Category Archives: Local Richmond

The “FAN” in Richmond, VA

Living in The Fan, Richmond, VA

The Fan District is located in Richmond’s West End, and is one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods. This large district gets its name from the way its streets branch out in a fan shape from Belvidere Street to the Boulevard. If you love historic architecture, you’ll love the elegant homes for sale in The Fan District of Richmond, VA. Most date back to the late 19th and early 20th century and are available in a variety of building styles, including Queen Anne, Italianate, Beaux Arts, Bungalow and Tudor.

VCU School of Business in The Fan, Richmond, VA

Things to Do

Foodies love The Fan, which is home to approximately 80 restaurants and bars, many of which are locally owned. While there are many new and trendy eateries in The Fan District, there are also some old standbys, including Kuba, which first opened in 1998. This restaurant serves authentic Cuban food and is a favorite of the locals.

This neighborhood is also located next to the Museum District, where you can find six blocks lined with museums, including but not limited to the Science Museum of Virginia and the Children’s Museum of Richmond. Both of these museums offer many events and programs for children. Do you love art? Then you’ll enjoy taking classes at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This museum’s Studio School offers an excellent selection of art workshops and courses for adults. The museum also has art classes that are designed specifically for children.

VCU in The Fan, Richmond, VA

Housing in The Fan

Most of the homes in the Fan District, Virginia, are beautiful historic brick row houses and townhomes, although there are also some large, elegant single-family houses. During the Great Depression and then later in the 1940s and 1950s, some of these larger homes were split into duplexes. There are also some new homes available in The Fan, including Citizen 6, a new development of three-bedroom Modern-style row houses.

Student riding bike in The Fan, Richmond, VA

Transportation and Travel in The Fan

This largely residential neighborhood is very walkable. Living in The Fan, you’ll find pretty much everything you need, including coffee shops, small markets, eateries and bars just a quick stroll away. The Fan District’s real estate offerings are also within easy walking distance of Carytown and all of its great restaurants and shopping options. And downtown Richmond is just about two miles away, so it is still close enough to walk or bike to, if you didn’t feel like driving or taking one of the GRTC buses that service this neighborhood. The Fan is also an excellent neighborhood for commuters. The Downtown Expressway, which connects to I-95, is located on the southern edge of this district, and I-64 is just a short drive away.

Walk Score

Very Walkable

89/100: Transit is convenient for most trips.

Walkscore rates the walkability of any address. The score is calculated by factors like nearby restaurants and stores, number of transportation choices and how much you’ll need to rely on a car.

Public Transportation

No Nearby Transit

0/100: Almost all errands require a car.

0 nearby routes: 0 bus, 0 rail, 0 other
For the complete link visit Long & Foster – http://www.longandfoster.com/VA/Richmond/The-Fan

St. Bridget’s 17th Annual Octoberfest!

oldworld-oktoberfest-food-480-3OCTOBERFEST 2016! Men, Join Us for St. Bridget’s 17th Annual Octoberfest!

Posted by Leon Shadowen on Oct 01, 2016 06:18 pm

Want to spend a casual fall afternoon outside, craft-brewed beer in hand, pitching horseshoes, and watching football?  Want to meet other men from St. Bridget’s and other parishes?  Then join us for this year’s Octoberfest!  Hosted by the St. Bridget’s Men’s Ministry, this men’s social event has been a great hit over the years, and one you’ll surely enjoy!

Once again, we’re shipping in those famous brats from Usinger’s of Milwaukee, and serving them up with sauerkraut, potato salad, baked beans, genuine apple strudel, and a hand-picked selection of the best beers in the world!  So, “shine your stein” and join us for all the fun and fellowship we can “mustard” up!

Particulars:  Sunday, November 6th, 2 p.m. ‘til dark, at Community West Church (behind the Columbian Center), 2324 Pump Road.  Cost is $25/person for a great meal and some tasty fest brews!  Call Charlie Giovannetti (ph. 839-2761) to register.  Call John McCulla (ph. 342-1112) or DaleMatanic (ph. 240-2862) for more information.

Come have a great time. RSVP Now! 

