CITY OF RICHMOND

City Offices
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond 804-780-7970
www.richmondgov.com

Chamber of Commerce
201 E. Franklin Street
Richmond 804-648-1234
www.grcc.com

 

Although many of our nation’s cities have paved over their past with parking lots or gleaming high rises, Richmond stands as a premier showcase of yesterday’s finest moments. Outstanding architecture, elaborate mansions, wrought-iron porches, impressive monuments, and the soft glow of gas light—around every corner, this historic city invites residents and visitors to discover the enchantment of a bygone era. Little wonder that Richmond has often been called “the perfect blending of the past with the present.”

A community of many textures and moods, Richmond claims an historic warehouse district that pulsates with nightlife, the sidewalks where Bojangles tap-danced, and the imposing pillars of the Commonwealth’s Thomas Jefferson-designed State Capitol. Century-old masonry walls and massive hedges conceal the breathtaking gardens of riverfront manors. The delightful aroma of fresh flowers drifts over the colorful display of fresh fruits and vegetables in a 300-year-old farmer’s market. On a clear evening, you may even hear the gated rhythm of a horse and carriage on cobblestone streets. From the birth of the Southern aristocracy through the horrors of the Civil War, Richmond has cherished and guarded its gracious way of life for nearly 400 years.

Serving as the proud capital city for the Commonwealth of Virginia, this renaissance community has redeveloped and restored the charming neighborhoods and districts that were once ravaged by fire, flood, and time. The Fan, Shockoe Slip, Shockoe Bottom, Historic Downtown, Jackson Ward, Church Hill, and the Museum District are all examples of sweeping revitalization.

 

Services
Perhaps even more remarkable than the city’s reverence for the past is the clarity of Richmond’s vision for the future. Listed by Fortune magazine as one of the top ten most improved cities for business in all of North America, Richmond boasts internationally acclaimed healthcare research centers, prestigious universities, world-renowned museums, Fortune 500 companies, state government offices, and the Federal Reserve System’s Fifth District headquarters.

Praised as the “New World Location for Business,” Richmond shines as a leading international center for finance, distribution, and manufacturing. Products range from industrial machinery to synthetic fibers, cigarettes, non-prescription drugs, and food. As one of the latest additions to the list, semiconductor manufacturing is already redefining Richmond as a magnet for high technology companies. The suburban hub of Henrico County that wraps around the City of Richmond like a crescent moon is the focal point of high-tech activity. Highly visible corporations have settled into billion-dollar facilities, attracting dozens of related companies to their new neighborhood. The region’s progress in key endeavors has fueled growth in every industry. No doubt, the city’s meteoric rise as a hot spot for high technology was heavily influenced by the presence of premier institutions like Virginia Commonwealth University’s Engineering School and the 20-acre, $180 million Virginia Biotechnology Research Park. Attracting an influx of biotech companies to the region, the park is adjacent to the university’s VCU Medical Center — one of the largest university-affiliated teaching hospitals in the nation.

Since automobiles are the preferred mode of transportation in Richmond, planners have ensured quick and easy connections. Well-designed, well-maintained streets and expressways translate into an average commute time of 20 minutes. Richmond International Airport is located just 10 minutes from the downtown corporate district, and a number of wide new bridges now facilitate the James River crossings. Residents and area businesses can rely on a network of interstate highways, motor freight carriers, courier service companies, rail service, passenger train service, regional buses, and local bus lines. With its own deep-water port and one of the nation’s most rapidly growing facilities for air cargo,  Richmond is earning a reputation as an important distribution center.

 

Lifestyle
Richmond stands in a class of its own as one of America’s most historic cities, emerging in the 1600s along the fall line of the James River and quickly assuming a position as a natural center for commerce. Serving as Virginia’s capital city, Richmond claims Thomas Jefferson as its master architect, Patrick Henry as its spokesman, John Marshall as its lawmaker, Edgar Allan Poe as its poet, and Robert E. Lee as its honored general.

Regardless of how impressive Richmond’s Revolutionary history might be, it was the Civil War that immortalized the city as the Capital of the Confederacy and the apogee of four grueling years of bloodshed and suffering. Deep within the heart of the city are historic sites, cemeteries, fine museums, vintage neighborhoods, and battlefields that preserve the memories of a tragic time when America struggled to survive as a nation. Contrast these scenes to the modern skyline of corporate centers that overlook the falls of the James River, and you begin to grasp the timelessness and variance that makes Richmond so appealing. In recent years, Virginia’s capital city has been setting benchmarks for revitalization and garnering accolades from all quarters. Richmond was chosen by the Partners for Livable Places as one of the “most livable and innovative” metropolitan centers in the nation. Inc. magazine rated Richmond as one of the top hot spots for new and expanding business, while City and State magazine placed Richmond’s government among the nation’s top 10 based on considerations of financial health and management.

