Richmond, VA - Neighborhoods to Avoid/Exploit? (1 Viewer)

[John Bender]

Moving there in a month it appears.

I'm a suburb kind of guy. Like green space, quiet, and would prefer to rent a free-standing house most likely.

I'd like to be north of the city as my commute to D.C. a few times a month will be easier. The other times I'll need to get to the west side of Richmond (near U of Richmond).

Any suggestions of areas to avoid? To focus on?

I looked at Ashland, but I know nothing about this area. I'd put the circle somewhere between north Richmond and Ashland as the boundaries.

Feedback appreciated. Willing to stretch on budget to rent a house and have some privacy/land.

TIA

 

[jon_mx]

Look for neighborhoods where you see the most confederate flags.

 

[John Bender]

Look for neighborhoods where you see the most confederate flags.

why?

 

[matttyl]

Look into stuff along 295 between 95 and 64 (Short Pump and Glen Allen). Right on 295 then 95 for your commute, but still easy enough to get into the city.

 

[Apple Jack]

I'm in Richmond a couple times a year and I kind of like it. Some good restaurants and dig The National theater. I'm more of a city guy and would prefer Oregon Hill or Carytown.

Ashland is more rural than suburban. If suburban is what you want, I recommend checking out Short Pump.

 

[3C's]

Ashland is a pretty cool little town and if you like beer COTU is a nice little brewery.

 

[Apple Jack]

Wait, I think Im mixing up Ashland and Hanover. Not sure I know Ashland.

 

[Don Quixote]

If I lived in Richmond, I'd move to within walking distance of Hardywood Brewery. No idea what the neighborhood is like.

 

[James Daulton]

My kid goes to Randolph Macon, avoid Ashland, it's a really small, rural-feeling town with tons of chain restaurants and hotels to support Kings Dominion. Short Pump is very nice and probably what you're looking for. Carytown is actually in Richmond so that wouldn't be the suburbs you want. Carytown is awesome though with lots of great food and hipster stores.

There's a neighborhood right outside of the University of Richmond which looks amazing. Huge houses and lots. I don't know the name of it, but the houses leading up to it were still very nice but they didn't look like you had to make Chet-cash to live there.

 

[3C's]

If I lived in Richmond, I'd move to within walking distance of Hardywood Brewery. No idea what the neighborhood is like.

Scott's Addition. 3 breweries already within a mile or so of each other and another within throwing distance of Hardywood coming.

 

[Apple Jack]

My kid goes to Randolph Macon, avoid Ashland, it's a really small, rural-feeling town with tons of chain restaurants and hotels to support Kings Dominion. Short Pump is very nice and probably what you're looking for. Carytown is actually in Richmond so that wouldn't be the suburbs you want. Carytown is awesome though with lots of great food and hipster stores.

There's a neighborhood right outside of the University of Richmond which looks amazing. Huge houses and lots. I don't know the name of it, but the houses leading up to it were still very nice but they didn't look like you had to make Chet-cash to live there.

Near CC of VA, yeah. Probably the wealthiest area in town, if not some of Midlothian.

 

[James Daulton]

My kid goes to Randolph Macon, avoid Ashland, it's a really small, rural-feeling town with tons of chain restaurants and hotels to support Kings Dominion. Short Pump is very nice and probably what you're looking for. Carytown is actually in Richmond so that wouldn't be the suburbs you want. Carytown is awesome though with lots of great food and hipster stores.

There's a neighborhood right outside of the University of Richmond which looks amazing. Huge houses and lots. I don't know the name of it, but the houses leading up to it were still very nice but they didn't look like you had to make Chet-cash to live there.

Near CC of VA, yeah. Probably the wealthiest area in town, if not some of Midlothian.

Westham? All I know is the super rich section was amazing. But the super rich section was bordered by a regular, very nice section.

 

[Apple Jack]

My kid goes to Randolph Macon, avoid Ashland, it's a really small, rural-feeling town with tons of chain restaurants and hotels to support Kings Dominion. Short Pump is very nice and probably what you're looking for. Carytown is actually in Richmond so that wouldn't be the suburbs you want. Carytown is awesome though with lots of great food and hipster stores.

