernd, Novant Health senior vice president and president of the South Carolina Region, said the approval of the certificate of need application reaffirmed Novant Health's commitment to bring world-class medical care closer to home.

“This hospital is a long-term investment in Bluffton and the surrounding communities to ensure families have access to high-quality care without having to travel great distances,” Bernd said.

The future Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, Mello said, is designed to address the increasing healthcare demands of Beaufort and Jasper counties, where many residents currently have to travel out of town for medical care.

Mello said the new facility was designed with growth in mind and will feature a new full-service hospital with the capability to expand to 100 beds as the community's needs grow.

"The $320 million facility, anticipated to open in 2028, will offer a wide range of medical specialties, including medical, surgical, emergency and trauma services, intensive care, labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology and orthopedics," Mello said.

Novant Health also recently announced its plans to enhance outpatient care in Bluffton with a freestanding emergency department, surgery centers, imaging services, urgent care, and primary and specialty clinics.

"Novant Health is dedicated to a holistic approach to improving community health, supporting regional workforce housing initiatives and recruiting top healthcare talent," Mello said. "An on-campus workforce housing development is underway adjacent to Hilton Head Medical Center, and Novant Health donated $1 million to the Coastal Community Development Corporation to build more affordable housing in the region."

Novant Health is based in Winston-Salem, N.C., and is a part of a four-state integrated network of physician clinics, outpatients' centers and hospitals, according to the company's website. The network has more than 1,600 physicians and 29,000 employees at more than 640 locations.

Novant Health acquired East Cooper Medical Center in Charleston, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head, and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville and 27 associated physician clinics in February of last year.

Novant Health has also expanded its care network with the acquisition of 52 Doctors Care and 20 Progressive Physical Therapy clinics and recently opened Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Beaufort​.

Mello said permits from the Town of Bluffton are in progress for the hospital.

"Novant Health remains committed to working closely with community leaders, physicians and stakeholders to ensure this project meets the evolving healthcare needs of the Lowcountry," he said.

On May 1, 2025, Tri Pointe Homes announced it is under contract for two land parcels in Coastal Carolina. The company plans to expand its premium lifestyle services by developing single-family homes and townhomes in Bluffton and Beaufort. The company is expecting significant growth as there has been an increased demand for homes in these areas.

Highlights

Tri Pointe Homes Plans to Grow in South Carolina

Tri Pointe Homes is one of the biggest real estate developers in the country, with their services available in 12 states. The company already has its divisions in the Central part and the East and West Coasts. The company is now expanding its Coastal Carolina division by announcing land transactions in Beaufort and Bluffton.

These new plans of land acquisition were announced officially on May 1, 2025. Doug Bauer, the CEO of the company, believes in the reputation, beauty, and location of Beaufort and South Carolina as a whole. After expanding to the Coastal Carolina division, these projects will contribute to the company’s continued growth.

Beaufort and Bluffton Project Plans by Tri Pointe Homes

Tri Pointe Homes is a premium brand that not only creates homes but also a community that complements luxury living. The expansion in Lowcountry will build on the area’s natural appeal. Single-family homes and townhomes will be constructed once the plan is approved. Below are more details on both projects.

The Beaufort project will be just six miles from downtown. Residents will have convenient access to the necessary amenities. 50 townhomes will be constructed with Lowcountry-inspired designs.

The project will be along the Highway 170 corridor. There will be connectivity to the Broad River waterfront and walkable stretches. Near this strategic project are prestigious schools like Preparatory Charter School. Also close are Cross Creek shopping mall, Savannah ports, Gulfstream, and USC Beaufort.

For Bluffton’s vibrant location, 26 single-family homes are planned. The homes are designed to offer a blend of traditional and modern elements. The community will be near the Promenade, famous for its restaurants and recreational spaces. Living here will also offer easy access to Bluffton High School, Red Cedar Elementary School, and Hilton Head Island beaches. This will make for an enriching experience.

Gray Shell, head of the Coastal Carolina division, said that demand for homes and market growth will strengthen Tri Pointe Homes’ position in the regional market. Once the approval comes and these transactions become successful, deliveries are expected from 2027. These projects will be a testimony to the combination of innovation and expertise.

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Rumors circulated on social media platforms such as Facebook and Nextdoor on Tuesday that probed about the possibility of a Trader Joe’s coming to Okatie Crossing in between the Bluffton and Hardeeville areas.

But was it an April Fool’s joke or a serious development scoop?

At the intersection of U.S. 278 and S.C. 170, this corridor is at a prime location between highly populated areas and roadways for both Jasper County and greater Beaufort County residents.

It has long been predicted that the national grocery store chain would make its landfall in the Lowcountry, but according to local officials and store representatives, the rumor is just a rumor.

