OT- Moving to Richmond- Maybe

[psunmd]

Given the state of the economy, my better half might have a good opportunity to relocate to Richmond. We currently reside near Fredrick MD. Anybody have any thoughts on locations? I have heard the west side of Richmond is better than the east. Someone suggested Goochland? Not sure if we are renting or buying just yet, but school district s a high priority. Also, does anyone have thoughts on the job prospects for someone in the constrcution/ civil eng. field. Any info would be much appreciated.

[Stuart Wade]

I grew up in the West End & graduated from a very good public high school (Douglas Freeman, class of '73); I'm told much has changed there. But I'd look into the Hanover County schools also. Goochland is pretty country but the public schools were lousy in my day. At any rate, good luck should you decide to relocate, most of my family remains in the Richmond metro area...........

Stuart

[jmoneghan]

I live in Mechanicsville and my two sons (12 and 15) attend the public schools here. We moved here a few years ago and chose this location based on 1- quality of the schools and 2- relative property value to school quality. West End also have excellent schools but, at least when we looked back then, the property values were much higher.

On other thought that you might want to consider, it's a pretty quick run down 295 to 64 to get to the bay from here.

Whichever way you choose to go this is a great area to live and raise a family.

Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about the Mechanicsville area.

Good luck!

[twr]

Grew up and still live in hanover county, has grown quite a bit in the last 15yrs but still a great place to live. TWR:thumbup:

[Kevin Smith]

I moved to Richmond 25 years ago and love it. It is a great place to live. We live in the West End near the University of Richmond, but there are plenty of great places to live.

Give me a shout or send me a bmail if you have any questions, need the names of some really good agents to look around for you, etc..

Kevin
Weekend Mistress
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia

Work 804 756 7678
Cell 804 627 1575

[CB]

I have lived in Mechanicsville for 38 years. Great place. If you need any info, I ahve been a Realtor in Richmond and the surrounding counties for the last 20 years. Call me @ 804-514-6000 and I can get you any info you need.

C.B.

[Here We Go]

Mechanicsville...23116 zip.

As everyone has stated above great community and great schools. New Hospital, plenty of malls and shops plus you also have Greentop, Gander and Bass Pro.

The propery values have not decreased the same as other areas, I guess because of demand.

Keith

[bhamp003]

I grew up in Mechanicsville and moved down to the beach last year. Mechanicsville is a great area with great schools. West end is also a wonderful place to live, but a little more pricey, but since you are coming from Maryland, everything will probably look more affordable to you. I know a bunch of realtors in the area, so if you need any help let me know as well!

Good Luck

[goose70]

I spent a little less than four years in Richmond, two on the West Side and the rest on the corner of Carey and Cherry, near VCU. Two very different places! My thoughts about Richmond are that it's generally a very nice medium-small city, with some unexpected surprises. First, it's much more (or at least pretends to be much more) "old south" than its latitude suggests. I frankly found it to be a bit over-the-top in that regard, but it may have just been the crowd to which I was exposed.

Second, I noticed a palpable racist element that I had not experienced in MD (obviously racism of all stripes occurs by all groups everywhere, but I was shocked by how open some mainstream corporate officers/sponsors were able to be about it in the Richmond-area).

Other than the Detroit-area and overseas, I have never seen such a contrast between gorgeous neighborhoods and mansions, and just a couple blocks down, shocking levels of poverty. My last two years there, I lived mixed pretty well in with the latter, and it was an eye opening experience, even for someone who spent his early childhood years in the core of Motown and his undergrad work in DC.

OK, those are the warts...at least based on what I expereinced. But the city has plenty of positives, too.

I don't know much about the secondary education, but the area has some great universities (and your kids will get in-state tuition for UVa, W&M, GM, etc.). It's hard to beat VA for higher education.

I found that the Richmond area also has a surprising number of social opportunities (arts/culture, concerts, plus lots of less formal stuff).

The downtown has the feel of a larger city...the bottom, etc., are actually great places to take visiting friends.

The pressence of the Federal Reserve and a great health system, plus Reynolds, practically ensure a decent economic base.

In sum, I left feeling that if I could purchase the city for what it's worth, and sell it for what some of the old-school locals purport it to be, I'd get a good return. However, if you approach it as the medium-small city that it is, and don't mind some of its "southern" idiosyncrasies, then I think the place will really grow on you.

At any rate, that's this Marylander's now 12-year old take on moving to Richmond, FWIW.

[justkiddin]

Been in the West End forever and would not choose another place- 1.3 hours to the boat and 12 minutes to my closest deer stand:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[docjr03]

I live in Midlothian in Chesterfield county which has some of the best schools in the country. Do you have a price range you're looking for or any other requirements? I've lived here all my life (except for a stint in the USCG), so I will be happy to answer any of your questions if you want to b-mail me.