There's a neighborhood right outside of the University of Richmond which looks amazing. Huge houses and lots. I don't know the name of it, but the houses leading up to it were still very nice but they didn't look like you had to make Chet-cash to live there.

Near CC of VA, yeah. Probably the wealthiest area in town, if not some of Midlothian.

Westham? All I know is the super rich section was amazing. But the super rich section was bordered by a regular, very nice section.

we can build a moat.

 

[dgreen]

For your commutes to DC, you may want to look into Amtrak from either Ashland or Staples Mill Road. Depending on where in the DC area you have to go, Amtrak could be a good option a couple times a month. Not sure what the neighborhoods are like near there, though.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Ashland is a truck stop. Closer to DC, but I'd skip it. Too close to 95.

Manakin-Sabot is your place. Richville but really nice. Glen Allen/Short Pump area is nice too.

 

[3C's]

Ashland is a truck stop. Closer to DC, but I'd skip it. Too close to 95.

Manakin-Sabot is your place. Richville but really nice. Glen Allen/Short Pump area is nice too.

Wouldn't want to be anywhere near Short Pump. Cars on top of cars and shopping centers/strip malls on top of each other. I suppose if you want to be near everything but still have to drive to get there and spend 20 minutes going a couple of miles it's ok.

 

[John Bender]

Ashland is a truck stop. Closer to DC, but I'd skip it. Too close to 95.

Manakin-Sabot is your place. Richville but really nice. Glen Allen/Short Pump area is nice too.

Wouldn't want to be anywhere near Short Pump. Cars on top of cars and shopping centers/strip malls on top of each other. I suppose if you want to be near everything but still have to drive to get there and spend 20 minutes going a couple of miles it's ok.

Sounds like a suburb

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I'm looking forward to the cheaper cost of living and a bit warmer weather in winter.

 

[3C's]

Ashland is a truck stop. Closer to DC, but I'd skip it. Too close to 95.

Manakin-Sabot is your place. Richville but really nice. Glen Allen/Short Pump area is nice too.

Wouldn't want to be anywhere near Short Pump. Cars on top of cars and shopping centers/strip malls on top of each other. I suppose if you want to be near everything but still have to drive to get there and spend 20 minutes going a couple of miles it's ok.

Sounds like a suburb

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I'm looking forward to the cheaper cost of living and a bit warmer weather in winter.

kiss of death

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

Look for a place in proximity to Jefferson Davis Hogg IMO.

 

[John Bender]

Look for a place in proximity to Jefferson Davis Hogg IMO.

I don't know here he lives.

 

[George Jefferson Airplane]

Look for a place in proximity to Jefferson Davis Hogg IMO.

I don't know here he lives.

Standby for PM.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Anything north of Potomac Mills or south of north Charlotte should be good.

 

[John Bender]

Ashland is a truck stop. Closer to DC, but I'd skip it. Too close to 95.

Manakin-Sabot is your place. Richville but really nice. Glen Allen/Short Pump area is nice too.

Thanks Brunell

Location wise it's about perfect. Just hoping for a good selection of rental properties.

 

[John Bender]

So for the area as a whole, what am I getting myself into here?

Other than a work contract in Latin America, I've never lived this far south before.

I hear it's trendy/hipster-ish but then I also here it's a very religious/conservative area.

I dont have a beard and black rimmed glasses or a religion. What the hell does a normal person do for fun?

 

[Apple Jack]

Manakin-Sabot is definitely richville and no place you want to live unless you too are rich, as you will needlessly pay more for just about everything. If you are rich, then you will need to have an existing membership of a country club before Kinloch will consider you. CC of Virginia is your second best choice. Hermitage....meh. Serious ######## membership there and the courses aren't worth it.

I think Short Pump or Midlothian sound like the best fit based on what I've seen and what you've said. The Brandermill community looks pretty cool and has a golf course. Never played it, so can't speak to that, just know it's tight.