“We’re actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, so there is a possibility we are looking at something in the area,” said Nakia Rohde, public relations manager for Trader Joe’s. “At this time, we do not have any locations confirmed in the area.”

The proposed space for the new grocer that residents and online posts pointed out is the vacant lot space behind the Wendy’s on Okatie Center Boulevard.

Back in 2019, this lot was also seen as a potential space for a Costco, which has since fallen through due to cost constraints.

“The property is not currently under contract and nothing is imminent at this point,” said Michael Patterson, president for Horne Properties, which oversees development in Okatie Crossing Center. “The property is still available at this time.”

Even though this area serves many residents of Beaufort County, the land is located within Hardeeville’s city limits.

City Manager of Hardeeville, Josh Gruber, also confirmed Wednesday that the Trader Joe’s rumor was not true.

The Island Packet also reached out to the Town of Bluffton in regards to other rumors of a Trader Joe’s opening in the area. Spokesperson for the town, Debbie Szpanka, debunked these rumors, too.

“The Town has no information that would indicate a Trader Joe’s is on its way,” she said. “However, Bluffton would welcome one with open arms. I feel certain Trader Joe’s would be very happy with us and be pleased with its decision to open its doors here.”

While this Trader Joe’s rumor made the rounds online, it turns out it was simply the product of an April Fool’s fiasco and Lowcountry residents won’t be visiting this new grocery chain anytime soon.

The Okatie Crossing Center has been a hot spot for new development, with the newest additions being a Pet Paradise Dog Daycare Center that opened in 2024 and a new Harbor Freight location on the way soon.

This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM.

BLUFFTON — In an interesting twist in the battle between Novant Health and Beaufort Memorial to establish a hospital in this fast-growing area, the state has apparently cleared both to move forward with their plans.

The S.C. Department of Public Health approved Novant's application for a certificate of need (CON), a document that's required before a hospital can be built.

This week, the state agency also approved Beaufort Memorial's application to build a 28-bed acute care Bluffton Community Hospital. Total cost for the project is expected to be less than $10 million.

Novant's plans call for a new 50-bed, 196,500-square-foot facility that is expected to cost $320 million to construct. Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, as it will be called, could be expanded to 100 beds should demand grow. The Post and Courier previously reported that the facility will be located at the intersection of Buckwalter Parkway and Lake Point Drive.

“The approval of our CON application reaffirms Novant Health’s commitment to bring world-class medical care closer to home,” said Jason Bernd, Novant Health's president of the South Carolina Region in a prepared statement. “This hospital is a long-term investment in Bluffton and the surrounding communities to ensure families have access to high-quality care without having to travel great distances.”

Efforts to bring a hospital to Bluffton go back to at least 2018. At that time, Beaufort Memorial announced a joint venture with the Medical University of South Carolina for a 20-bed acute-care hospital. State officials approved the plan.

Progress ground to a halt, however, when two local hospitals owned by Tenet Health appealed the approval. Those two hospitals were later acquired by Novant Health, which continued the challenge. The appellants questioned the project's financial feasibility and the need for a hospital in the area.

Beaufort Memorial spent the next six years tied up in court before finally withdrawing it's application in September. Two weeks later, Novant Health applied to advance its hospital plans, a move that Beaufort Memorial CEO Russel Baxley called "very frustrating."

A public hearing regarding Novant's application was held in January in a packed conference room in the Bluffton library. During public comments, Baxley spoke about the legal battle between Beaufort Memorial and Novant Health and accused Novant of "weaponizing" the certificate of need process.

After that meeting, Baxley told The Post and Courier that, should Novant's CON application be approved, Beaufort Memorial would challenge it.

In the intervening months, the Beaufort-based hospital system has announced plans for a medical office building on the corner of Bluffton and Buckwalter parkways. The project drew attention from area residents when trees covering the site were removed and the project broke ground earlier this year. The project will include medical offices, an ambulatory surgery center and a freestanding emergency department. It can also accommodate 28 hospital beds, though how the approval of the Novant project will impact those plans is not yet clear.

Additionally, Beaufort Memorial is building a freestanding emergency department on Hilton Head Island, within walking distance of Coligny Beach. It is expected to open in the winter of 2026.

In a press release, Novant touted its investment in workforce housing close to Hilton Head Medical Center, which it owns.

“This hospital will be a game-changer for the Lowcountry, bringing much-needed specialty care to one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing areas,” said Joel Taylor, president of Hilton Head Medical Center. “Not only will Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center transform healthcare access, but it will also drive significant economic growth in the region, creating as many as 1,000 jobs in the Bluffton area over the next five years.”