Bring your pals from other churches or parish

 

This weekend – St Benedict Oktoberfest

Join us this weekend as we kick off the Society 2015 Bike Races and celebrate at St Benedict’s annual Oktoberfest Weekend.

http://www.stbenedictoktoberfest.com/index.html

St. Benedict Catholic Church – Near the VMFA – Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and Parking will be available at the VMFA during the hours of Oktoberfest for a $5 fee (while space lasts)

Located At:
(Church) 300 N. Sheppard St., Richmond, VA 23221
804-254-8810

www.saintbenedictparish.org

View Larger Map

EVENTS/ENTERTAINMENT

Friday, September 18:

 6pm-10pm: Die Dorfmusikanten (The Village Musicians)

 Saturday, September 19:

 12pm-5pm: The Original Elbe-Musikanten German Band

 6pm-10pm: Die Dorfmusikanten (The Village Musicians)

 (Between 2pm-7pm, S.G.T.E.V. Hirschjaeger Bavarian Dancers will dance 2 sets between band sets)

 Sunday, September 20:

 1pm-5pm: Low ‘n’ Brows German Band

 (Between 1pm-5pm, S.G.T.E.V. Hirschjaeger Bavarian Dancers will dance 2 sets between band sets)

2013 Outstanding Production Awards Reception & Panel Discussion

2012 RAR Distinguished Achiever Award

 

Photo from 2012 Awards Reception

 

Outstanding Production Awards Reception & Panel Discussion with YPN/RVA

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 

4PM – 5PM – YPN/RVA Panel 

5PM – 7PM – Outstanding Production Awards Reception featuring the JTL Band

YPN/RVA Panel | 4PM – 5PM

Listen to YPN/RVA panelists Elliott Gravitt, Alex Glaser, Rhonda Howlett, and Dawson Boyer as they discuss why they chose real estate as a profession and what keeps them in the industry.

MEET THE PANELISTS:

DAWSON BOYER

Dawson Boyer is a Richmond native who grew up in Henrico County. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 2008, and after a brief stint in ‘Corporate America’ he transitioned to residential real estate with Long & Foster in August of 2010. Dawson was a Long & Foster Rookie of the Year and most recently a Long & Foster Top 25 producer.  

 

Outstanding Production Awards Reception | 5PM – 7PM

Following the YPN/RVA panel, enjoy the evening at beautiful Willow Oaks Country Club for a reception to honor award recepients.  Get on the dance floor to the fun and eclectic sounds of the JTL Band (Just a Touch of Love). Drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

Admission to the reception is FREE of charge for all award winners.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $25 each.  

To register for this event, please contact Kathryn Burke at 804.422.5000, or email kburke@rarealtors.com.

VAR STATS – PRICING, LISTING & MARKETING A PROPERTY

News Paper - RealEstateResearch released from the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR) showed 95 percent of consumers who bought a home started their search for the property on-line (Statistics from the NAR are slightly higher) . Catching those buyers attention requires your listing have the right price, the right selling tools, and a plan for getting the product to market.

The best information and results comes from those Realtors who are experienced, knowledgeable and reliable. Ann & John VanderSyde have what consumers need to buy and sell the best homes throughout the Richmond Metropolitan Areas.

Please Review information at www.InSydeHomes.com and contact Ann or John to find out what is happening in your area now.

 

Ann & John are the top producing Team at Virginia Properties/Long & Foster since 2009, and are both Associate Brokers – 18 combined years of Team experience!

Where are all the homes – what’s up with Inventory?

We have a number of people asking about housing inventory, wondering why we are not seeing more homes in the real estate market for sale. Reports and statistics confirm an improving housing market, although it may be “slow and steady” as reported two weeks ago by Carol Hazard in the Richmond Times Dispatch. So shouldn’t we be seeing more houses for sale?

We are on the cusp of our spring market here in Richmond, and therefore anticipate seeing more and more homes trickling into the marketplace. However, it may not be what we are used to when we contemplate a healthy marketplace. We have to keep in mind that as the economy continues to evolve the marketplace also shifts. People are often slow to respond to change, and there is still perceived uncertainty in the minds of some consumers as to how these improving conditions will impact home sales. Well don’t think about it too long. Homes are selling more quickly today, and inventory is not keeping up with demand.

Realtors are seeing homes showing up “For Sale” and then “pending” under contract rather quickly every day. And for good reason – there is pent-up buying demand fueled by low interest rates which makes this a great time to buy and sell homes. We can all see that low mortgage rates combined with low inventory is a win-win situation for buyers and sellers. Under these conditions, sellers know that homes priced well that are in good condition sell quickly and at a higher price. Buyers understand the value of borrowing with low interest because it allows them to purchase more home for their money, and enjoy a greater return on their purchase over the life of the loan.

While “slow and steady” may be the rallying cry of the day, to hesitate may mean not getting what you want. Although inventory may be low, so are the rates available for borrowing the money to purchase these homes. There is no question that this is a great time to buy and sell real estate. Speak to your real estate professional today and find out how these conditions will work to your advantage.

Ann & John VanderSyde are Associate Brokers at Virginia Properties, a Long & Foster Company. They have been Sales Team of the Year since 2009. Call (804) 287-4660 and visit   www.InSydeHomes.com

The “Roslyn Hills” Neighborhood – Along the River Road Corridor

The “Home” section of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Doug Childers, have been writing articles spotlighting various Richmond, Virginia neighborhood locations, and they will be featuring “Roslyn Hills” in February 2013. Doug was kind to ask if I would provide some insight into this area of Henrico County.

