Details of Carilion Clinic's plans for Huckleberry Park land in Christiansburg are submitted to state. Several other park parcels may be sold for development to offset the town's park construction costs. A letter Carilion Clinic sent to the Virginia Department of Health reveals more specific details about the company's plans for a piece of land it's purchasing in the town of Christiansburg's Huckleberry Park. It will build a specialized imaging center there, according to the September letter obtained by Cardinal News through state public records. The Carilion New River Valley Medical Center - the healthcare company's hospital in Montgomery County outside Radford - intends to submit a certificate of public need application to establish the imaging center, according to the letter. Carilion plans to relocate a CT scanner to the new location, according to the letter. The Christiansburg Town Council approved the sale of two parcels of land at the park totaling more than five acres to Carilion for $5 million. Three commercial parcels could be sold by the town to help offset the park's construction cost estimated at $18 million, according to town online information. When Cardinal News reached out for comment on the certificate application process, Carilion repeated an earlier statement about how the company is exploring opportunities to expand access to a range of ambulatory services, including imaging and other outpatient care. In addition, Carilion Clinic clarified that plans remain subject to state approval, expected in the spring 2027. As a state regulatory program, the certificate of public need program requires healthcare owners and sponsors to secure official authorization from the state health commissioner before initiating new facility projects. The application for the certificate is intended to be reviewed during a Nov. 10 cycle, according to the letter. The state Department of Public Health is required by state law to ask for public comment on a certificate of public need request within 10 days from when the application review begins by posting a notice and a summary of the proposed project on a website. A notice will be posted on the following department of public health page. Erick Solorzano is a reporter for Cardinal News and a corps member for Report for America. Reach him... More by Erick Solorzano

Carilion purchases land at Huckleberry Park. By Marty Gordon Carilion Clinic is stepping up in providing services in the New River Valley after the purchase of five acres of land near Peppers Ferry Road. The medical provider is purchasing two lots at the edge of Huckleberry Park in Christiansburg. The purchase price is being listed at $5 million. In a statement late last week, a Carilion spokesman said while plans for the property have not been finalized, any future use would align with their mission to improve the health of the communities and expand access to care. Hannah Curtis, director of communications for Carilion, said Carilion Clinic has a long history of serving Christiansburg and the greater New River Valley, and Carilion remains committed to meeting the evolving health needs of the communities they serve. "Carilion is exploring opportunities to expand access to a range of ambulatory services, including imaging and other outpatient care. Plans remain subject to state approval, and we look forward to sharing additional details as they are finalized." "This land purchase marks the latest chapter in our continued investment in the region," she said. "We look forward to sharing additional details as they become available." Freestanding emergency departments are growing rapidly in popularity as a key expansion and off-campus strategy for major health systems like Carilion and Lewis Gale. Both made major announcements this past week. According to the latest numbers, the U.S. freestanding emergency room market is valued at $19.6 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach $29.6 billion by 2033, growing at an annual rate of 6.9 percent. Patients favor these freestanding facilities because of shorter wait times, in some cases 24/7 access, convenient neighborhood locations and advanced diagnostics like CT, x-ray and ultrasound compared to overcrowded main hospitals. In Daleville, Carilion Clinic broke ground on an addition to its Daleville facility off US 220, which will more than double the size of the building's footprint - adding a stand-alone 24/7 emergency department on the ground floor, and multi-specialty clinic spaces on the second floor. That new outpatient clinic in Daleville will house general surgery, orthopedics and cardiology, to go along with existing OB-GYN and imaging services. Completion date for the Carilion expansion in Daleville is expected sometime next year. Enter your email address to join its newsletters.