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$999,000

2610 East Broad Street is for sale for $999,000:

Astonishing & completely renovated historical home built in 1897 located on Broad Street featuring 5 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half baths. Elegant foyer with marble flooring & decorative columns leads to a luxurious formal living room with double crown molding, original oak floors and marble wood burning fireplace. Stunning dining room complete with 3 crystal chandeliers, chair rail molding as well as triple crown molding & unique stain glass window. Spacious eat in chef’s kitchen complete w/ stainless steel appliances, granite counters, a prep island & recessed lighting. Second floor master suite has heart of pine floors, numerous closets, and renovated baths. English basement boasts separate theater room & wet bar! Additional buildable lots! Simply too much to list; an absolute must see!

75 comments

whatcher 10/10/2013 at 6:11 AM

And so it begins……

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SEW 10/10/2013 at 7:29 AM

I’ve always loved this home! Do the dogs on the front porch come with it?

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Alex 10/10/2013 at 7:54 AM

I guess Buzzy’s hasn’t hurt property values too much in that block yet…

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Next Friend 10/10/2013 at 8:01 AM

A million dollar listing on the North side of Broad. Can’t wait to see what it actually sells for.

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Old House Lover 10/10/2013 at 8:34 AM

FUBAR

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Scrooge mcduck 10/10/2013 at 8:38 AM

I call first dibs

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Bill 3 10/10/2013 at 10:40 AM

Slightly (i.e., massively) out of my price range, but that’s a lovely home. Beautiful from the outside, & apparently even nicer on the inside! I enjoy walking past with my dog (who is the spitting image of the 2 statues out front) and watching him stare at them wondering why they aren’t moving.

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Clay Street 10/10/2013 at 10:41 AM

quite possibly the ugliest furniture I have ever seen. good lord. the kitchen is laughably unattractive as well.

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Charles 10/10/2013 at 11:59 AM

I’m pretty dubious they’ll get it, but it will be interesting to see what it sells for – great for Church hill if it can come anywhere close. Please follow up…

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Alex 10/10/2013 at 12:01 PM

@11 – don’t worry, the furniture doesn’t come with it. If that’s what’s holding you back from buying, rest assured you can bring your own. 😉

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Alex 10/10/2013 at 12:06 PM

For some reason, the $999,000 price tag also makes me think of a scene from the greatest movie ever…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md0LvQ9gANc

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laura 10/10/2013 at 1:50 PM

Several years ago, it sold in the $650000 range and has since been majorly upgraded increasing the usable square footage with the basement finish. That’s just one of the upgrades it’s has several other high dollar ones as well. I think it will go for fairly close to that amount~ 10%. 2200 E Grace was just listed for $940 ish …another stunner.

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Amy N-B 10/10/2013 at 2:01 PM

I love how the “north side of Broad” gets read as shady. As a SNOB, I declare that anything south of a 200 block is more or less the same. BTW, the price tag seems pretty fair for the insane amount of square footage ($142/sq foot). Also while I don’t love all the finished, I still think this house is kind of amazing. It has a WINE CELLAR!!!

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Next Friend 10/10/2013 at 3:13 PM

The renovation certainly appears costly, but it also appears tone deaf to the church hill marketplace whether north or south. Buyers here want period or original character (marble, subway tile, beadboard, slate) not travertine bathrooms and mirrored floors, etc.

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Alex 10/10/2013 at 4:39 PM

For my money, I’d take the one at 2200 E Grace instead even though it’s a bit smaller. Though I don’t have that kind of money to dump into a house so it’s moot. 🙂

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Clay Street 10/10/2013 at 5:06 PM

Totally agree with #17.
Such an exception property and amazing lot, which all the more calls attention to the stunningly horrific choices that were made (the bathrooms? the kitchen? the marble floor in the entry? it’s like something out of “Real Housewives of New Jersey)
And anyone remotely in the market to buy that house is going to take one look at that travesty of a renovation and think “ok, so how much would it cost me to rip this junk out?” Will be a serious factor in whether it sells at all, for any price.

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Eileen 10/10/2013 at 5:26 PM

“Additional buildable lots”? Let’s get THAT conversation started! What do you say, nearby neighbors?

