Help!!...Need info on Richmond, VA area ... may be reelocating !!

[honeywolf7]

You graduated the year I was born.

 

[Dream]

OH yeah....now THAT'S a little thought I will carry with me today!!! Hee hee...TMI!!!!

 

[SueEllen]

If you will be working in Downtown you can always locate to the tri-city area. Enon is still Chesterfield County and has wonderful schools and neighborhoods. It's only about 25 min to downtown (if that) and NO TOLLS!
Sue Ellen

 

[DVCindy]

Wow ... you guys are wonderful !!! My husband can't believe how much info I've gathered from you already ... thank you !!!

I will continue researching based on all your input and I'm sure I'll have some more questions along the way !

The most pressing question I have right now is ... What is a Ukrop?!! (lol)

Cindy

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

I've lived in Richmond for my whole life so I think I can help you out a little. The Short Pump area of Western Henrico county is nice, but you can probably get more for your money in the Glen Allen area. There is a wonderful new development off of Staples Mill Rd. in the Glen Allen area called the Oaks at Cross Ridge. You can get a huge house on a large lot for the prices you are looking at.

The schools that your children would be attending if you moved there would be Glen Allen Elementary, a new middle school (to open next year), and Hermitage High School. I recently graduated from Hermitage, and I don't think I would be who I am today if I went anywhere else. It is by far the most diverse school in the Richmond area and has high academic and athletic standards. I am so glad I went there as opposed to some of the other Henrico schools (Godwin, Tucker, etc).

My second choice would be the Atlee area in Southern Hanover. Kings Charter and AshCreek are two very well planned communities that you should look into. I have only heard good things about Atlee High School as well.

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

Ukrop's is the best grocery store on earth! It is limited to the Richmond area except for 2 stores (Fredericksburg & Williamsburg).

Try their green/red cookies! YUM

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

LOL Ukrops is our area's finest grocery store chain. Though I only shop there when stuff is on sale or I want a salad They can be pricey but you get what you pay for. Courteous and friendly workers to take your groceries to the car.

There are lots of nice places around here. $350K will buy you a whole lotta house too!! lol

I may complain about Richmond and the politics but it is really a great place to live. I am within 2 hours of the ocean, the mountains, Washington DC, situated between 2 theme parks: Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion and am surrounded by all kinds of history.

I can't help you out with the Catholic schools. I went to private Christian schools till middle school and we moved to Chesterfield county.

 

[annemariec]

Originally posted by Obi-Wan Pinobi
.......AnneMarie, I think the Brandermill problem was around the time I first moved here in 1998. There was also a problem with the foundation at the Home Depot off Midlothian Turnpike -- they had to tear the building down and redo it from scratch! -- and that happened after I'd been here about a month.

DVCindy, one word to remember when you move here ... Ukrops!

Obi, I was in a hurry yesterday to run some errands. I forgot to tell you I do remember the Midlothian Home Depot. In some ways it's hard to believe it was 5 years ago.

DVCindy, here's Ukrop's website: www.ukrops.com

They are a family owned business, that have been around for ages. They have a loyal customer base, that's for sure.

Annemarie

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Cindy.. here is a representation of some of the houses that are in the areas we were telling you about like Salisbury. Actually these houses are below the price you are looking for. Most of them are around $310K

 

[DVCindy]

I really appreciate all the help you have been giving me !

We are in shock at the prices of the beautiful homes in those photos !!

I spent all day sifting through real estate sites and you really get alot for your money compared to here in NJ. But the real shocker is the taxes ... WOW! In this area (which is about a 2 to 2 and a half hour commute each way into New York) you can't touch new construction for a 4/5 bedroom home for under $450 - 500K ... with taxes starting around $10,000 a year !!!! It has really gotten out of control. Needless to say, DH is doing the happy dance !!!

I was about to post last night and ask if there is a reason most of the new construction homes just have a crawl space and do not have a full basement. My DH has a workshop in ours and we have a finished rec room down there for the kids. Ironically, we discovered it flooded for the first time ever last night !!!!! UUGGGHHHH !!!! I guess we won't miss a basement that much after all !!!!

Cindy

 

[DVCindy]

Dream -

Just sent you a PM

Cindy

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Cindy.. the further south you go the fewer houses you will see with basements. It's because the builders are not required to dig down as far to pass the frostline when building the foundation.

There are houses around here with basements. (We have a full walk out basement) but they are usually in houses built on slopes.

 

[Jen S]

Oh, wow do I miss my Ukrops!!!! I moved to East Tennessee last March and everytime I go back home to visit my Mom I have to go to Ukrops to stock up on something.

Cindy, the Wyndham area of the West End has been very popular for the last few years in Richmond. I worked in Innsbrook and practically everyone in my office lived there. Personally, it wasn't my favorite area to live. I thought the houses were just built entirely too close together and I think the area is overbuilt. (And then there was the whole flag issue-to me if you own the lot you should be allowed to fly the American flag-JMO)

I always loved the lots in Wellesley off of Lauderdale road. Very pretty lots with lots of trees and big houses. Plus, you're very close to the new mall when it gets done, and close to the I64 interchange.

Anywhere you chose, it's a great city. There's lots of great annual events and the people are usually very friendly. Good Luck!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

One more thought, Cindy. Do you know where your DH will be working? If it's in the Innsbrook area, then Chesterfield won't be an easy commute for him. Basically, the beltway around Richmond isn't buckled. Yet, that is. They are working on the Route 288 extension which will provide a complete south-to-west bypass around Richmond, but the portion linking Chesterfield County with the far West End isn't complete yet.

 

[DVCindy]

He will be working in Downtown Richmond - I think there is a Financial District ??

Does anyone happen to know anything about Lennox Forrest, Coalbrook or The Grove ? They look to be new developments in the Midlothian MS and HS area, but with Watkins Elementary instead of Bettie Weaver. I can't find anything on lot sizes for these ... we'd like at least a half acre. How is Watkins Elementary?

You are all so helpful...thanks so much

Cindy

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

You may want to consider living in Henrico, easier commute to Downtown than Chesterfield, better side of town too

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Originally posted by JoeThaNo1Stunna
You may want to consider living in Henrico, easier commute to Downtown than Chesterfield, better side of town too

LOL those are fighting words

 

[MeanLaureen]

Don't even go there about Henrico being better. LOL

Chesterfield has top rated schools, great shopping and is a safe area with very little crime. The prices of houses in Chesterfield are better than Henrico (although apartments are a lot more reasonable in Henrico because there are a TON of apartments there!)

I've worked in Henrico for 21 yrs and lived in Chesterfield for 30 (okay, most of my life - I moved here when I was 6 from New Jersey) You couldn't pay me to leave Chesterfield

Oh, and I graduated from Midlothian High School. VERY good school. (Go Trojans!) Midlothian Middle is in the old Midlothian High School building in the center of the Village of Midlothian. The actually building is probably 50+ years old but was renovated when they built a new highschool. I went to Robious Middle. I'm not familiar with the elementary schools in the area (except Greenfield, where I went). Things have grown up so much over the past 20 yrs! I think you will be happy in that area though!

 

[MeanLaureen]

By the way, let us know when you are coming down! Maybe we can get together for dinner and DH Obi-wan and I can show you around town!