$605,503Average Value$293Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
A trendy downtown neighborhood reckoning with its past
Less than a mile east across Interstate 95 from the Virginia State Capitol, Shockoe Bottom is one of Richmond’s oldest neighborhoods. Overlooking the Richmond City Canal, where George Washington’s vision for a canal system connecting the nation took shape, Shockoe Bottom was also the center of the city’s slave trade in its early years. This is where Solomon Northup, the author of “12 Years a Slave” was held in jail before being taken to New Orleans in 1841, and where Abraham Lincoln arrived on boat to witness the fall of the Confederacy in 1865.
Today, Shockoe Bottom is a trendy, urban Richmond neighborhood with residents invested in telling its complex story. “So many people in Richmond today are really engaged with its history and want to understand it,” says Jacqueline Drayer, city historian at The Valentine Museum. “To have that whole history is really meaningful.” As new investments are being made into unearthing Shockoe Bottom’s past, the neighborhood continues to grow in popularity. Young professionals and students at nearby Virginia Commonwealth University enjoy walkability to dozens of bars and restaurants, outdoor spaces like the Canal Walk, cultural attractions like the Edgar Allen Poe Museum and an interesting mix of architectural styles – including the city’s iconic Main Street Station.
Modernity and history in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods
Converted tobacco warehouses and factories in Shockoe Bottom now serve as apartments, and modern infill buildings offer a unique visual blend of eras. Streets lined with red brick sidewalks and parked cars alternate between smooth, paved roads and cobblestone, further contributing to Shockoe’s eclecticism.
Almost all of the housing in Shockoe Bottom is multi-family apartment and condo buildings. Very few properties come up for sale in the neighborhood, but brick-front condo units typically cost between $240,000 and $340,000. “$240,000 or $250,000 is a pretty good price for a condo in the city with the market how it is right now,” says John O’Connor, a Realtor with Virginia Capital Realty and Richmond native, noting that downtown living tends to come with a higher price tag due to the lower inventory and higher demand. Shockoe Bottom also has a CAP Index crime score of 7, which is higher than the national average of 4 but lower than Downtown Richmond’s score of 9.
Most home options in Shockoe Bottom consist of historic properties.
Historic row houses can be found throughout the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood.
Historic buildings have been reimagined into high-end apartments in Shockoe Bottom.
1/3
Dozens of restaurants to choose from in The Bottom
Main Street is lined with locally owned restaurants and small businesses, and 18th Street is packed with hole-in-the-wall bars like McCormack’s Irish Pub and Margaritas Cantina. “It’s a vibrant part of the city in terms of dining, and it seems like every day there are more small, local businesses popping up,” O’Connor says. One of his favorite spots on Main Street is Station 2, a burger joint in a converted, circa-1899 firehouse. “They’ve got burgers and milkshakes, TVs and a big bar, so it’s a fun place,” he says. For coffee lovers, baristas whip up specialty brews in Ironclad Coffee Roaster’s trendy storefront with exposed brick and a retractable garage door to let in air on pleasant days. Bookbinder’s offers a high-end experience, serving seafood and steak inside and on its patio decorated with string lights. For groceries, Farm Fresh Market is in the neighborhood on East Main Street.
Miyabi Sushi in Shockoe Bottom has plenty of seating for its patrons.
Ironclad Coffee Roasters are a local favorite in the heart of Shockoe Bottom.
Union Market offers delicious food and pleasant outdoor dining in Shockoe Bottom.
1/3
Uncovering Shockoe Bottom’s history
In 2024, the city released its comprehensive plan for redeveloping the surface parking lot behind Main Street Station. Set for completion in 2037, the project will include the nearly 50,000-square-foot National Slavery Museum and an outdoor green space with a memorial space and amphitheater. The intention behind the project is to recognize historic sites like Lumpkin’s Slave Jail and the African Burial Ground hidden by the construction of Interstate 95 in the 1950s. “The highway construction was very intentional. It displaced many people over time and was a way to sweep uncomfortable history off the landscape,” Drayer says. “But this big initiative will extend through Shockoe Bottom and really get into this history.”
As part of this initiative, a Shockoe Institute exhibit is set to open in 2025 in Main Street Station. It will detail the Shockoe Project’s master plan and educate visitors about the reality of slavery in the United States, Virginia and the region.
Walking downtown on the Canal Walk and 17th Street Market
Residents can walk between Great Shiplock Park and downtown on the Canal Walk. Continuing east, pedestrians and cyclists connect with the Virginia Capital Trail that runs more than 50 miles through Rocketts Landing to Jamestown. Libby Hill Park in Church Hill is also within walking distance, offering views of the James River from above.