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laura 10/10/2013 at 8:34 PM

@11/19…jealous? If you’re living over on Clay Street…you don’t see many of these over there do you?

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crd 10/10/2013 at 10:10 PM

@20 Eileen – yes, exactly where are the buildable lots? I’d also like to know.

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Clay Street 10/10/2013 at 10:25 PM

Haha, definitely not jealous of the furnishings or the renovation, although the property is amazing in terms of size, location, and potential. Any serious buyer at that price point would have to gut it to make it a quality home (lose the travertine, glass block, and crappy cabinetry, etc.). Whoever commits to the project will have the possibility of a real showcase of a home.

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Pierce 10/11/2013 at 2:07 AM

Good for the owners! Rising waters lift all boats.

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L. 10/11/2013 at 2:39 AM

I can’t help but wonder what the place looked like when they bought it. Maybe this place was rundown/vacant/whatever at some point…? It might explain why the homeowners made such weak design choices – the need to finish and fill a huge space, without having much original detail to go on?

Regardless, it would be perfectly comfortable to move in and change those things over time. A light fixture here, new tile there… that kind of thing. But I’m also not sure that the typical buyer for a house that expensive would want to deal with that kind of crap.

Regardless, good luck!

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L. 10/11/2013 at 2:41 AM

Oh, and *most* of the fireplaces (except the weird, panel thing in the kitchen) are quite nice. So there’s that!

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Wow 10/11/2013 at 7:44 AM

I had no idea there were so many professional interior designers and renovators on here!! All you guys with such biting criticism of this home must be making boatloads of cash doing fabulous interior design for the Richmond’s elite!! Can you share some of your websites so I can reach out to you when it’s time to decorate my mansion tastefully?

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Neight 10/11/2013 at 8:30 AM Reply
Old House Lover 10/11/2013 at 8:31 AM

@25- it was gorgeous before. Saw it on a CH Xmas tour one year. Very sad at what it has become.

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crd 10/11/2013 at 10:15 AM

Okay, from reading the Zillow listing (thanks @28), it appears to have only one working fireplace which is in the living room. And I still do not get the ‘additional buildable lots.’ Can someone please explain about the lots? Thanks.

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Julia H 10/11/2013 at 11:30 AM

I can’t believe people use this blog to air their negative personal opinions and they don’t have the guts to use their names…..JM, I love your blog, but I hate having to weed through comments like Clay Street and L.

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Charles 10/11/2013 at 12:54 PM

Ok, the furniture is ugly, but the buildout, while tone deaf, isn’t to the point that it needs to be ripped out immediately

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Alex 10/11/2013 at 1:31 PM

@30 – I assume it’s the “buildable” part of that phrase that’s stumping you too right? I think there does appear to be an extra lot or two with the house but I’m not sure how they’ve come to the conclusion that it’s “buildable.”

My guess is that a.) the owner wouldn’t like having another house that close and b.) the neighbors would raise such a high holy stink about any attempts to build there that it would make the Buzzy’s commotion look like a garden club meeting.

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Wow 10/11/2013 at 1:54 PM

Seriously guys…given that we have a collection of award-winning designers, architects and decorators on this board, I’m DYING…just DYING to see your portfolio of work.

Your talents must be shared with the world – otherwise it’s just unfair!

After all, these silly millionaires who can afford these expensive homes – well – they are typically idiots. You need to save them from their awful taste, and even better if you can do it from the comfort of your parent’s basement! I think I hear Mom coming down the stairs with the meatloaf!!

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Alex 10/11/2013 at 3:26 PM

@34 – you need to untwist your panties a bit. I don’t agree with most of the decor criticisms but there’s no need to start with the mom’s basement crap. Let folks express their opinion on a house with making it personal.

I’m pretty sure potential buyers aren’t looking to CHPN yahoos for advice whether they should buy or not so I doubt one person’s gripes make a difference. If you’d like to tell the group why you like the decor that might be positive.

