Creighton

The Creighton neighborhood of Richmond, situated approximately 3 miles northeast of downtown, is one that was long neglected by the city. There was a time when people were afraid to even drive through the area, let alone live there. But to paraphrase Bob Dylan, the times are changing. Thanks to work by the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority, the Creighton neighborhood is transforming. Change is slow, to be sure – the violent crime rate is still far above the national average – but change is on the horizon nevertheless. “It’s definitely an up-and-coming neighborhood,” says Daphne MacDougal, a Broker with the Steele Group Sotheby’s International, who has been representing real estate transactions in the city for over 15 years. That change involves the demolition of existing government housing buildings and replacing them with updated mixed-income units as part of the neighborhood’s revitalization, which is expected to be completed by Summer 2024. The neighborhood’s proximity to Interstate 64 does make commuting convenient for residents, but the fact that most amenities are some distance away means that residents do need their own transportation. Several Greater Richmond Transportation Company bus stops throughout the neighborhood do make it easier for those without their own cars, however.

Ranch-style homes are common throughout Creighton, but there are also two-story four-squares and Colonial-inspired houses, too. The median price of real estate in Creighton is $185,000, and buyers can expect to pay an average of $208 per square foot. “It’s far and away one of the most affordable neighborhoods in the city,” says MacDougal. A three-bedroom/one-bathroom ranch-style home can sell for around $160,000, and a three-bedroom/two-bathroom ranch-style can sell for $211,000.

Creighton is zoned for the Richmond Public Schools district, which earns an overall rating of C-plus from Niche. Students in the neighborhood can attend Woodville Elementary, Fairfield Middle and Highland Springs High School. All three schools receive a C-minus rating from Niche. Students at Highland Springs High School can choose to participate in any of over 40 school-sponsored clubs, and they have the opportunity to play 23 different varsity-level sports. 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.

The Creighton Court Community Center provides residents with a playground and basketball court for outdoor recreation. For a more comprehensive outdoor facility, residents head to Hidden Creek Park, which is about a mile north of the neighborhood. The park features a playground, tennis and pickleball courts, a hiking trail and picnic shelters. During the summer months, the Woodville Community Pool, located approximately a half-mile north of Creighton, is open to the public for swimming under the watchful eyes of trained lifeguards.

When it’s time to stock up on groceries, residents head to The Market at 25th, approximately a mile east of the neighborhood. For other shopping needs, Eastgate Town Center is less than 10 minutes east by car. There, residents can shop at stores including Walmart Supercenter, Citi Trends and Family Dollar, and they can also take advantage of the workout facilities at Planet Fitness. Several restaurants are also located in Eastgate Town Center, including Mi Gurrero Mexican Restaurant and Crafty Crab seafood. For unexpected medical emergencies, Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital is less than a mile away, and the neighborhood is also 10 minutes by car from the Richmond International Airport. “The fact that I-64 is so close makes it easy to get just about anywhere,” says MacDougal. “That’s another appealing thing about the neighborhood.”

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Alicia Helm

Video By

Daniel Willingham