Lee

[trnsmaster]

come on over to chesterield county and get away from the rat race

[ekim22]

Varina or New Kent is the way to go......Mechanicsville is starting to get too crowded.

[TOP BANNANA]

Don't cut yourself short on the thing about the west being better than the east end...that rumor was started by people stuck in the west end...the people in the east end kept their mouth shut and smiled...they know the secret.... The place to check out is new kent for future growth coming and several things already in place...new schools,elem,middle,high school....world class winery,golf courses,polo grounds,colonial downs horse racing and much more coming.....check it out..........and only 15-20 min. To downtown richmond and only 1 hour down 64 to put in for a run to cbbt......

[Capt Bob]

I lived in THE WEST END as it's known for almost 22 yrs ( moved to VA Beach in '99) and I still miss it...I lived in Rain Tree near Quioccassin and Gayton rd...If I wasn't planning my next move to Las Vegas... I'd easily consider a return to the West End of Richmond ( Henrico County)

[johnfish]

I have been here for 13 years and I think it is the best place I have ever lived. I am also in Chesterfeild cnty and think it is a great place. The schools are excellent and the cost of living resonable. As for the job market. Well..... Having been laid off recently I am probably not the one to talk to. Your field may be ok. My field is a dead end (electronics). Having been out of work for over a month (on the job search for 3 months locally) with no prospects I have resigned myself to having to move. I am not happy about it but there is not much I can do as there are just no jobs in Richmond for myself or the 2500 other people recently laid off from my company.

I hope you can make it here. It is a great place to live and I am going to miss it!

John

[Chagen]

23113 - Midlothian is where it is at. 2 of the best public high schools in Richmond area are James River HS and Midlothian HS.

Lived there for 20+ years...miss it sometimes but the beach is hard to beat.

[Trickster]

Chesterfield County is WAY too far from the Bay! If you are really going to fish the bay - you need to be near 295 or 64. Cheaper houses - but you have to pay a lot of tolls to get to work. If you like chain restaurants you will be fine...if you don't - you will hate it! Not to mention you are about 40min from the airport if you are a person who needs to travel.

[hookinfinger]

edit

[psunmd]

Thanks to all for some good sound advice and I will be looking at all the options, my better half is interviewing in the following weeks, so if all goes well we may make have to make a tough decision.

[POINT RUNNER]

Grew up in Mechanicsville, now married w/ kids and reside in King William (Aylett) and LOVE it. It's just far enough out plus it's in the right direction to head to the river or can go Rte 30 to West Point or catch 64 a little father down. Just my two cents.

[onestone4u2]

I live in goochland and work in the same field. Kbs was looking for someone with your background. living in goochland depends on if you like the more country setting than town. Chesterfields only drawback is the taxe rates but otherwise a nice place. Feel free to contact me if you need some other companies to try. I work with most of the owners on larger firms.

[QKADCT]

As a 35 year resident of Chesterfield, I can attest to the nice area. I am a product of Chesterfield public schools, college in Farmville 1 hour west and work for the County Government. Chesterfield is an ideal place to raise a family ( I have a 3 and 6 yr old). There is so much to do here from Civil War sites, great public parks (Maymont, Byrd and Shields Lake), rivers to fish, museums and cultural activities and scenery. Not to mention 1 1/2 hours to the beach and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. There is a zoo in Western Chesterfield for the kids, the Children's Museum and numerous sports from soccer to lacrosse, football, baseball and numerous AAU athletic programs. For colleges there are VCU, U of R, VUU and VSU as well as John Tyler and J. Sergeant Reynolds CC. There are adult programs through Bluefield College and Phoenix University.

As a lifelong resident, I as many others become complacent to the numerous activities here. As far as housing goes, Henrico County and Chesterfield are similar with great prices now as it is a buyer's market. You can get a 2500 sq ft house for $200K to $400K depending on the area. Good neighborhoods with pools abound. Look in western Chesterfield for newer homes and Northern Chesterfield for older (circa 70's and 80's). Most newer neighborhoods have community associations with dues and covenants. Many of the older ones do not.

Chesterfield is a bedroom community as is Henrico. Tax rates in Chesterfield are 97 cents per $1000 of assessed value on homes and vehicle taxes are reasonable. Check out Chesterfield Connections | Chesterfield County, Virginia (http://chesterfield.gov) for more info on the county.

If you have any additional questions drop me a PM and I'll see if I can answer them.

PS--The hunting and freshwater options are nice in central Va as well. The James river is world renounded for BIG Blue cats over 55 lbs.

Mike Aka QKADCT

343......Never Forget.....

[jopoppa70]

East end , East end , East end. I lived in both the West end and the East end. The east end I found is alot more quiet and just overall better. Mechicsville is nice also but has really grown in population over the last few years.