Manchester is a residential-commercial community in the northern tip of Chesterfield County about 10 miles southwest of downtown Richmond. “Chesterfield County is very family-oriented with a good record for safety,” says David Jefferson, Owner of Jefferson Fine Homes, LLC, who sells properties in the area. “There’s a good amount of industry and business located nearby, and the Chesterfield County public school system has always been an attraction,” Jefferson adds. For those who want to live near Richmond, homes can be less expensive on the south side of the James River, where Manchester is located, while still affording residents there convenient highway access for trips to Richmond. Three major highways connect Manchester to the city, providing multiple commuting options, and major employers like Capitol One and Dominion Energy are located there. The region south of the James River is home to industrial parks and the Port of Richmond Marine Terminal.
Ways to commute into Richmond
Powhite Parkway, Midlothian Turnpike and Route 360 all lead into downtown Richmond from Manchester; commuters can pick up those highways from the northern edge, the midpoint and the southern border of Manchester, respectively. “Traffic’s not bad; there’s rush hour going north in the morning and the opposite way in the evening, but it’s generally always moving,” Jefferson says. “The county has grown so much over the past decades, with many people having previously lived in large cities where traffic is very slow, so they’d laugh if I said traffic here was bad.” Since Powhite Parkway is a toll road, local drivers often opt to shave some minutes off their commutes by purchasing an E-ZPass that enables them to skip the tollbooths in favor of paying electronically. Alternatively, GRTC (Greater Richmond Transit Company) buses stop along Midlothian Turnpike, transporting Manchester passengers between Midlothian to the west and Richmond to the east. Chippenham Hospital sits on the other side of Chippenham Parkway, which makes up the eastern border of Manchester. Richmond International Airport is about 18 miles away.
Single-family homes and townhouses sit among the trees
Manchester streets are shaded by tall, leafy trees and tend not to have sidewalks. Ranch-style and Colonial Revival homes sit back on spacious, tree-filled lots that get blanketed with crunchy leaves every autumn. Prices generally fall between $220,000 and $500,000, with the majority of homes in the area trending towards the higher end of the price range. Townhouses cost between $215,000 and $410,000, with those in a 55-plus community fetching top prices. Manchester also includes apartments for rent, though homeowners outnumber renters by nearly three-to-one.
Students can attend Chesterfield County schools
Public-school students are zoned for Chesterfield County Public Schools, rated B-plus overall by Niche. Students may attend A.M. Davis Elementary, rated C-plus, Providence Middle School, rated C-plus, and James River High, rated A-minus. High schoolers may apply to the prestigious James River High School Center for Leadership and International Relations, which emphasizes communication, ethics and service in a global context.
Buzzing with activity between two commercial corridors
Shopping centers and individual businesses line Route 360 and Midlothian Turnpike, providing residents with access to a variety of chain restaurants, auto parts stores, offices and local retailers. Café & Sabor Bakery & Restaurant serves Colombian food in a welcoming atmosphere from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a menu that ranges from fresh coffee and pastries to full breakfast platters to steak entrees. Nearby grocery stores include Food Lion, Kroger and New Grand Mart, which specializes in Korean ingredients. For home necessities and other shopping, Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement are approximately 5 miles away. More intensive retail therapy is available to residents at Stony Point Fashion Park, a mall less than 10 miles north of the neighborhood.
Public parks and recreation amenities in and around Manchester
Manchester caters to a variety of fitness pastimes. Providence Golf Club is a public club with a driving range, short game practice area and 18 holes interspersed among wetlands, trees and ponds. After 12 p.m., junior golfers can play for free when accompanied by an adult. Manchester Family YMCA is a social and athletic hub for all ages, offering fitness classes, individual gym training sessions and sports leagues. The YMCA’s indoor and outdoor pools host swimming lessons and swim team practices. On the other side of Chippenham Parkway, Powhite Park has dirt paths through the woods for hiking, biking and dog walking.
A licensed REALTOR® for more than 20 years, Catena Armstrong’s expertise is a well-balanced blend of experience, training and an unwavering passion for real estate. Consistently achieving distinction as a Top Producer, Catena combines her talents in home staging, negotiating, and marketing to offer personalized plans tailored to each client's needs. Whether buying, selling or investing, she prioritizes her clients' interests, fostering a collaborative team approach for a seamless, stress-free experience.
Catena is a dedicated advocate for the diverse areas that make up Richmond's vibrant real estate market. Specializing in an array of properties - from colonial in Fox Hall to premier estates along River Road, new construction, charming craftsman homes in Ginter Park, condos near VCU, to rural retreats in Goochland or Hanover, she approaches each transaction with the utmost professionalism and enthusiasm. She also brings hands-on experience in investing and managing dozens of rental properties in the region.
She is a graduate of the REALTOR® Institute, Accredited Buyer’s Representative® (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR), Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES), and Accredited Staging Professional. Her dedication to ongoing education underscores her diligence in providing the highest level of service to her clients.
Catena has a deep connection to Richmond, having lived in the Foxhall neighborhood in Short Pump for nearly 20 years, after she and her husband Ron Armstrong transferred there in 1997. In 2016, they made the move to Goochland, where Catena currently resides in a lovingly renovated home on the 5th hole in Richmond Country Club. Married to Ron for 40 years, they share the joy of their 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren. Recently, Catena completed a 6-year term on the Board of Directors at Richmond Country Club, showcasing her commitment to community and service.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Catena values community involvement, actively contributing to the Chesterfield & Henrico Food Banks as well as Goochland Cares. She has been instrumental in raising funds for Rising Stars, a tennis program affiliated with the Richmond Tennis League, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to play tennis in the city. As a REALTOR® dedicated to excellence, she channels her passion into helping clients achieve their real estate goals and making a positive impact in the Richmond community.
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.
