Belmont Woods

Tucked into a densely wooded area near the intersection of Chippenham Parkway and Belmont Road is the appropriately-named Belmont Woods neighborhood of North Chesterfield. With quiet streets winding through what might best be described as an urban forest, the neighborhood feels more rural than one might expect from an area less than 7 miles south of downtown Richmond. Houses tend to be built fairly close to one another in cleared areas, which creates a sense of tight-knit camaraderie among neighbors. The lack of both sidewalks and any public transportation stops means that personal transportation is a necessity for residents here. But with Chippenham Parkway marking the western boundary of the neighborhood, residents can get to Chippenham Hospital in under 10 minutes’ drive and to downtown in 15 minutes. That proximity to major thoroughfares is helpful to residents here, given that the neighborhood is entirely residential, and getting to amenities requires traveling. “The location is great for commuters who work in Richmond,” says Joie Boykins, a Broker with EXP Realty who has represented real estate transactions in the area for more than two decades. “With Chippenham Parkway right there, you can get anywhere on the Southside easily, and it’s easy to get across the river, too, with the Powhite right there.”

Architectural styles in Belmont Woods run the gamut from cozy bungalows to multi-story new construction, and the median year of construction for the neighborhood is 1995. The median price of real estate in Belmont Woods is $329,000, and buyers can expect to pay an average of $204 per square foot. Both of those amounts are lower than what is typical in the North Chesterfield area as a whole. A three-bedroom/two-bathroom bungalow in Belmont Woods can sell for $232,000, and prices can go up to $450,000 for a three-bedroom/three-bathroom new-construction modern home. “The price points are great for a lot of buyers. We see first-time homebuyers in the neighborhood, and we see more experienced buyers. The neighborhood has a lot to offer everyone," says Boykins.

Belmont Woods 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.

Despite its arboreal abundance, Belmont Woods has no parks or other recreational amenities within the 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. “Even though they’re not right in the neighborhood, almost anything you want in terms of amenities is an easy drive,” says Boykins.

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

Alicia Helm

Video By

Victoria Sharpe