Submitted by CharacterPossible439 t3_10mvvu7 in rva
Looking to purchase a home in Richmond and have been here for coming up on a year so familiar with few neighborhoods but I’d love insights from someone who actually lives there. Church hill north, oakwood, fairmount, woodville specifically. I’ve driven around them and looked at the crime maps but curious what the actual neighbors think. Any insights would be appreciated !!
Does that include new constructions as well? Sorry, new to this whole home buying
Are you referring to Armstrong Renaissance? I personally haven't stepped foot in those houses/apartments. I have to imagine it's certainly better to have a new construction house than a 80-100 year old home that's been neglected, but don't have the expectation that because a home is brand new doesn't mean you won't have repairs after the builder's warranty runs out (usually a year), so budget accordingly.
I worked on the Armstrong project over the course of two years. Not great build quality in general (but what is these days) and the general neighborhood is about as nice as one might expect from the proximity to Creighton. $1800/month townhomes across the street from an empty lot where homebums have garbage fires.
I live on Fairmount in Church Hill. It isn't the best area but I also wouldn't describe it as bad. I've seen one drugged out lady throwing herself into carhoods at 6am but I'll take that over some creep jacking off looking into windows.
The grocery store is convenient but incredibly overpriced and do not buy any produce from there as it is regularly bad. People are going to blast shitty music with wall cracking bass at 6am when they get up for work. Neighbors are generally nice and great people. Almost everyone litters and it's really shitty. You'll hear gunshots every night but with a new house and good insulation you'll hardly hear a thing.
I like the neighborhood overall but people at work tell me I live in the hood.
As reference I bought 2 years ago new build, zero regrets. Central to everything I want/need and generally good people that I want to be around. I have had very few encounters I would consider negative despite what I've listed.
In general the people telling you that you live in the hood usually have almost no idea what they’re talking about. Everyone who lives in the burbs and watched local news is under the impression everything not on Broad or in the Church Hill historic district is open air drug markets and running gang battles 24/7.
That said, stay away from the Facebook groups for Church Hill, just incredibly toxic. Also lock your shit up if it’s on your porch otherwise don’t expect it to still be there.
It's literally only my black coworkers that live right by me that call it to hood to me, the ones from the burbs are super careful and try to not be offensive but you can def see the fear in their faces. One middle aged white dude wouldn't stay in Richmond past 5pm like it was a sundown town.
I've gotten lucky and only had one thing snatched from the porch in 2 years. It helps to have a gate in the front yard or some type of additional barrier people have to cross. But def buy a package dropoff box. If I'm buying really expensive things I get them shipped to my work.
Is the implication here that black people don’t live in the suburbs or something? Unless people frequent the neighborhood now and in the recent past I’m not sure why you’d listen to folks take on what the neighborhood is like.
I live in Church Hill North and have had no problems. Not even a stolen Amazon package. Do I walk alone at night? No, but i really wouldn’t do that anywhere in Richmond. I think it gets a bad rep because of demographics. That said, common sense city living goes a long way.
Church Hill north is definitely block by block. I had a wonderful block but being right by nine mile road, you definitely are close to rougher areas.
Personally, I think as long as you keep to yourself you’ll be fine. I was a mid 20s female living completely alone and felt safe the vast majority of the time. You’ll probably see the same kind of crime you’ll see in the city, car break ins, porch pirates, etc.
Not the worst place to live but certainly not the best.
I had a client recently buy on Fairmount and another sell on 22nd. It’s great being so close to downtown and a cool area. The big issues are who flipped the house. If it was a solid company it can be a great deal but there are some really awful flips in the area too. Just my two cents but I think that this will continue to be a popular area as the city continues to expand.
It is really, really loud.
This is true. I forgot to mention the modified exhausts people love.
Be very wary of flipped houses.
I lived in an old house on N 19th (Fairmont) for two years as a single woman with two large dogs. There was a murder on my street in the second year and Joe Morrissey knocked on my door once. The trash on the streets was frustrating. But the drug dealers next door brought me my package when it was delivered to the wrong house. I made a point of speaking to my older neighbors who were all nice. I only went to the community grocery store once but it made me sad :/
On summer nights I would sit on my porch and watch the bats flying between the street lights.
The Good: There are bars and restaurants in walking distance if you come over to Union Hill / Church Hill or walk down to Shacoe Bottom. The overall area has improved from where it was 20+ years ago.
The Bad: I live three blocks from there in Union Hill / Church Hill and more less avoid the area you are talking about. I was attacked while walking my dog over there by a crazy person with a baseball bat near the lovely Ocean Grocery (can someone burn that down please or at least require that shit hole to close at 11pm).
My 2 cents: On my specific street I have not heard of, experienced or seen any problems. Walking in Church Hill and Shacoe at night from bars has not been a problem for me. I think North Church Hill will continue to get better as it gets further gentrified, which (unpopular opinion) I am rooting HARD for. One can only hope.
Am I surprised by how you ended this post? Not at all. It’s spelled fucking Shockoe Bottom.
I’m a pretty good speller, and I have to look up how to spell Shock the Hoe every time, give her a break 😂
Sorry my incorrect spelling ruined your reddit experience.
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We live in Church Hill North and like it a lot. We have a large backyard and our house was really affordable. There’s definitely crime, but honestly, just stay to yourself in the obviously bad areas and you’ll be fine.
The market at 25th gets mixed reviews. Personally, I love it. It’s not the best grocery store in the world, but I think it’s better than VCU Kroger. Produce is not the best, but still better than Lidl or Aldi. We’re really conveniently located to White Oak and they have all the other options there (within 10 min). I like that if I need one onion, I can get it and be home within 5 min. The staff is really friendly.
I walk all over during the day (except near ocean grocery) and feel very safe.
Market on 25th is good for quick things. For a big grocery shopping I drive to publix.
I’m too cheap for Publix lol. But we’re so close to lidl, Kroger and food lion. It’s great!
notnot_athrowaway t1_j66flcz wrote
Depends on what you're looking for. Do you need to fear for your life? No, but if you want a cheap house with potential and don't mind your shit being broken into and gunshots on a regular basis, then those neighborhoods will work for you. Church Hill North and Oakwood are probably the better of the ones you mentioned. Be leery of any "modernized" homes over that way. I've inspected many and can count on one hand of those that weren't absolute garbage.