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MiloAshworthy t1_j4v423r wrote

Ah let's talk about church hill.

I've rented in the general area of 25th and O for 3 years now (same address) and can give You the following about my personal experience with church hill.

There have been 4 1st degree murders within 100 yards of my house in 2 years. People attempt to break into my vehicles on or off the street multiple times a week. This year has been extra special, 4 people have knocked of my door to ask for money since the new year.

I'm ready to get the hell out here. Tons of money is moving to church hill, but the crime isn't going anywhere and is subjectively getting more frequent, and more daring.

There are needles, trash, and chicken bones everywhere.

My rent is 1800/month for a 2br/2ba

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masonbrit t1_j4v53vy wrote

Its wild reading the first half of this and then seeing a developer is trying to sell a house on pink for $700k

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MiloAshworthy t1_j4v5zf3 wrote

There are a handful of houses in church hill that I think are well worth 700k, but they all have been renovated in and out, have yards and garages. Those are few and far between in church hill though.

Instead they slap new siding on a house that's tilted to the side and cash out for 400/500k

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masonbrit t1_j4v7a2q wrote

I agree. There was one on 32nd and clay that was listed at the peak of the housing market for 700 but was also 4200 sqft and in the nicest part of church hill (IMO) that I would say was expensive but worth it if you had the money.

But the one I’m seeing now is one of those that you mention that were going for 400-500 at the peak of the market, not 700K for a 2400 sqft house behind ocean grocery, with no garage, and interest rates at their current level

It looks like they even sold 2 there in the past couple of months for 600k which is just as insane to me.

I very much enjoy living in church hill and have a vastly different experience living here than it seems the person I replied to does, but if I had the money to afford a 700k house I wouldn’t think it was money well spent.

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WhalerBum t1_j4vccfj wrote

When we were kids we were taught that if you venture into the letter streets there’s a good chance you’re not coming back in one piece. It’s gotten a little safer and about 100x as expensive since then.

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MiloAshworthy t1_j4ve34x wrote

I don't really trust anywhere where people walk the street instead of the sidewalk. There's only one reason you walk up the side of driver side doors 😂

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MyName___YourName t1_j4vi82o wrote

Church Hill has been pretty gentrified if you stay below M. We lived there for about 5 years and didn't have issues with serious crime, with the exception of one car-jacking down the street. The car break-ins are incredibly annoying and common, though. If you forget to lock your car literally one time it WILL be tossed when you go to leave in the morning.

If you buy in Church Hill you need to be very, VERY careful of not buying a poorly done flip house. We watched someone down the block from us do the worst flip job I have ever seen in my life on a house, then sell it for $500K. Literally they were just patching holes with particle board or spray foam and painting over it. I feel so sorry for the people who got suckered into buying it, they're going to have terrible issues with that place.

We just sold and moved to Bon Air a couple of months ago and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't kind of a relief. I don't miss the noise from other people's cars and houses at all hours, the people walking in the middle of the street, or people coming up to me when I'm outside my house with my toddler to ask for money or a ride to the hospital. It was fine when we were younger but it got exhausting after a few years, tbh.

We're honestly loving Bon Air, and there's a lot of affordable places out here in your price range.

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MiloAshworthy t1_j4vin3x wrote

You brought up something that is a core reason we are moving this year. It's loud...and you don't really notice it until you go somewhere quiet.

Like loud loud. Between 95, general city sounds, and whatever this new heavy machinery mining thing is I can hear now...it's pretty insane how there's a regular hum and rumble outside at all times.

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MyName___YourName t1_j4vlvxd wrote

yeah, I was spending every night wearing earplugs to bed and it was fine...until it wasn't. We lived near Leigh Street and people treat it like a drag strip. I also didn't realize how much noise you get from the airport until we left.

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Stitchmond t1_j4we66l wrote

Hmm, sounds like you're the common thread in all those murders, I hope you have an alibi.

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Reasonable_Body7661 t1_j4w0mfz wrote

I looked at a house in church hill. It was absolutely stunning until we saw one of the neighbors and started chatting and she told us about the dead body they found in the alleyway not too long ago

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avroots t1_j4wsz35 wrote

25th st north of M is particularly bad. I'm over on 31st and Q and have had no issues with solicitors. There were gunshots a few blocks down the street several months ago, but over the last year that we've been here it has been quiet and lovely (except for the sound of trains, but I think that is true for the entire east end/south Richmond)

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