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Lucky Canine 10/11/2013 at 7:22 PM

“Mom’s basement”. Bwahahaha!! Ok, so some of the house may be a *tad* overdone. Who am I to say – I will never have $999k to spend on a house so what does my opinion matter?? But love that yard – WOW!!!

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Alex 11/04/2013 at 4:57 PM

Another interesting listing popped up over the last week. IMO, this is the premiere high end house in Church Hill with the park views and history. Looks like it could use a bit of work with the “AS IS” disclaimer but if this doesn’t bring in the big bucks, nothing will. If I had a million to spend on a house right now it would be on the Libby house. I don’t see the one above selling until the Libby house moves.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-N-29th-St-Richmond-VA-23223/12520506_zpid/

I’ve also seen a couple homes on the Buzzy’s nearby neighbors block coming up, including this one…
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2714-E-Broad-St-Richmond-VA-23223/12519873_zpid/

Interesting that all the folks on that block blasted Bob because supposedly he was cashing out and selling and then they’re all rushing to sell after they fuck us out of getting another decent drinking option. I guess they really did believe that nonsense about real estate prices dropping and wanted to preserve their value so they could sell immediately after. Just wait until prospective buyers hear what a bunch of nasty busybodies live next door to the house they’re considering…

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crd 11/04/2013 at 8:07 PM

Alex, the house at 2714 East Broad is in the next block down, not the one that Buzzy’s is on, and it is on the opposite side of the street, set way back. Not sure I would draw any conclusions there, and I’m really tired of hearing about Buzzy’s. Please, let’s put that issue behind us.

However, I do agree with you on the Luther Libby house, and I think it will go for close to what they are asking, particularly as it also includes income producing properties – both the basement apartment plus the carriage house. And it has views that are incredible.

I am fairly sure that the ‘as is’ means that the current owners (whom I know) simply don’t want to have to mess with doing anything; they are retired and plan to move to a senior community, and it would be a waste of their time to start making changes at this point.

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Eric Huffstutler 11/04/2013 at 10:19 PM

If I am not mistaken this was the original Billups Funeral Home and residence. I would love to see inside but what is ugly about the furniture? I hope they have correct period antiques in it. But by the description $1M isn’t that far off and is made for formal entertaining. Think of what can be if the right socialite buys it.

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Eric Huffstutler 11/04/2013 at 10:20 PM

Oh, and why are they selling?

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Eric Huffstutler 11/04/2013 at 10:56 PM

Never mind, see they have reproduction odd stuff throughout and no period pieces to showcase the house, too bad.

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Clay Street 07/19/2014 at 7:25 AM Reply
John M 07/19/2014 at 2:44 PM

William – neither of those, really. I think its noteworthy that a property could be listed for so much in the area. Dig a little bit & youll find that I’m fascinated by the really cheap houses, too.

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Aud 07/19/2014 at 8:19 PM

I enjoy walking by this house, it’s really beautiful front (I’ve never been inside).

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/20/2014 at 12:04 PM

The house can be a showplace for the right person. Problem is that a house of this size and price should be advertised outside of Richmond as well. If Long & Foster is representing the property I know that there is a high end catalog printed every month and distributed in the Wall Street Journal that features homes here in Richmond as well. In general people under the age of 50 or even 40 will not be interested in a luxury property for high profile socialite entertainment. They want a small low maintenance place to simply watch TV and flop. They could care less about a formal dining room with three crystal chandeliers or gourmet kitchens. Or a house to paint every 5 years that costs several thousand dollars and do trim every few months.. cut grass and trim trees and shrubs, pay to fix anything that breaks, etc… I think the general buyer today isn’t and more and more are moving to condos and apartments just for those reasons. No conviction to cleaning, polishing, painting, pruning, fixing, and everything else that comes along with a large “single family” historic residence.

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Sam 07/21/2014 at 7:37 AM

Have yall noticed the house @ 3516 E broad? sold for $740,000 and is just under 5000 sq ft.
It still needs a ton of work… and is currently under some pretty heavy renovations…

Also, it seems everything seems to think 2610 E Broad is a craxy listing for $970K, but its 7000 sq ft….. BUT

213 N 36th St is just over 3000k sq ft and is listed for $700k? THATS crazy. Who in the heck is that listing agent?

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Sam 07/21/2014 at 7:58 AM

@Eric

How does the CHA still allow you to write articles in their paper when you have posts such as:

“I think the general buyer today isn’t and more and more are moving to condos and apartments just for those reasons. No conviction to cleaning, polishing, painting, pruning, fixing, and everything else that comes along with a large “single family” historic residence.”

