Another moving to Richmond thread (from NYC) (Arlington, Suffolk: transplants, 2013)

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by Rachel420

Thanks So much for all the great responses! I forgot to mention that I plan on driving to the VRE and taking the train into DC. I don't want to deal with the traffic all the way to DC. Which VRE station is best for this? Is parking ever an issue?

A co-worker told me the new Fredericksburg station off Rt 17 has plenty of parking (1500 spots) unlike the downtown station. If you choose the Richmond area you are looking at @45-60 minute drive to the station then the train ride into the city. Again you might want to look at Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania area it really offers a lot.

[jobber123rd]

Even from Ashland, you're looking at a roughly 2.5-hour commute each way (45 minute drive to the Spotsylvania station, then 1 hr 40 min on the VRE to DC)....Amtrak from Ashland would actually save a few minutes in comparison.

If you are starting closer to the city limits, consider Amtrak from Staples Mill -- what gregir did. The morning commuter Northeast Regional routes originate from that station, meaning that the issues of long-distance trains losing time due to freight interference aren't as much of a factor.

[Henry '06]

I do the commute everyday, make too much for RVA to even come close. Transplant from the DMV area. My wife and I currently rent out our townhouse in Southern MD we own.


If you are mentally tough, the commute isn't bad. I drive from Glen Allen to Freddy, then take the VRE or Amtrak [Prefer Amtrak] to DC L'Enfant Plaza Minimum 2hrs, avg 2.5hrs one way. If you drive and there is no traffic its 1hr 40min ish.


My vote for Glenn Allen, were getting a house built in the area. Low crime, sort of diverse [normally the only black man in the place, but that doesn't bother me], great schools, easy access to the interstates, no traffic.


Glenn Allen

[Opacy]

Originally Posted by Poquoson7

Wow, that was really helpful.

Henrico, Chesterfield, Tuckahoe, Forest Hill....lots of options. The Richmond area is a beautiful, well rounded community and it just keeps getting better. You've made a good choice and the more research you undertake will obviously lead to a more satisfying outcome.

Actually, it is really helpful. Even taking the train from RVA you're looking at a 2.5-3 hour trip one-way. If you can handle that, then you're good to go, but I think that would be tough for a lot of people to handle. Plus you have to factor driving to Staples Mill (if they do live in Glen Allen) and then getting to their work once they arrive at L'Enfant Plaza or Union Station. Metro is currently in a death spiral and constantly breaking down, so that just adds more time/stress.

I gotta agree that Fredericksburg might be a better fit commute-wise. It's more expensive (it's basically the southernmost tip of the DC/NoVA region) but your commute on the VRE will be much shorter (1-1.5 hours)

[Rachel420]

I'm used to long commutes. Right now I have a 1 1/2 hr commute (one way, so 3 hrs total) from Queens to Manhattan 3 days a week. And again, I would only be commuting to DC, at the most, 2 days per week. Also, I forgot to mention that my SO needs to live close to Richmond because of the type of work he does.

[Henry '06]

I wouldn't base the decision on the Amtrak from staples mills or downtown in the evening times. As the trains heading south from DC that being Amtrak is not always on time. One of the reason why I drive from RVA to Fredericksburg. By doing that you have the option of the Amtrak if its on time or VRE which is normally on time, but slower due to more stops. Just a thought.

[GoingBackEast]

Similar situation here. X-NYC west coast older couple getting out of NC and thinking Richmond is nice size more progressive area? Will take info from posts here. Any Whole Foods, Trader Joe and walking areas you might recommend?
What did Rachel decide?
Thx.

[VA Yankee]

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Short Pump area should provide all the stores you mentioned and more.

[Poquoson7]

Originally Posted by GoingBackEast

Similar situation here. X-NYC west coast older couple getting out of NC and thinking Richmond is nice size more progressive area? Will take info from posts here. Any Whole Foods, Trader Joe and walking areas you might recommend?
What did Rachel decide?
Thx.

Richmond is much more progressive than NC urban areas. We checked out urban/suburban VA and NC prior to moving to the Southeast from SoCal and found Richmond and Norfolk metro's significantly more on par with what we were used to in California. We didn't want to replicate the West Coast vibe here but we did want a live and let live attitude with different viewpoints/lifestyles integrated well together. Also found more character and charm in Virginia. I think the move to Richmond will be a good one for you, best of luck.

[ny_guy]

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

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Short Pump area should provide all the stores you mentioned and more.

But Short Pump isn't walkable and doesn't have a progressive city vibe. OP, it sounds like you're looking for at least a moderately dense urban area - I'd check out the Fan/Museum District and Near West End and maybe parts of the Southside (Forest Hills/Westover Hills/etc). The Northside is also nice too, and there are several walkable restaurants right near the Mill on MacArthur (one of the restaurants - there's a little cluster around there).


Trader Joe's is out in Short Pump, but Whole Foods is coming to the Fan and there's already a local market that's better in my opinion (Ellwood Thompson's) in Carytown.