Growth throughout Greater Richmond has generated an influx of new energy into the heart of the city, enhancing its position as a leading urban center within the “Golden Crescent” between Washington, D.C. and Hampton Roads. Many new residents have transferred along with the avalanche of new companies. Others have been attracted to employment opportunities in the area’s expanding industrial parks and expanding corporate centers. Some first arrived as students to attend the local colleges and universities and just decided to stay.

Options for attractive, affordable housing combine with favorable prospects for climbing real estate values. Studies and first-hand observation rank the Greater Richmond region among the nation’s most affordable housing markets. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine cited Richmond as one of the most promising place in the nation to buy a home. From the excitement of center-city living to quiet neighborhoods filled with beautiful older homes or elegant suburban properties, the variety of settings and architectural styles are sure to please every taste and budget. Dogwood, azaleas, and boxwood punctuate the landscaped grounds of Colonials, Victorians, and Cape Cods, while luxury townhouses and fine condominiums command breathtaking city and river vistas.

Graced by exquisite architecture, sparkling fountains, and inspiring monuments, the city boasts a level of beauty in its public places that is unrivaled. Little wonder that residents are so eager to celebrate passing seasons with street festivals, garden shows, outdoor concerts, holiday lights, sports activities, art in the parks, and whitewater rafting on the James River. If competition is your thrill, you will discover NASCAR high-speed excitement, thoroughbred and harness racing, collegiate sports teams, and AAA baseball.

Within Richmond’s majestic venues lies a goldmine of symphony concerts, ballet, opera, galleries, theater, museums, historic re-enactments, and impromptu life-stage performances. When the sun sets, residents enjoy listing to live music, dancing in the glow of neon lights, laughing at the jokes of professional comedians, or spending the evening dining in luxury at a posh, five-star restaurant. Shockoe Bottom, the formerly abandoned industrial area surrounding the Farmer’s Market on 17th Street, has been remarkably transformed into Richmond’s twilight treasure. Another mecca of clubs and restaurants is the renovated historic Fan neighborhood near Virginia Commonwealth University, serving a pleasing mix of college students, professionals, and local residents.

When spring temperatures rise to greet the summer, residents of all ages begin talking about going to the “rivah.” For locals, the “rivah” alludes to any body of water with a current and fish. Virginia’s abundant rivers, lakes, inlets, and serene bays are always inviting the nature lover and outdoor enthusiast, whether the activity is December rockfishing or kayaking in the spring. Golf courses, tennis courts, country clubs, lush parks, bike paths, horseback riding trails, roller-skating and ice-skating rinks, youth leagues, and water sports are all waiting just beyond the front doorstep. Coursing right through the city itself, the James River offers everything from Class IV rapids and rock-wall climbing to tranquil wildlife preserves and delicate eco-systems.

Modern Richmond was aptly described by Pulitzer Prize-winning editor and historian Virginius Dabney as an intriguing blend of the old and the new—of Charleston and Savannah on one hand, of Atlanta and Dallas on the other. Few metropolitan centers can match Richmond for blending its 18th and 19th century heritage with preeminence in business, research, education, and culture. Blend in the warmth and helpfulness of welcoming neighbors to this equation, and the pure magic of Richmond becomes increasingly clear. Newcomers will never have to wonder about what they will find in this handsome, historic, and stimulating metropolis. The resounding answer will always be, “The best of everything.”

 

HISTORIC RICHMOND NEIGHBORHOODS

Church Hill
Overlooking Shockoe Bottom, Shockoe Slip and the downtown district, Church Hill is Richmond’s first historic district. Along the narrow, shaded streets are elegantly restored townhouses and antebellum homes featuring Federal, Victorian, and Greek Revival architecture. Home prices vary with the progress of renovation. River or city vistas, lush parks, brick sidewalks, gas lanterns, and ornate ironwork add to the appeal. Serving as the district focal point is St. John’s Church where Patrick Henry presented his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.

 

The Fan
Named for the design of its streets that “fan out” from downtown, this area is renowned as the largest intact Victorian neighborhood in the nation. Large and small row houses, condominiums, and spacious detached homes abound. Million-dollar mansions harmonize with turn-of-the-century homes in a wide price range, joined by a scattering of duplexes and high-rise apartments. Also gracing this area are tree-shaded parks and streets, landscaped courtyards, wonderful rooftop gardens, cobblestone alleys, and quaint brick sidewalks.

 

Oregon Hill
Adjacent to the Fan, the small neighborhood of Oregon Hill has been attracting a diverse population. Those with a desire to refurbish one of its many townhouses are drawn to this architecturally rich area. True of any historic district, the degree of required renovation will determine the price of the home and property. Quaint and quiet, this welcoming neighborhood was once known as Sydney and is surrounded on two sides by the Hollywood Cemetery and the James River Park.