I love history and many of the neighborhoods in and around Richmond offer interesting insights into past generations. I offered the following information in response to his questions.

1)      Could you provide a brief description of Roslyn Hills? 

Roslyn Hills is located east of Parham along the River Road corridor. It is one of a number of finger-neighborhoods along this stretch of road. It is flanked to the west by “Countryside” and to the east by “Glenbrooke Hills”. A series of small creeks and ponds traverse the middle of the neighborhood and offer a delightful amenity for residents.

2)      What are the neighborhood’s boundaries? 

One may enter the neighborhood off River Rd from Charnwood to the west, Roslyn Hills Drive up the center, and Twin Lake to the east; the neighborhood dead ends into September Drive to the north. Side streets intermingle with the adjacent neighborhoods, but primary access is from River Road.

3)      Where does the name come from? 

I’m Not exactly sure from where the name “Roslyn Hills” comes. I can tell you the Episcopalian Diocesan Retreat Center is located directly across River Road from this neighborhood, and is called “Roslyn”. It seems logical to me that the neighborhood may have derived its name from this retreat. Research indicates the Retreat may have been established around 1935; from what I can see from the tax records, the actual neighborhood didn’t begin to be developed until 1953.

The Roslyn retreat’s web site provides a good history of the land donated to the church: “Roslyn, A Retreat Center of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia since 1934, is located on 150 scenic acres in Henrico County, Virginia, two miles west of the City of Richmond on the James River.”  See more history at http://www.roslyncenter.org/history.shtml

4)      When did construction begin there? 

Construction in Roslyn Hills “proper” began in approximately 1952-53. Two homes were completed by 1953, and another 14 by 1954. Adjacent neighborhoods, although linked by cross-streets, may have been started prior to this date.

5)      When did the majority of the homes get built? 

The majority of homes seem to have been completed during the 1950’s, when approximately 103 houses were finished. The boom year for Roslyn Hills appears to have been in 1957, when roughly 22 homes were completed. The 1960’s yielded less than half that number, with about 46 homes being built. The remainder of homes have been built since then, but tax records indicate the last two new construction homes built in Roslyn Hills were in 1990. I can tell you that the adjacent neighborhoods such as Countryside still have lots for sale and continue to build new homes today.  

6)      Did one developer work on it or was it  developed over a period of time by different builders and developers? 

It appears that different builders built in this neighborhood. It does not appear to have been sold to one developer, as is the case in many neighborhoods being developed today.

7)      How many houses are in Roslyn Hills now? 

The tax records indicate 182 homes attributed to the neighborhood of Roslyn Hills. There may be a little overlap between adjacent neighborhoods, as the lines are sometime blurred a little.

8)      Could you describe the neighborhood’s architectural styles? 

There are a variety of Architectural styles in Roslyn Hills. Many of the home sstyles reflect the time during which a particular home was built. There are ranches, and capes as well as traditional two story colonials.

9)      How large are the lots? 

Roslyn hills enjoys generous lot sizes; reflecting a time when each house was supported by well and/or septic systems – before the installation of public water and sewer utilities, making larger lots obsolete. Most lots are between a half and one and a half acres. It appears the majority of lots are a little less than one acre.

10)   What amenities does Roslyn Hills offer? 

Roslyn Hills has a number of Creeks, ponds, mature trees, and neighborhood play grounds. It is a great area to stroll around because there are no real cut-through streets to generate a volume of automobile traffic. The car traffic is generated almost exclusively by the folks who live in the neighborhood.

12)  What’s the typical Roslyn Hills homeowner like? 

As a realtor, I can’t answer this question. I will tell you there are a Lot of families as well as individual home owners, and with a good mix of ages. This may be considered a “destination neighborhood”, as many people choose to stay in the neighborhood many years longer than the national average.  A client of ours is preparing to put her house on the market after living there for fifteen years, nearly twice the typical home owner stays in one location.

13)  What public schools do Roslyn Hills’s students attend?  And how important are those schools’ reputation in attracting homebuyers? 

Schools are important to the area’s home owners, and are one of the primary reasons people flock to this area. Tuckahoe Elementary, Tuckahoe Middle and Freeman High are the three public schools serving this area. Some better known private schools include Collegiate just to the west along River Road, and St Catherine and St Christopher to the east into the City. St. Michael’s and Trinity Episcopal are just over the river from the Willy or Huguenot bridges. The University of Richmond is very close as well.

14)  What can homeowners do in the area for entertainment? 

