The Fan
Suburban Neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond City County 23220
A brief history of The Fan
The Fan is a byproduct of the City Beautiful movement, which thrived from 1890 to 1930. America’s upper class led this social reform undertaking, which was aimed at encouraging social harmony, boosting quality of life and fostering civic virtue in growing urban populations through monuments, public green spaces and orderly architectural designs. Along with the western extension of Richmond’s streetcar lines and a growing middle class who could afford to move away from downtown, these ideas influenced the development of the Fan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Monument Avenue was the neighborhood’s landmark feature. Its grassy medians that mimic public squares, four parallel rows of shady trees and historic mansions with a uniform setback from the road were hallmarks of the City Beautiful movement.While The Fan helped beautify Richmond, it also has a troubled history. Monument Avenue was named for the Confederate statues that lined it until 2021, when the Robert E. Lee Monument was removed. The first to be put up in 1890 and the last of four to be taken down, the statue depicted the Confederate general on horseback. Monument Avenue garnered national attention in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd; activists covered the Lee statue’s base with graffiti and called for its removal. The city continues to reckon with its past through efforts like the permanent installation of Rumors of War outside of the nearby Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The bronze statue by artist Kehinde Wiley is a direct response to the Confederate monuments, depicting a young Black man on horseback.
Dining at corner dives, shopping in nearby Carytown
“Everything you need is within walking distance,” Garnett says. “It’s like how communities were before the suburbs.” Corner restaurants and bars are scattered throughout The Fan. Residents have their favorite local spots, and they’re fiercely loyal to them, as are the staff, who sometimes work in the same dive for decades. In a red brick building on Shields Avenue, Joe’s Inn is a Richmond institution. First opened in 1952, the restaurant serves large portions of Spaghetti a la Joe to hungry patrons. “It feels comfortable,” Garnett says. “It’s the kind of place where you can sit for hours and just talk, which is the case with so many restaurants in The Fan.” Kuba Kuba is another mainstay, dishing Cuban cuisine from its retro interior, while visitors to Bacchus dine on Italian food and pour bottles of wine under low light. Most of The Fan’s restaurants line Main and Cary, two streets in the neighborhood’s southern region. Shopping options can be found in nearby Carytown, the city’s walkable commercial corridor. At the top of the strip, residents can grocery shop at Publix, Kroger or Elwood Thompson’s, a local spot. Venturing east, they will find the area prime for weekend window shopping, featuring quaint boutiques, trendy thrift stores, used bookshops and a plethora of dining options. For medical services, the Retreat Doctor’s Hospital is in the neighborhood, and VCU Medical Center is about 2 miles away.Historic Victorian rowhouses
Homes in The Fan are simultaneously unique and cohesive. Queen Annes, Tudor Revivals, Federal-, Italianate- and Arts and Crafts-style rowhouses sit on the same block. But, because the neighborhood was built by a small collection of local architects and homes feature a uniform setback from the road, residential streets feel orderly. Vintage streetlamps illuminate sidewalks at night, and neighbors hang out on their porches, waving to runners and dog walkers. The Fan's homes are full of history, from the Beaux-Arts mansions on Monument to Craftsman-style properties on Park Avenue that once housed those who built the neighborhood. “On certain blocks, you’ll see home addresses that have a half at the end. These were owned by the architects who built Monument,” Garnett says. “If you go inside, the trim work is nuts. It’s the kind of trim that would be in a Monument Avenue house. There are little quirky things like that throughout The Fan.” Potential homebuyers can find a single-family rowhouse for between $575,000 and $1.5 million, depending on the size, age and condition. Historic Monument mansions usually range from $1.5 to $3 million, while condos cost about $210,000 to $875,000. There are also many apartments throughout the neighborhood, accommodating the large portion of residents who rent.The Fan District Association and neighborhood events
The Fan District Association is a strong civic organization that residents can opt to join. It helps maintain the architectural integrity and zoning requirements of the neighborhood, as well as puts on events throughout the year. The Holiday House Tour is a festive favorite. Select households open their doors for a weekend, showcasing seasonal decorations. The Fan Woman’s Club organizes the Kitchen and Garden Tour, a similar event that occurs in the spring. “They’re very involved in the community,” Garnett says. “They’re one of the strongest neighborhood associations in the city.”Runners compete in the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k and the Richmond Marathon, while the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade shuts down Broad Street for a day. Families from all over Richmond come to the neighborhood’s Hanover Avenue to trick-or-treat for Halloween on Hanover, and elaborate light displays illuminate the front of homes around the holidays, drawing cars of admirers from across the city.
Walking kids to Fox Elementary in the morning
The Fan is zoned for Richmond Public Schools. Many young students attended the neighborhood elementary school, William Fox Elementary, until it caught fire in 2022. The school, which earns a B-plus grade from Niche, will open its doors again in 2025. For now, teachers are holding classes for students in the previously vacant Clark Springs Elementary School building. Garnett notes the school also brought residents together. “It’s located in the literal center of The Fan,” he says. “Everyone wakes up in the morning and walks their kids to school.”Neighborhood students are also zoned for Dogwood Middle School, which receives a C from Niche, and Thomas Jefferson High School, which earns a B. RPS allows students to apply to specialty programs at other area high schools, including Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, which Niche ranked the No. 8 best public high school in America in 2023.
