Benn's Grant

Benn’s Grant is a mixed-use development in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The development is located in the unincorporated town of Benns Church, and the first residents moved in during the Spring of 2016.[1] The plan for the 253-acre (1.02 km2) development is for 560 residential units, 650,225 square feet (60,407.9 m2) of commercial space including box superstores, a 100-room hotel, strip malls, and office parks.[2]

History

In the spring of 2007, Wal-Mart franchise partnered with the developer Armada Hoffler to comprise the initial plans for the Benn’s Grant community to be put on a piece of land at the intersection of 3 main highways of Isle of Wight County. These plans were proposed to the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors[3] in the fall of 2007, followed by much petitioning, deliberation, and protests. With much opposition from the Board of Supervisors and the residents of Smithfield and Windsor (Citizens Against Benn’s Grant obtained over 2000 residents’ signatures,[4] the steps leading to the approval of the development were set back. The progress of Benn’s Grant had reached a standstill and Wal-Mart did not pursue Isle of Wight County development for while, instead building 2 big box stores within 20 minutes of the desired Benn’s Grant location.

After being held up for almost a decade by an economic slowdown and community opposition, the model homes opened in December 2015 and the first residents moved in shortly thereafter.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Benn's Grant takes off". Suffolk News-Herald. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Ferguson, T. & Joseph, J. (2009). Benn’s Grant: Isle of Wight County, Va. Harvey Lindsay Commercial Reality. http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/0/F/A/0FA160F2-C988-4307-9E98-FC3AD189EEA3.pdf
  3. ↑ Board of Supervisors Minutes. Jan 2008.
  4. ↑ Darden, Deloris. Letters to Board of Supervisor. 2008.

Coordinates: 36°56′09″N 76°35′12″W / 36.935794°N 76.586566°W / 36.935794; -76.586566

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