Everything! Great access to either side of the River, shopping and restaurants are only moments away. Stony Point Fashion Park is just across the Willy Bridge. Roslyn Hills is a great location for this reason.

15)  What do you think is the No. 1 reason buyers choose Roslyn Hills?  How important is its being in the River Road corridor, for example?

The location of Roslyn Hills is one of the best reasons to choose this neighborhood. One can enjoy being in the County of Henrico, but still take advantage of the relative ease and access of being in the City of Richmond. It is true that River Road has a certain cache attached to it, which may be important for some people, but I don’t know if that is a primary consideration for living in this neighborhood. Homes are still relatively affordable, starting in the mid three-hundreds to the mid eight-hundreds; the average home price hovers on average right around $500,000. There are a few homes that may sell for a million dollars or more.  

 

John VanderSyde is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and a Licensed Architect. He has been in construction, development and building since 1986, and a licensed Realtor since 2002. He and his wife Ann are team partners at Virginia Properties, a Long & Foster Company in Richmond, VA.

The Westwood Neighborhood of Richmond, VA

Westwood: “a neighborhood that began in ‘the golden era of postwar expansion’”

The “Home” section of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Doug Childers wrote a lovely article on this little neighborhood located off of Libbie Avenue between Monument Avenue and Broad Street on Saturday, August 18th, just this past weekend. It is part of their popular series about the many of the neighborhoods in and around Richmond that have captured the attention of casual readers and historians alike. Corbin Ryland and I have a shared listing here, and as a result our good fortunes were able to garner a bit of free advertizing for us.

The article describes the expansion befalling Short Pump during the boom of the eighties and nineties, but in comparison was nothing to that of near western Henrico at the conclusion of the Second World War. Baby Boomers were exploding and building homes close to where Saint Mary’s Hospital is located. It was “the county’s largest residential expansion” during those years. It is popular again today for much of the same reasons it developed back then.

The history of the neighborhood briefly touches on the fact that Westwood was established on the former golf course once belonging to what is now The Westwood Club, currently a racket and swim club. Prior to the Great Depression, The Westwood Officer’s Club was on the fringe of the sticks, mostly agricultural land, and they owned much of the property from Monument Avenue to Broad Street and all the way to Willow Lawn. The Great Depression resulted in selling off the land in order to keep the club from completely disappearing, and it remains a popular feature there today.

While Westwood is a shining example of beautiful near west end, post-war homes, in a matured neighborhood, I can’t help imagining how differently it may have evolved if the Great Depression didn’t come along and vastly change the landscape in this area of town. Nevertheless, it now continues to attract buyers because of its mutual approximation to the far west end, and to down town. It appeals to those downsizing as well as to various types of families who still want a yard and a solidly built home without sacrificing convenience for time spent traveling in the car.

The RTD article is well worth the read, but if you would like additional information about this area or have questions about Real Estate, please contacts us. We will be happy to assist you!

John VanderSyde is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and a Licensed Architect. He has been in construction, development and building since 1986, and a licensed Realtor since 2002. He and his wife Ann are team partners at Virginia Properties, a Long & Foster Company in Richmond, VA.

Spring and the Marketplace – What’s Different this Year?

   I’m looking at the Weekend Section of the newspaper. There is a lot of information about the latest market conditions, news beyond the bust, and interests in the “home” trending upward.  There is a resurgence of advertisement, upbeat statistics, and the pleasing optimism that aligns itself with improving real estate conditions. It is the blush of spring, where new homes for sale honestly reflects the time of year when fresh and new is sincere and hopeful. It is distinctly different than what we have been experiencing over the last several years, and it is notable.

None of this can happen without the eager participation of buyers and sellers! Open house dates are spinning with activity, full of sincere purchasers looking at the “home” as something more than just an investment. They are remembering that homeownership is about choosing a lifestyle, as well as a standard of living, that suits one’s particular needs. It is the notion that “location, price and condition” are more than simply buzz-words and market hype, and that people really want to live where it matters most to them.

The relevance of investors doesn’t adequately describe the true nature of their contribution to the marketplace. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that 27 percent of all real estate transactions in 2011 were for the purchase of an investment property, and that 11 percent of all real estate transactions last year were second home purchases. A significant portion of these transactions were paid for with cash, which further supports the idea that many buyers are investing in a lifestyle, and not just their bottom line.

There is no doubt a science to real estate, but it doesn’t overshadow the complementary feelings and emotions that go into buying and selling homes. People know this, and it is eminently apparent that we are currently enjoying a little more of the latter during this rather delightful time of year. This is of course the notable difference from recent past years in real estate. Let’s choose to keep looking forward; because after all that’s where the future is – for all of us!

John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker, REALTOR with Virginia Properties in Richmond, VA (804) 282-7300