Moving to Richmond from WA State, please help me with neighborhoods (apartments, lease)

[battousaiken]

Hey guys,

I am an attorney relocating from WA State to Richmond, VA. I'm looking at 1BR apartments near, but not necessarily in the heart of the city. I'm looking for a decent neighborhood. I heard that just north of the city, around Henrico, is a decent area to live. The Fox Rest apartments are located there and I'm considering moving there. Is that indeed a good area? Anything else I should know? I would love to live in a safe neighborhood and I'm willing to do $800 for a 1br apt. Any help appreciated.

[TN Lily]

Perhaps this webpage will help some with respect to Fox Rest Apartments:

Fox Rest Apartment Ratings, Reviews, Map, Rents, and other Richmond apartments for rent from ApartmentRatings.com

Likely there are other reviews online for this project.

Good luck with your move. Hopefully some posters who live in Richmond will give you some advice.

[PickPatrick]

also check craigslist...a lot of urban apartments are advertised there..

[battousaiken]

Thanks for the help. I'm asking more about the area than the apt. Is that a good neighborhood?

[TN Lily]

I do not have personal knowledge of this area. Perhaps a search here would help some:
SpotCrime Crime Map

[PickPatrick]

It is nearly impossible to answer the question "is this a good area"? Responses are very subjective and may or may not be in line with your definitions. I always suggest that your drive the area at various times of the day and if possible on the weekend; check available crime reports; review any online reviews )realizing they are generally from unhappy tenants) and determine if the amenities you seek are near by.

[novanwbie]

Ok, I'll go out on a limb here. That's an area of older complexes. A lot are run down and have very mixed populations. I don't know that complex specifically, but this is an area that is probably declining more than improving. And yes, someone will disagree with me, but I have friends who live in this area and do not feel it is particularly safe. It's a generalization, and there are certainly safer and less safe neighborhoods. This is an area with probably the weakest public schools in western Henrico County (I say that because the schools on the east end of Henrico are worse). If you're moving sight unseen, I probably would not recommend that area, given your expressed desire for safety. This is not in what is generally considered northside. Look for things that say Bellevue or Ginter Park, that's northside. Beautiful older properties, but you'll spark a big debate between the Richmond city dwellers and suburbanites about whether it's "safe." If you can give an idea of what you'd consider a reasonable commute, I can list some specific complexes. What I'd recommend, particularly if you can't see them yourself, is to find a decent complex and do a shorter lease, until you can learn the area and figure out what's right for you. There are a number of older complexes built in probably the 80s and 90s that would have rents in the range you're looking for.

[Charlesaf3]

It's a fine area. I think its completely safe. That said I also think its utterly charmless sad strip mall hell generally, and wouldn't want to live there myself.