Especially, with your posts against their “tough, fearless leader dentist”…..

I’m just so surprised they have not kicked you to the curb, how do you do it?! I surprised they have not burned you at the stake, for your non-support of the proposed Libby Hill condo building!

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edg 07/21/2014 at 10:21 AM

Am I the only one baffled by Sam’s posts?

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ray 07/21/2014 at 10:33 AM

no

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crd 07/21/2014 at 10:45 AM

@50 no.

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Ron 07/21/2014 at 11:35 AM

Edg, I feel certain Sam is being a bit sarcastic considering the prices Church Hill is currently commanding for real estate. Not everyone wants to live in a condo or apartment. And Sam is pointing it out to Eric + there are grammatical errors.
(However, I do not claim to be a writer before someone attacks me for my errors. I am the first to admit my writing skills are not as strong as many people.)
Although, I am not trying to disagree with Sam or agree with Eric by my next comment and it has nothing to do with historic houses.
There have been studies done about the millennial generation, and they will be the first generation not to want to live in houses as large as their parent’s houses. However, the study did not have anything about their generation not wanting to own houses.
Eric just goes overboard a lot in judging a lot of people and things in the area. I do find some of his criticism humorous because he and his partner do not live in a house anywhere close to the size of the one in the article for sale.
Their house is nice and unique in its own way. All of the houses in Church Hill are unique in their own way. It simply does not matter if someone buys this house and guts it or leaves it the exact same. The entire house is not my taste just as there are things about my house some people would hate. The house listed for sale is a very nice house, and I do hope they are able to get close to the asking price.
In reference to the person who commented it has been on the market for over a year and the price has only come down $30k. Perhaps the people do not have to sell, but want to down size or up size (is up size correct) live in a larger house. Who cares, it is their house and if they want to have a private dance floor installed on the first floor it isn’t any of my business. . Although, I hope if they do I am invited to a party.
Does it really matter if my house or your house is perhaps larger than someone else’s house? We all live in Church Hill, and for those of us (me) who want to see the neighbourhood become Soho, Park Slope (more my leanings) or Tribecca. We need to pull together as a neighbourhood and as a people.
Life is too damn short, I was 25 just yesterday and today (well let us say) 25 is further away than 40 is anymore. 😎

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Ron 07/21/2014 at 11:46 AM

Eric since I have your attention…why is 413 N. 27th. Condemned, I thought the house was complete, and the owner was living there.
Thanks, 😎

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/21/2014 at 12:00 PM

Sam, my articles are about historic subjects. Doesn’t mean I don’t have personal opinions.

As for 413… it is not up to code. The owner was paid by the insurance company for the damages and she was to have in turn paid contractors for work to fix it back up after the fire in 2012. She spent the money elsewhere and so the house is missing proper bathrooms and has no kitchen whatsoever. She owes the contractor $55,000 and they have taken a mechanics lien against it. The house was not occupant ready but she moved in anyway. When she became sick the city condemned it after seeing the condition it was in. A volunteer offered to bring it up to code for her but she refused the help. Now the city has control of it and anyone seen in or on that property will be arrested per Earl Weaver of CAPS – City Planning.

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/21/2014 at 12:24 PM

Grammatical errors, I am sure I have made many while writing my replies on the fly plus my articles are edited by someone else before I proof and sign off on them for publication. Not uncommon. My ideas and research are solid if not my English, which was my worst subject in school! Absolutely hated it and in part because of the old no nonsense fire breathing teachers I had 🙂

Ron, speaking of millennials and other generations on either side, it is seen in all aspects of life. Houses are built with “great rooms” and no formal dining rooms any longer and hand-in-hand is the fact that people are not buying fine china, crystal, and silver for wedding presents as heirlooms nor use it for formal dinner parties as they seem to be out of vogue now. Antique furniture – you can hardly give it away let alone sell it for any profit these days. The signs are all around us hence my comments about large formal houses versus younger generations. Even in cars – or lack of.