Shockoe Bottom’s 17th Street Market is an outdoor plaza next to Main Street Station that hosts festivals, live music, art shows and educational events in addition to its bi-monthly market. Richmonders have enjoyed this market – one of the oldest in the nation – for more than 275 years. Locals can explore more history right in the neighborhood at the Poe Museum on Main Street and the Virginia Holocaust Museum on Cary Street.
The Poe Museum in Shockoe Bottom commemorates the time Edgar Allan Poe lived in Richmond.
The beautiful 52-mile Virginia Capital Trail runs directly through Shockoe Bottom.
Great Shiplock Park is a quiet oasis right in Shockoe Bottom.
1/3
Nearby Richmond Public Schools and biking to VCU
Virginia Commonwealth University’s main campus is less than 2 miles west down Main Street, making for a quick bike or bus ride to class. VCU’s medical campus and hospital downtown are also less than a mile away. Medical students often park at Main Street Station and walk up the hill for class or residency.
Young Shockoe Bottom students are served by Richmond Public Schools, which offers open enrollment. Many go to Bellevue Elementary, which has a C-plus grade from Niche. They can continue to C-minus-rated Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and C-minus-rated Armstrong High School. The Freedman’s Bureau established this historic high school in 1865, immediately following the Civil War. Today, teens at Armstrong High School can take advantage of the school’s Future Center, which helps students develop post-graduation plans and offers tools for applying to colleges, scholarships, financial aid and jobs.
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School has a well-regarded teaching staff.
Founded in 1867, Armstrong High School has been an integral part of Richmond's history.
Bellevue Elementary School is only a few minutes' drive from Shockoe Bottom in Richmond.
1/3
Main Street Station is still operational
Shockoe Bottom is walkable to many restaurants, bars and attractions in and around the neighborhood. Cyclists and pedestrians can also get downtown on the Canal Walk. The Greater Richmond Transit Company services bus stops throughout the neighborhood, particularly along the thoroughfares of Main Street and Broad Street. For interstate travel, Main Street Station serves as both an iconic landmark and an operational Amtrak train station next to I-95 in Shockoe Bottom. Richmond International Airport is about 7 miles east, and VCU Medical Center is less than a mile west.
Enjoy amazing views before catching the Amtrack at Main Street Station in Shockoe Bottom.
Public transportation connects Shockoe Bottom with greater Richmond.
Main Street Station is a historic landmark in the heart of Shockoe Bottom.
1/3
Mitigating flood risk in Shockoe Bottom
Shockoe Bottom’s low elevation and location on the James River mean most of the neighborhood is in a flood zone. In 1995, Richmond’s flood wall was completed in Shockoe Bottom to help mitigate the risk of flooding from the river. In 2004, Hurricane Gaston caused several feet of flooding in Shockoe Bottom and caused $130 million in damage.
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
There's a gym and rooftop pool in my apartment building which gives us easy access to a healthy lifestyle. We alsobwalk to restaurants, and there is a hospital in walking distance.
4.0Current Resident
11/25/2016Niche Review
Shockoe bottom is a nice, up and coming area. It's walkable and there's plenty to do. It's within walking distance of VCU medical center and the state capital, so there's no shortage of low-commute employment opportunities, either.
3.0Niche User
8/15/2014Niche Review
The public services are ok and definitely very convenient. There is always work to be done
4.0Niche User
8/15/2014Niche Review
It's Shockoe Bottom, so very progressive. I see it advancing inthe furure and becoming a spot where more and more folks will want to live. Maybe not where you want to raise kids, however, because the city schools aren't where they need to be.
Are you familiar with the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Shockoe Bottom Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Shockoe Bottom, Richmond sell after 9 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Shockoe Bottom, Richmond over the last 12 months is $313,000, down 58% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this amazing condo in downtown Richmond at The Reserve. The Reserve is a fusion of modern design and urban luxury. The interior features upgraded granite, stylish solid core maple cabinets, custom tile baths, gas cooking, gas fireplace and a private balcony that overlooks 25th street. This condo also offers two full baths, spacious bedrooms, secure parking and private outdoor
NOW OPEN!Be the first to live in our stunning new all-inclusive apartment community located in the heart of Shockoe Bottom, RVA!Where History Meets Modern Luxury Welcome to The Bakery where timeless charm meets upscale living. Nestled in historic Shockoe Bottom, The Bakery offers luxury amenities, curated resident experiences, and unbeatable walkability to Richmonds vibrant culture
2 bedroom 2 bath unit for rent with trash included. Pets are allowed with restrictions, $300 non refundable pet fee per pet as well as $25 monthly pet rent.
The Collection at American Tobacco Center brings together five unique communities- American Tobacco Center, The Dill Building, The Edge, Shockoe Commons, & Shockoe Center- each being a nexus of luxury and livability in the center of the energetic downtown Richmond, Virginia. There’s so much to experience in life when you choose a residence at one of our five loft style communities as part of The
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
