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| The Fan |
Richmond and the surrounding counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico have an abundance of neighborhoods that are rich in architectural charm and character. From compact urban row houses, cottage bungalows, stately homes surrounded by towering trees and loft apartments in the heart of downtown to family-oriented planned communities, executive homes, and amenity-rich town homes in the counties, the Richmond area has something to offer for every taste.
The City of Richmond boasts many architecturally diverse neighborhoods north and south of the James River, all within an easy commute to VCU-MCV. Are you looking for a Victorian period home within five minutes of the hospital? The neighborhoods of the Fan, Museum District, Church Hill, and Oregon Hill just might fit the bill. If you desire the urban feel of a Soho-like loft, Downtown Richmond offers newly constructed high-rise condos as well as historic warehouses properties on the river that have been converted into unique living spaces. Within a 10-15 minute commute to MCV and the downtown area, the Westhampton, Westover Hills, Stratford Hills and North Side areas of the city offer tree-lined streets of cottages, cape cods, Spanish villas, English tudors, and classic colonials along with eclectic dining and shopping.
Downtown: The downtown area extends East/West from the I-95/64 downtown interchange up to
Belvidere and North/South from I-64 to Main Street. Known primarily for the medical campus on Broad
Street and the financial district in the Main Street area, the downtown area also has several shopping
istricts, government services, and bars and restaurants (around 17th and 18th d Streets).
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| The Fan |
The Fan: The fan stretches East/West from Belvidere to Boulevard and runs North/South from Broad Street to Main Street. The academic campus is considered part of the Fan. The fan earned its name because down by VCU, at Belvidere, Broad and Main are only four blocks apart but “fan” out to 9 blocks apart by the time they cross Boulevard, by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Things to note about the fan: Monument Avenue turns into Franklin at Lombardy, an eastbound one-way street that cuts through the academic campus. Main Street is a westward one-way street that turns into Ellwood Avenue at Boulevard. The East/West streets that cross Boulevard are Broad Street, Grace Street, Monument Avenue, Park Avenue, Kensington Avenue, Stuart Avenue, Hanover Avenue, Grove Avenue, Floyd Avenue and Main Street.
The Upper Fan: The Upper fan stretches west from Boulevard up to the Downtown Expressway
(Thompson Street). There are mostly homes and apartments in the upper fan, with a few scattered
restaurants and markets. The notable exception is Carytown, a shopping district located on Cary Street, an
eastbound one-way street that runs from the Downtown Expressway to Boulevard. Carytown is a great
place to walk around on a sunny afternoon.
The South Side nearest downtown Richmond: Located south of the James River, the South Side is home to residential and commercial districts, as well as many of Richmond’s golf courses. South Side neighborhoods include Stony Point, Westover Hills, Blackwell and Bon Air.
The North Side: Neighborhoods here include Bellvue, Washington Park and Ginter Park, as well as Virginia Union University and Virginia Theological Seminary, Richmond International Raceway (RIR)
and The Classic Amphitheatre at Strawberry Hill. This area begins on the north side of Broad Street.
Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe Slip: Home to shops, galleries, restaurants and bars, “The Bottom” and “The Slip”, offer loads of Richmond character. “The Slip” is located along Cary Street from about the 1200
block down to the 1800 block. “The Bottom” is in and around Main Street and 17th, 18th and 19th Streets.
Close to, if not part of, the downtown area, is the scenic Canal Walk.
Church Hill: Located east of “The Bottom”, up the hill on Broad Street, this area is home to some of the
most historic homes in Richmond—not to mention the historical St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Neighborhoods include St. John’s, Oakwood, Chimborazo, and Fulton Hill.
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| Jackson Ward |
Jackson Ward: This area is close to the VCU academic campus and contains many original
Victorian houses. It is also home to the city’s Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Oregon Hill: This small, six-block neighborhood is also close to the academic campus and contains
historic Hollywood Cemetery — the resting place of several U.S. Presidents. Also home to Mama
Zu’s, a favorite and famous Italian restaurant on Pine Street (they don’t take reservations).
Surrounding Counties convenient to Richmond
If you are looking for a more suburban lifestyle, one of Richmond’s neighboring counties may be the right spot for you. Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties offer wonderful housing options that are within a 15-25 minute commute to the downtown area. The Huguenot and Robious Road corridors of Chesterfield county offer charming starter homes in neighborhoods like the Williamsburg-style Settler’s Landing, turn of the century charmers in the Victorian-era neighborhood of Bon Air, to the executive-style homes in planned communities like Tarrington on the James and Salisbury. This area of Chesterfield has Blue Ribbon schools, public parks and golf courses, and unique shopping experiences as well as big box retail establishments. Interstate 288 and the Chippenham and Powhite parkways provide quick access (20-25 minutes) to downtown Richmond.
Henrico County
Western Henrico County offers a nice blend of older established neighborhoods in the River Road corridor, dating back to the 1940s, to newer planned communities of single-family and town homes/condos in the far West End like Twin Hickory, Wyndham, and Wellesley. The Short Pump area is exploding with growth in the form of new homes and new shopping experiences from West Broad Street Village to Short Pump Towne Center. Families will recognize award winning schools, parks, and an abundance of restaurants and shopping. With easy access to interstates 64 and 295, you can be downtown in 20 minutes.
The Near West End extends from the western side of the Downtown Expressway
up to the Three Chopt and Patterson Avenue area. The Near West End has many shopping districts and
housing neighborhoods; one of the more notable is near the University of Richmond and the Country
Club of Virginia. The Westhampton area is located near the Grove and Libbie Avenues intersection.
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| West Broad Village |
The West End and Far West End extends, you guessed it, west from the Near West End at Patterson and Three Chopt to as far west as you can drive in 20 or 30 minutes. The West End is continually expanding towards Goochland County and is home to numerous apartment complexes and housing/residential and commercial developments, including Innsbrook and the Short Pump area. Many national businesses and restaurant chains (Target, Home Depot, Applebee’s, TGI Friday’s, etc.) can be found in the West End.
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| Rockett's Landing |
East End of Henrico County, adjacent to downtown Richmond and within a 5 minute commute of VCU-MCV, you will discover Rockett’s Landing, a new urbanism community that features several residential choices mixed closely with restaurants, shops, a marina and a riverfront park.
Hanover County
Hanover County boasts family-oriented planned communities like Kings Charter, Ash Creek, and Milestone with award-winning schools and all of the amenities of the other counties, but with a more rural feel. Interstates 95 and 295 make for an easy commute of 20-25 minutes to VCU-MCV and the downtown area.
Chesterfield County
Chesterfield, like Hanover County, boasts family oriented neighborhoods as well as many planned communities. With access to I-95, I-295, 288 and a variety of other freeways, commuting to or from Chesterfield is a breeze. With new construction on the rise, you will find a wide array of both new and resale homes available.