Then there is the preservationist side of me in hopes it does sell as a single family home and not broken up. But the average home in Church Hill goes for $425,000 (according to statistics) and the $1-million price tag is a bit steep for our area even if it is worth it. That is why I said it should also be advertised outside of Richmond to find a potential buyer.

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Bill 3 07/21/2014 at 12:36 PM

Eric – ought not make broadbrush generalizations of people based on age. Many people falling under those parameters (myself included) are looking for more than a small place to “watch tv & flop”, whatever that means, & are not afraid of the hard-work that comes with owning & maintaining a home.

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/21/2014 at 12:47 PM

Bill3… My generalizations are mentioned in my post above plus look at what is going up all around us. One condo or apartment complex after another. Not stately homes. That in itself should give you an idea of the change going on. People want low maintenance. There are exceptions and hope they are the people buying historic homes but when you look at the general population and trends, you get the picture. Besides, there have been plenty of magazine and newspaper articles on this. There is even a television show called “Tiny House” that advocates a trend for smaller micro homes.

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Ron 07/21/2014 at 11:31 PM

@Eric most of the apartments and condominiums around us are being occupied by mostly college students, young professionals (not in the buying stage of life yet) and empty nesters and most of the people in these groups do not want the responsibility of owning a house yet.
However, when the college students attain employment, young professionals get married and have families they will both most likely want to own houses.
In reference to your comment about open floor plans etc., you repeated what I had already written. However, I do think there will be far more of the millennial generation buying houses up here because a lot of them prefer living in the city to their parents at the same age.
There are very few stately homes in Church Hill; we do not have a Monument Ave. alternatively, south of Cary neighbourhood up here. Although 3516 E. Broad St. Just sold for over $700K, and it is not as large as the house in this article.
In reference to the person who wrote, he/she thought 3516 still needed a lot of work. It didn’t need any work the house was beautiful inside. However, I will admit 3516 was not completely my taste. The folks who have bought are having it gutted because the interior did not suit their taste.
I do not agree with you on the value of the house in the 2600 block not being worth $900k. Real estate is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and the right person might not have viewed this house yet.
In the next place, I would never do my house over if I were trying to sell it being it is renovated and I am sure the owners of that house feel the same way. The house is a very attractive house inside, and it is beautiful on the outside. The interior is too formal for my taste because I prefer European country and American country. Although, I love having my formal dining room, separate den, and large eat-in kitchen even though I prefer country to formal.
I’m getting the impression you haven’t been in very many “stately homes” there are some of the most beautiful interiors that do not have marble floors, crystal chandeliers etc. and are beautiful.
Let us see some proof on what you have generalized about the younger generation. I can give proof of studies done because human behaviour was one of my majors in college. Therefore, I enjoy reading and learning about the differences in generations.
Thanks and good night

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katzenjaammer 07/22/2014 at 9:24 AM

I think the main thing that keeps young families out of the city is the quality of the schools that their children will attend, not whether or not they want to maintain a house. It’s us old folks who have already experienced the Joy of Unplanned Expenses and $400 gas bills who don’t want the big house! Lots of young people still dream of big Thanksgiving dinners in their big lovely dining rooms. And I assure you, dinner parties are in full swing.

$750m-$1mm obviously isn’t a starter home and prohibitive for many. But I still think the walkability and charm of the neighborhood will bring more and more people as it grows. That’s what brought us here, right?

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/22/2014 at 10:29 AM

katzenjaammer, that is why we have the “Neighborhoods In Bloom” group who were supposed to have annual events to bring potential buyers into the area and educate them as well as promote historic home buying. But that has since fallen to the wayside I believe? Not long after we moved into our house they filmed a commercial through the Martin Agency in our house as a feature home but the management changed during that time and the commercial scrapped. We do have a copy of it supplied by them though.

