Living in the suburban, family-friendly community of Brandermill
A densely wooded, family-friendly planned community on the west side of Chesterfield County, Brandermill is a well-known and desirable area where residents have an 18-mile commute to Richmond and a 1,700-acre lake that allows them to embrace an outdoor lifestyle. Construction of Brandermill began in 1975, the first community of its kind in the county. With 80 unique neighborhoods and 3,792 single-family and multi-unit residences, Brandermill offers a myriad of amenities. “It has a lot that attracts families. There are parks, pools and trails running through the whole area, which makes it super walkable,” says Anita Williamson, a Realtor with James River Realty. “Chesterfield schools are probably the most highly sought-after district in the area. So that, combined with the amenities, makes it a very popular community.” This suburban atmosphere extends beyond Brandermill’s gates, as shopping centers and a variety of eateries line Hull Street Road, the area’s main artery.
Beautiful Brandermill lakefront homes.
Fishing at the Swift Creek Reservoir.
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Eighty neighborhoods with different housing styles and prices
The 80 neighborhoods that make up Brandermill present their own individual style. Some feature smaller homes, while others boast larger properties with garages. The common thread that ties all of the neighborhoods together is the initial developer’s design, which has been maintained for more than 50 years: Wide, gently curved streets often ending in cul-de-sacs and spacious, tree-filled lots. There are newly built townhomes with dormer windows and attached garages and older condominiums with neutral-colored wood facades built in the early 1980s. Units in these multi-family communities typically cost between $275,000 and $525,000. Mid-sized 1,200- to 2,500-square-foot split-levels, ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and other Colonial-inspired houses built in the 1970s and 1980s range from $300,000 to $450,000. Bigger properties with a stately Colonial Revival-influenced aesthetic built between the 1980s and 2020s often feature two-car garages and 3,000 to 5,000 square feet of space. Price tags for these homes, some with lake views, vary from $535,000 to $2 million.
Brandermill requires monthly HOA fees, with prices that vary depending on the neighborhood. “There are Brandermill Community Association fees assessed annually, which is something to keep in mind when looking at list prices,” says Williamson. While it doesn’t happen often, Swift Creek Reservoir can flood. In 2020, record flooding made its way to homes and establishments along the lake, flooding that was the result of the highest water levels since 1955.
A townhome from near Swift Creek Middle School.
Neighborhood of Brandermill sign, located on Charter Colony Parkway
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Chesterfield County Public Schools, including Clover Hill High
Brandermill students are part of Chesterfield County Public Schools, a highly sought-after school district with a B-plus rating from Niche. They can begin at Swift Creek Elementary before advancing to Swift Creek Middle, both of which receive a B. They can then attend Clover Hill High, which holds an A. Clover Hill students can apply to participate in The Mathematics and Science High School, more commonly referred to as MathSci. The magnet program is geared toward the development of skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork.
Sign for Clover Hill High School.
The entrance of Clover Hill High School.
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Trails, playgrounds and Swift Creek access throughout Brandermill
There are 15 miles of shaded, multi-use trails that meander through Brandermill and eight parks with playgrounds throughout the community. Sunday Park offers canoe launches and private dock access for fishing. While there is no swimming in the manmade Swift Creek Reservoir, Brandermill residents can purchase a boat slip at the Brandermill Marina. There are three community pools and two clubhouses, Harbour Pointe Clubhouse and North Beach Clubhouse, the latter of which is home to The Brandermill Makos summer league swim team. Brandermill Country Club is a private golf club with an 18-hole course that overlooks the lake. And Heritage Farms Gardens rents ten-by-ten-foot and ten-by-twenty-foot plots, and rentals are offered exclusively to Brandermill residents.
Serene Brandermill trail along the Swift Creek Reservoir.
The playground at Sunday Park has gorgeous water-front views on both sides in Brandermill.
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Shopping centers and dining along Hull Street Road
Where Hull Street Road and State Route 288 meet, a busy retail corridor holds an abundance of shopping centers, restaurants and even a movie theater. Residents can run errands at big-box department stores like Target, Walmart and T.J. Maxx before grabbing groceries at Publix, The Fresh Grocer, Kroger or Food Lion. This commercial section extends further south down Hull Street, where fast-food eateries and chain restaurants sit near medical clinics, salons, fitness studios and car dealerships. Also located in this area, the public Clover Hill Library offers story times, teen clubs and adult programs.
A local Brandermill establishment, The Boathouse is a seafood restaurant in Sunday Park. Patrons can dine while listening to live music and taking in lake views from the ample indoor and outdoor patio seating. Next to The Boathouse, The Brandermill Church is a Presbyterian church established in 1977 with a community preschool.
Residents of Brandermill have many local shopping options with national chains like Target.
The Boathouse at Sunday Park offers happy hour from 4pm to 6pm with lake views in Brandermill.
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The Brandermill Community Association's lineup of events
The Brandermill Community Association hosts a packed calendar of events throughout the year, from the annual July 4th Parade to regular movie and trivia nights. In the winter, residents dress their homes with holiday spirit for Deck the House and do the same to their subdivision’s neighborhood sign for the Winter Wonderland sign decorating contest. When the weather warms up, locals get together for walking groups and fitness clubs, including organized sunrise and sunset paddles on the lake. “There’s always some kind of event going on, organized by the community association or just the residents themselves,” Williamson says. "It does a lot to bring a sense of togetherness.”
Commuting to Downtown Richmond on Powhite Parkway
U.S. Route 360, known as Hull Street Road to residents here, and State Route 288 are the two main thoroughfares that serve Brandermill residents. Hull Street runs from east to west along the south side of the neighborhood, while 288 goes north to south on the east side. Powhite Parkway, or Route 76, is a nearby toll road that can be accessed just north of town, making the 18-mile commute to downtown Richmond more manageable. Richmond International Airport is about 25 miles away on the other side of the city. Brandermill is car-dependent, as there are no public bus or train services in or around the community.
Brandermill is conveniently located near Hwy 288 and Hull Street Road.
Downtown Richmond is a short drive from the community of Brandermill.
Eshak Abdelmalak came to the United States from Egypt in 2007. He attended Old Dominion University for Engineering and graduated in May 2014 with engineering degree. Eshak works full time as an engineer at a well-known precast engineering company in the state of Virginia. He completed real estate school in the summer of 2013 and was licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia in August. Eshak loves to sell real estate and help people to achieve their goals.
Eshak is married and has two boys, Wannas and Abanoub. He and his wife Refka love to live in Richmond, Virginia, and love their community. They are so glad to be here, and he is proud to be a part of the incredible team at Virginia Capital Realty.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