Much of Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus is in the eastern part of the neighborhood. The public research university educates about 21,000 undergraduates, with notable programs in design, education, biology and film.
The Fan's pocket parks and local arts
Monroe Park, the city’s oldest, sits on The Fan’s east end, in the center of Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus. Here, college students clutching backpacks cut across paved paths, locals read on iron benches and roommates picnic in the grass. Pocket parks lay throughout the neighborhood, and all residents live within walking distance of an outdoor space. Mothers push strollers to the playground at the junction of Park and Hanover avenues; former art students hang out at Scuffletown Park, an alleyway green space with scattered gardens and picnic tables; and on warm spring days, friends lay on blankets at manicured Meadow Park.The Fan also accommodates the city’s prominent arts scene, with local art galleries on residential streets and murals painted on the sides of buildings. Traveling Broadway shows take the stage at The Altria, an ornate former Acca Temple Shrine built in the Moorish Revival style. Local bands blare on Broad Street, performing at the Camel and the Broadberry, while twenty- and thirty-somethings bar hop from The Fan’s dives to the breweries in nearby Scotts Addition. The world-class Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is just across Arthur Ashe Boulevard, marking the entrance to The Fan’s sister neighborhood, The Museum District. Next door is the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, where the state’s history is studied and displayed.
Getting around The Fan
As the name suggests, the neighborhood’s streets ‘fan’ outward from Belvidere Street, once accommodating streetcar lines. These lines have been paved, and today, the Greater Richmond Transit Company has multiple bus stops throughout the neighborhood. The GRTC’s free Pulse bus runs along Broad Street, traveling roughly 8 miles from Rocketts Landing, a riverfront community, to Willow Lawn, a commercial area. While there aren’t bike lanes in The Fan, biking is common, as is walking. The neighborhood is also near entrances to Interstates 195, 95 and 64, which lead throughout the metro area. “You can get almost anywhere in 20- to 25-minutes,” Garnett says. When it’s time to fly, the Richmond International Airport is about 12 miles east.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
Photography Contributed By
Evan Brightfield
Video By
Nathan Allen
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Jim Brooks
Jim Brooks
Town & Country Sales and Mgmt
(804) 764-0013
50 Total Sales
3 in The Fan
$700K - $2M Price Range
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Scott Garnett
Scott Garnett
Samson Properties
(804) 781-3698
79 Total Sales
14 in The Fan
$231K - $1.2M Price Range
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Ernie Chamberlain
Ernie Chamberlain
Responds QuicklyHometown Realty
(804) 676-6939
501 Total Sales
18 in The Fan
$282K - $1.1M Price Range
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Joan Peaslee
Joan Peaslee
Long & Foster REALTORS
(804) 655-0874
77 Total Sales
3 in The Fan
$285K - $1.4M Price Range
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Meg Traynham
Meg Traynham
Providence Hill Real Estate
(804) 409-0484
153 Total Sales
5 in The Fan
$290K - $803K Price Range
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James Nay
James Nay
River City Elite Properties
(804) 609-2378
977 Total Sales
4 in The Fan
$580K - $940K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Monroe Park
Scuffletown Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Paradise Park
- Trails
- Playground
Meadow Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Federal Park
- Playground
Lombardy & Park Avenue Triangle
- Dog Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Sydney Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | The Fan | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 7 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
The Fan Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in The Fan, Richmond sell after 26 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in The Fan, Richmond over the last 12 months is $680,000, up 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$667,500
Median Sale Price
$680,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$850,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$680,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$351,800
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
189
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$355
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
2,642
Number of Homes for Sale
27
Median Year Built
1910
Months of Supply
1.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,544
Above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,103
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,192
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
719
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
478
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,613
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Jun 1411am - 1pm
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Sunday, Jun 152 - 5pm
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Saturday, Jun 142 - 5pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
-
$1,325 - $3,226 per month
- The Carousel
- Studio-2 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 470+ Sq Ft
- 2400 Grayland Ave
- Richmond, VA
-
-
$1,475 - $1,663 per month
- Cary Belvidere Apartments
- 1-2 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 632+ Sq Ft
- 601 W Cary St
- Richmond, VA
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
19,090
Median Age
28
Population Density
26 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
9.1%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$62,300
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$100,987
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.5%
College Graduates
75.2%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
28.9%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
45''
Average Winter Low Temperature
29°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
5''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
87
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
90
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
50
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Byrd Park
Historic homes and a popular park south of the Downtown Expressway
Carver
An enclave that places residents right at the heart of Downtown Richmond
Midtown Richmond
Walkable, convenient area with city amenities in the heart of Richmond
Randolph
An established Richmond neighborhood bordering VCU and the Hollywood Cemetary
Carytown
A quintessential Richmond neighborhood known for its cool vibe
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