What can you tell me about Varina or Sandston? (Richmond: renter, new home)

[tiffanie1717]

I've been trying to find out if these towns are good places to live. I stumbled on this forum and figured that I would surely get my answer here!

Would you recommend living in Varina or Sandston? How about Prince George County? My DH might be transferred to Richmond. We live in rural areas now and would love to have at least 3/4 of acre of land for breathing room. We are middle class folks.

Thanks for your help!!

[htlong]

The varina area is pretty rural with alot of new housing going up and I'm sure it will be followed by stores soon, the varinia/ elko area is a great place to live 6 miles to the nearest grocery (there is a country store locally that carries just about everything you need from motor oil to fried chicken), it is 20 miles to walmart,home depot,and Kohl's, they can be reached by 295 north or south about the same distance.
south park mall is south of varinia with 20 to 25 min drive via I 295, and Virginia commons mall is about the same taking I 295 north.
i feel the drive is well worth the rural flavor and not needing to worry about any theft, a new elementery school just opened this year on elko rd with a new high school on the drawing board, both areas are growing with new sub divisions but if you want rural its is varinia/elko area ...it has been called henricos last frontier...and i hope it stays that Way !

[cityhopper]

When I was looking to move to Richmond, I too considered the Sandston area. I think this would only be a good option if you were looking to by a home in one of the nice/decent neighborhoods.

If you are a renter and want to live closer to the airport I would recommend the Mechanicsville area. You are right off of 295 with easy access to 64, 95 & the airport. Also, the area is growing and have many shopping and dinning choices.

I would not recommend downtown, and be cautious of renting within or near Churchill.

[Teebyrd86]

Hi! Varina is a strange area when it comes to demographics and such. Areas closer to downtown are a little sketchy. I grew up in Varina and attended school there k-12. Rolfe middle and Varina high have gotten terrible. My parents live off Varina road in a very nice neighborhood and it is absolutely safe. They love the area and will never move. If looking in Varina look towards Elko anywhere east of I-295, this area has the newer schools and higher end homes. There are many choices here for 1+ acre lots. Homes in neighborhoods such as Elko Station & White oak start in the 300's. Again stay in this area if looking! Most areas in Elko are in the 23150 zip code and in the Varina area is 23231. Hope this info is helpful!!

[smokinghot]

A lot of people are moving to Highland Springs, right off of I-295/I-64, off of Airport Drive. There is still acreage available, farms even - remnants of farms, and all types of property in Highland Springs that people in Richmond generally aren't aware of. There is a golf course with really nice houses around it also. The area is reasonably priced, going through growth, and is the last bargain area in the Richmond area. It is in the Sandston area. We moved here to be able to afford a 2,000+ sq. ft. home for under $200,000.

[htlong]

highland springs is going down hill fast ...but that is just my opinion...i may be wrong!

[alsandria]

I just brought a new home in Varina Four Mile Run and I love it...they are building a new mall about 5 miles away my builder was Centex and they did a wonderful job they are very personable company and they do things slightly different from the average builder; if you decide to built something take a look at them as well.

[Teebyrd86]

Yeah.. You like Four Mile Run if you:

Lack personality!!
Want your house to look like your neighbors (cookie cutter all the way!, and of course EVERYONE has cement driveways and mail boxes that look like each others!)
Want no yard (you are literally right on top of your neighbor!)
Enjoy swimming in the community pool which by the way has GIGANTIC power line transformers running right beside it!!
Want to live on top of 295 (the nighborhood keeps getting bigger and bigger and now its all the way to 295!

Dont really know about the builders or anything but they throw those houses up in weeks!

If this is your cup of tea go for it but those homes look way too overpriced to me!


ps. the original poster said she want 3/4 acre for breathing room... This neighborhood dosnt have it!!

Originally Posted by alsandria

I just brought a new home in Varina Four Mile Run and I love it...they are building a new mall about 5 miles away my builder was Centex and they did a wonderful job they are very personable company and they do things slightly different from the average builder; if you decide to built something take a look at them as well.

[pattmar10]

Varina is nice as far as people go, but their is too much building without road improvements. Most newer homes do have tiny yards and seem to be like homes in the city as opposed to a suburban area. Prince George is great too, but lots of building because of Ft. Lee but the good part is, they improve roads as they build and the building is slower and more controlled unlike any area in Henrico.

[LGardner]

Prince George....they improve roads as they build and the building is slower and more controlled unlike any area in Henrico.

we've been in varina for 9 years now, but we're looking at prince george. and king william. i dont want our kids in those schools here. it was bad but its worse every day.

have you ever been to the outerbanks of n.c.? people down in the southern end thought is was great 15 - 20 years ago. but there's only that one long road to drive back and forth on to get anywhere. you gotta sit at the intersection of any little road and wait to get out on the main drag.
that's what varinas like now in some places and it's not even started to get as huge as it will. traffic lights sure aint gonna help it any, just more bottlenecks.
all the farms are selling out and not much green will be left.
the places we've looked in Prince George are definately more controlled like pattmar said, and the work opportunities are just as good if not better. varina will get built up like a city, not like suburbs because the county only cares about making money.