But first things first, I highly recommend Mamma Zu's in Oregon Hill. The place is straight out of Little Italy or North Beach. Old school Italian. It is the reason I get excited for Richmond trips.

 

[John Bender]

Golf suggestions are good too.

I'll steer clear of Manakin-Sabot in that case. I don't really have a budget, but it's just me a girlfriend and a dog. I don't need to live in some neighborhood with million dollar houses.

Short Pump, Midlothian and Glen Allen on my short list.

The tricky part is finding a HOUSE for rent, which will really steer the decision. Eventually I'd like to buy but want to rent first to make sure I like the area, but I just can't have common walls. Too many issues with trying to play my electric guitar and piano - and I'm sick of playing with headphones on.

My dog is also a big pain in the ### and hates all other dogs. It sucks living in complexes that are dog friendly and always having to plan your walks for certain times of day so you can get the damn dog to pee and stop trying to attack every dog in sight.

Not many houses for rent in those neighborhoods so far. I suppose getting with a realtor might help though.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Richmond seems pretty decent. Relatively close to Virginia Beach area, to DC, and to the mountains. Cost of living is decent and the people are hospitable. I think you could do worse.

 

[John Bender]

All who said Short Pump based on my wants/needs were spot on. Put a deposit on a place there today.

Every single restaurant or store you could ever need is within 1.5 miles of the place yet the neighborhood is still middle class and quiet.

Perfect location. Thanks for the help.

 

[belljr]

Wut...

 

[SouthJersey]

Manakin-Sabot is definitely richville and no place you want to live unless you too are rich, as you will needlessly pay more for just about everything. If you are rich, then you will need to have an existing membership of a country club before Kinloch will consider you. CC of Virginia is your second best choice. Hermitage....meh. Serious ######## membership there and the courses aren't worth it.

I think Short Pump or Midlothian sound like the best fit based on what I've seen and what you've said. The Brandermill community looks pretty cool and has a golf course. Never played it, so can't speak to that, just know it's tight.

But first things first, I highly recommend Mamma Zu's in Oregon Hill. The place is straight out of Little Italy or North Beach. Old school Italian. It is the reason I get excited for Richmond trips.

I can 2nd the Bandermill neighborhood in Midlothian. My cousins live here and spent many holidays and summers there as a kid. Nice houses, some on a lake, friendly people, clean and close to all your regular suburb stuff. Lots of famillies with kids, dogs, etc. The golf course is decent from what I can remember, have never played as an adult, would just go there to set off fireworks with my cousins.

Midlothian is a little bit of a drive from UR and farther from DC though.

Not sure of neighborhood names, but I would look further into the UR viscinity. There are some nice areas near by campus aside from the ultra wealthy communities.

 

[JackReacher]

All who said Short Pump based on my wants/needs were spot on. Put a deposit on a place there today.

Every single restaurant or store you could ever need is within 1.5 miles of the place yet the neighborhood is still middle class and quiet.

Perfect location. Thanks for the help.

Have family who live inShort Pump. Real nice but seems like a haul to DC everyday. You'll love it there though

 

[James Daulton]

All who said Short Pump based on my wants/needs were spot on. Put a deposit on a place there today.

Every single restaurant or store you could ever need is within 1.5 miles of the place yet the neighborhood is still middle class and quiet.

Perfect location. Thanks for the help.

Good choice, I think you'll find both Richmond and the Short Pump area to your liking. And you'll get all four seasons but winter is fairly mild so that should be a nice change for you.

 

[GoBirds]

All who said Short Pump based on my wants/needs were spot on. Put a deposit on a place there today.

Every single restaurant or store you could ever need is within 1.5 miles of the place yet the neighborhood is still middle class and quiet.

Perfect location. Thanks for the help.

Richmond is a good central location where Charlottesville is close and a nice place to visit. If you are ever down in VA Beach it's worth the extra 45 min trip to the eastern shore to play Bay Creek. 2 great courses.