 

Jackson Ward
Nestled in the very heart of the downtown district, Jackson Ward enjoys a convenient location in close proximity to several major attractions including Richmond Coliseum. Local highlights in this area include historic 2nd Street, Maggie Walker’s house and the famous Bojangles statue — all poignant tributes to Richmond’s African-American community. Rowhomes from the early 20th century and 19th century tend to be priced according to their state of renovation. Lovely cast-iron porches grace many residences, the legacy of European artisans.

 

Shockoe Slip, Shockhoe Bottom
Colorful and unique, Shockoe Slip was once the commercial center of Richmond. This district near the James River, east of the downtown area, has managed to infuse the charm of the past into a vibrant new life. Renovated 19th century warehouses and buildings serve as cozy apartments, shops, restaurants, and fine hotels—graced by architectural embellishments, quaint brick sidewalks, and an occasional cobblestone street. Down the hill from the Slip lies Shockoe Bottom with its popular nightlife. In addition to the Farmer’s Market and the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, the area is home to studios, galleries, restaurants, and some charming apartment developments.

Tobacco Row
Representing an ambitious redevelopment project, Tobacco Row east of downtown was once a thriving manufacturing center. With a serene setting along the James River, the area’s historic buildings offer architectural styles from periods that range from the mid 1800s to the 1930s. Revitalized warehouses have emerged as apartment developments as well as property for new offices and retail shops or service establishments.

 

CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS

NORTH OF THE RIVER

Carver/Carillon     
Situated near Belvidere and Leigh Streets, the new subdivision of Carver features turn-of-the-century architectural styling where luxurious nine-foot ceilings grace detached townhomes. Nestled at the edge of the cultural and recreational hub of Byrd Park, the Carillon features Tudor and Georgian homes with Cape Cods and sprawling ranch homes set back on tranquil, shaded streets.

 

Ginter Park/Bellevue/Sherwood Park
Large Victorian homes with gracious lawns harmonize with beautiful examples of Tudor, Georgian and Colonial architecture in these lovely neighborhoods. Well-kept smaller homes are scattered throughout the area, offering a pleasing medley of styles and price ranges. Home choices range from modest to majestic manors surrounded by lavish landscaping.

 

Highland Park
Most of the spacious Victorian and Colonial homes in this neighborhood feature formal living areas and roomy bedrooms. Large old trees shade the well-manicured lawns and gardens in this established area of modestly priced homes that are brimming over with character and charm.

West of the Boulevard
Often called the Upper Fan District, this neighborhood features homes that tend to be somewhat smaller than those in the Fan. Most of these residences were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s. Brick two-story family homes are the most common style.

 

Westhampton
For idyllic living in the heart of the city that includes neighborhood cafes and charming shops along tree-lined avenues, newcomers are drawn to Westhampton. Architectural styles vary from Cape Cods and bungalows to stately colonials. Home sizes and price ranges vary in every category to offer new residents a pleasing selection.

 

Windsor Farms
The suburban neighborhood of Windsor Farms encompasses some of the area’s most beautiful homes as well as Agecroft Hall and the Virginia House. Georgian architecture is common, although most homes were built between 1930 and 1960 and vary in size and style. Many of the million-dollar estate homes offer spectacular river views.

 

SOUTH OF THE RIVER

Cherokee Road/James River Area
Rolling hills and wooded lots predominate in these gracious neighborhoods. Properties cover a wide range of styles and prices, from stone cottages and contemporary two-story homes to luxurious riverfront estates.

 

Huguenot Farms, Hobby Hills
Just off Cherokee Road in the southwest section of Richmond are neighborhoods that offer the panoramic beauty and privacy of lush woodlands. Home styles available in the Huguenot Farms area include Colonial, Transitional, Cape Cods, and contemporary. Choices range from modest two-bedroom residences to spacious homes that offer up to five bedrooms as well as an office, library, or den. Developed in the 1950s, Hobby Hills is a neighborhood that features an attractive mix of homes that range in size from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet.

 

Oxford/Stratford Hills
Oxford is known for its spacious wooded lots and roomy family homes with three or four bedrooms. Serene settings form the backdrop for a blend of architectural styles, including sprawling ranches, Tudors, and Dutch Colonials. Stratford Hills was first developed between 1940 and 1960 on land that offered rolling hills and woodlands for enhanced privacy. The housing selection in this area includes traditional, Georgian, contemporary, Cape Cods, and ranches.

 

Westover Hills/Westover Hills West
Cape Cod styling and colonial architecture blend with a selection of Tudor homes in Westover Hills, a beautiful neighborhood that blankets gently rolling hills graced by sections of woodlands. The adjacent enclave of Westover Hills West provides an elegant collection of luxurious designer homes that are situated along Forest Hill Avenue and Powhite Parkway. Newcomers can custom build on a home site, purchase a new home, or shop for an attractive resale.