Brookbury

Situated just 7 miles south of downtown Richmond, the Brookbury neighborhood is one that locals like to describe as “close, but not too close.” That buffer zone between the quiet, tree-lined streets of Brookbury and the urban center to the north means that residents who work in the city can enjoy a peaceful retreat after a long workday. But potential buyers should be aware that the secret is out about the neighborhood, so patience is often required when house-hunting in the area. “There’s not a lot of inventory in the neighborhood,” says Joie Boykins, a Broker with EXP Realty who has represented real estate transactions in the area for more than two decades. “Brookbury is one of those neighborhoods where people buy and stay for a long time.” The lack of both sidewalks and any public transportation stops in the neighborhood means that personal transportation is a necessity for residents here. But with its proximity to nearby Chippenham Parkway, the neighborhood’s location means that residents can get to Chippenham Hospital in under 10 minutes’ drive and to downtown Richmond in 15 minutes.

A variety of architectural styles is one of the hallmarks of Brookbury, where buyers will find homes ranging from single-story ranch-style homes to multi-story new-construction moderns. The median year of construction in the neighborhood is 2004, so potential buyers can expect to find plenty of contemporary updates to home interiors. The median price of real estate in Brookbury is $320,000, and buyers should expect to pay an average of $154 per square foot. “One of the key things about homes in Brookbury is the size of the lots,” says Boykins. “Most of the houses in the neighborhood sit on oversized lots, so you get a much larger yard than you would closer to downtown.” A four-bedroom/two-bathroom Colonial-inspired home can sell for $220,000, and prices can go up to $405,000 for a five-bedroom/four-bathroom Colonial-inspired home.

Brookbury is districted to the Richmond Public Schools district, which earns an overall grade of C-plus from Niche. Students in the neighborhood can attend J. L. Francis Elementary, Thomas C. Boushall Middle and Open High School. Both J. L. Francis and Thomas C. Boushall earn a C-minus from Niche, and Open High School earns an A-plus rating. Open High School is known for its self-directed course of study that excels at preparing students for college, as well as its partnership with the Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College for after-school tutoring. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of multiple private schools in the area, including The Steward School, rated the best private school in Richmond by Niche.

One thing that Brookbury can be said to lack is amenities within the neighborhood, a fact that arises from its being a strictly residential neighborhood. Nearby Stratton Park and Ukrop Park are both dedicated to sports fields used by area teams, though they do provide some outdoor space for working off some excess energy when not in use. The nearest city park to the neighborhood is Broadrock Park, a little over 2 miles away. The park provides visitors with a playground, courts for tennis, pickleball and basketball, and multiple sports fields. For indoor recreation, the same lack of nearby options exists, and the closest facility is the Manchester Family YMCA, located about 10 minutes’ drive west of the neighborhood. The YMCA offers health and fitness classes, as well as organized team sports, swimming and after-school programs.

When it’s time to stock up on groceries, neighborhood residents head to Food Lion, 2 miles south on Belmont Road. For home necessities, Walmart is located 3 miles south of the neighborhood on Chippenham Parkway. Just a little further south is Meadowdale Plaza, where shoppers will find retailers like Citi Trends, Dollar Tree and Marshalls. When dining out is on the agenda, Ocean Crab House is a local favorite for fresh seafood, and Tako Tako offers up traditional Mexican specialties in a casual setting.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Todd Masinter

Video By

Michael Voyack