You misinterpret my statement about “stately homes”. I was using it in a generic sense and not literally as in Mansions or Castles. A stately home can be small and labeled so because of its overall presentation. A matter of style and taste.

True, there are generational gaps we speak here and thus little to no interactions. Let’s face it, how many 19-25 year-olds want to consciously mingle with people approaching retirement age? So we have to go on what we have noticed by family members or seen on television or print. I have to disagree about all of the condos and apartments being rented out by college kids. They have dorms and campus housing. If they want more then they are spoiled. There can’t be “that many” students and besides, how were they housed 10 years ago? In fact, we know a married couple who doesn’t have kids and sold their large home on Libby Hill for an apartment downtown because of all I mentioned. They travel owning other properties out of the country so don’t have the time to maintain a large home so, one non college student apartment down.

Look, we are some of the exceptions and can argue all day long about opinions. We live in a self promoting, self centered, all about “ME” generation who would actually die in more than one way for their cell phones while being unaware of their surroundings. They don’t like “old” anything and several adults we know have the same constitution. It was even a cover story in “Time” magazine not long ago. It isn’t something I am making up. Their world isn’t about materialistic things to impress others (keeping up with the Jones) but all about electronics and who can be #1 at the cost of sacrificing morals and manners. Maybe I am a idealist and still have a 1950s-1960s pre computer age way of thinking but that is how I was raised and how I prefer to live since it doesn’t seem that long ago to me. No, things weren’t all rose colored glasses then but compared to today it was a hell of a lot better over all. People were taught rather than simply raised. Parents were issuing discipline rather than being disciplined. It all comes in a package deal with a trickle down effect.

But enough about social studies and back to the house which is a nice dwelling in which I wouldn’t mind having myself. Not sure why the front portion brick was painted over but that would have to be stripped back to the original natural brick if possible. The old embalming rooms in the basement have endless possibilities. And think the three crystal chandeliers in the dining room is pure opulence and would be throwing many formal dinner parties there! Our dining room is 15’ x 20’ and is still way too small for our furniture.

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East Grace 07/22/2014 at 11:37 AM

Eric,
Wow. “They have dorms and campus housing. If they want more then they are spoiled.” My children did one year in the dorm before moving on to apartments. The last thing they are is spoiled. I think most students up here are in med school, medical graduate programs, or grad school. I’m not even sure there are student housing options for them and if there are I am sure they are very limited. Plus they are hardly 19 anymore and do not deserve to be labeled as spoiled because they don’t live in a dorm. You really are over generalizing about this age group. I know a lot of young people who do not fit your description at all.

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/22/2014 at 12:50 PM

Geezzz, this is getting out of hand so is my last post on this subject unless directly related to the house.

I may be generalizing “being spoiled” a bit but at the same time I see parents defending children when the parents are just as much at fault having been left to their own devices growing up (and not attacking you East Grace). Not directly related but take for example how parents will keep children from eating green vegetables because they don’t like them. Why influence or even force the child to not eat something based on your own beliefs when in fact they may like green vegetables? The parent could see absolutely nothing wrong with that but there actually is. I can only go by people in my age bracket I speak with and have spoken about this subject many times and we all seem to for the most part all agree when we compare how we grew up to today’s society so my views are not singularly my own. ‘Nuff said. 😉

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Ron 07/22/2014 at 1:19 PM

@East Grace, I totally agree with you being one who owns a lot of rental property I know after one year that many students do not want to live in student housing.

Eric generalizing again and I asked you to present proof claiming there was an article in Time magazine is hardly proof of your statements. Knowing one family who sold their house due to the over whelming upkeep isn’t real proof the majority of society feels the same way.

If students’ are spoiled, and you are introducing a new subject I would have to ask you for proof that they are all spoiled.
I have rented to several students that are very spoiled, and to students still paying for their own education. I would hardly describe a student paying his/her own way through school as spoiled.

There are over 33,000 students at VCU’s undergraduate schools alone not to mention how many there are in graduate + post graduate programs. Therefore, I would have to say there is probably not enough housing to house all these students.

Being one who attended college for several years I do know colleges assume a certain percentage of students will eventually live off campus.

Most universities require freshmen to live on campus, but once reaching sophomore status living off campus is an option.
Personally, I lived on campus for the first three years of my college career because I loved being around all my friends anytime day or night.

You are always trying to make your house seem nicer than many people in Church Hill do it is quite amusing actually. I have driven by your house several times due to owning property not far away. It is quite an attractive house; I love the architectural style actually, because I love country. In addition, your house reminds me of a house you would see out in the country on a farm perhaps.

You can have the last word because people such as yourself always have to try to prove (generalize) yourself as knowing more than anyone else knows.

@Katzenjaammer, you are correct in reference to the schools, but Chimborazo has made great strides in the past few years. I think many young people are moving to our area more because of the vast improvements at Chimbo. However, I don’t know what they will do when their children become middle school age. I wouldn’t want my child attending Mosby Middle, their only alternative is a private school.

We have many great private schools in the Richmond area from $9k a year to $27K a year. Some of the private schools even offer scholarship programs to help make their school more affordable.

I would love to see a private school open in Church Hill and hopefully if young families continue moving here someone will eventually open one.

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Bill 3 07/22/2014 at 1:35 PM

Agree completely with East Grace. Eric – I very much enjoy & appreciate your historical knowledge & preservationist-perspective on things, but your take on younger generations seems a little off-base & quite honestly ill-informed. It seems as if you watched a few reality (i.e., fake, scripted) tv shows or observed a pack of teens at Short Pump mall & then attributed those traits to basically anyone under 40 (or 50 even).

While there are always overlaps in what defines a generation, most would agree that Millenials are today in their early-to-mid thirties, married & maybe starting a family. Many of us are hard-workers who dream of owning & maintaining a home, just as our parents did but may be limited in our means to such. Keep in mind also that many in this generation & those following find themselves in much more trying economic times than the boomers, saddled with massive amounts of student debt, fewer well-paying jobs out of college & an overall stagnant economy.

The earlier comment about quality of schools in the city is spot-on. If I want my kids (theoretical at this point in time) to be afforded a quality education, I either have to pay out the nose to send them to private schools, which I disagree with on a philosophical level, or move out of the city to a county with strong schools. I’d venture that many folks would love to live in Church Hill & provide their children an education consistent with Henrico, Chesterfield & surrounding counties, but it’s just not in the cards at this point.

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/22/2014 at 5:26 PM

Ron, you and Jim and I use to be good friends at one time until you moved away then changed – quite a bit. Now you are coming across as mightier than thou. Even though you co-own a house two doors down, I myself haven’t even laid eyes on you for nearly 10 years in or near the property. I am sure you or Hank has but don’t spend any time maintaining yards, woodwork, interiors, etc… I have also seen the reviews on Yelp about your “O.W. Properties”. Shades of someone who use to own properties in the area including 405. And you can’t pull the wool over my eyes about your past but neither here nor there.

Our house is unique and was an anchor for establishing the Church Hill North Historical District. It is the oldest on the North side of Broad. It got a full page in the Zehmer’s Church Hill book. Use to be on the historic bus tours (and will be again next year). Our house was considered a mansion when it was built in a time when average people lived in cottages. So yes, it is special in many ways and sure you are only being diplomatic because of Jim now having terminal cancer and we wouldn’t even be in the house without your turning us on to it when it wasn’t even on the market then promptly moving away after declaring you would never do so (and we both know why) but that is fine.

As for your house, we have seen how many college students you can cram in it just to make a buck and questionably too by code considering the number of bedrooms in it. And the bare minimal you do to maintaining it. Yes, our house needs work and will be getting that later this year when the weather is cooler (wood replaced, windows glazed, new gutters, and completely painted) all been planned out.

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Eric S. Huffstutler 07/22/2014 at 5:27 PM

Schools have been an ongoing issue for families moving into Church Hill – and some moving out when children become of school age.

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crd 07/22/2014 at 7:05 PM

@66 can you please lay off the personal attacks? Get the guys email and/or call him up, speak to him directly. I really don’t think this sort of thing belongs on a community blog, it’s personal between the two of you and IMHO adds nothing to this thread about a house that is for sale.

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