Is Scott’s Addition a good place to buy in Richmond? It’s a strong fit if you want a condo or townhome in a walkable, central neighborhood packed with breweries, restaurants, and entertainment, and you’re fine with HOA dues, noise, and limited parking. It’s a weaker fit if you want a yard, a detached house, or a quiet street.
by Daniel Yoon | eXp Realty | Richmond, Virginia
Scott’s Addition sits in the City of Richmond, just west of Arthur Ashe Boulevard and north of Broad Street. It’s one of the city’s best-known turnarounds: a former industrial district that’s become a dense mix of lofts, new apartments, taprooms, and restaurants. This guide covers what you can buy, what it costs to own, and the trade-offs I walk buyers through. For listings and a neighborhood snapshot, see the Scott’s Addition community page.
A quick history
According to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the area stayed mostly undeveloped until the early 1900s, when modest homes and businesses went up. The city’s first zoning ordinance, adopted in 1927, made it an industrial district, and large plants and warehouses followed from the 1930s to the 1950s. The Scott’s Addition Historic District was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register on June 1, 2005, and on the National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 2005. Many of today’s lofts and taprooms are in those old brick industrial buildings.
What you can buy in Scott’s Addition
| Home type | What it’s like | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Converted loft condos | Former warehouses with exposed brick, tall ceilings, and big windows | Condo budget and reserves, window and roof age, noise between units |
| Newer condos | Modern finishes, elevators, sometimes rooftop decks | HOA dues, rental caps, parking assignment |
| Townhomes | Newer construction, often with a garage or assigned spot | HOA rules, street noise, resale comps in the same building or row |
| Apartments | Most large buildings are rentals | Good for trying the neighborhood before you buy |
Detached single-family homes are rare here. Most owner-occupied homes are condos and townhomes, and many units are owned by investors and rented out, so inventory for buyers can be thin at any given time.
Prices and the cost of owning
Scott’s Addition doesn’t have its own CVR MLS report, so I price it from closed sales in the same building or row. For context, the City of Richmond’s September 2026 condo and townhome median was $329,950, up 6.6% from a year earlier, with 3.6 months of supply (CVR MLS). That’s more room to negotiate than the city’s detached market, which had 1.8 months.
Owning costs here have 3 big pieces:
- City real estate tax: $1.20 per $100 of assessed value, billed in halves due January 14 and June 14 (City of Richmond). On a $350,000 condo, that’s $4,200 a year.
- HOA or condo dues: these vary a lot by building and cover different things. Ask what’s included, how big the reserve fund is, and whether a special assessment is planned.
- Parking: a deeded or assigned space matters for daily life and resale. Confirm it in writing.
Under Virginia’s Resale Disclosure Act, the seller has to get a resale certificate from the association and give it to you. Unless your contract sets a different period, you get 3 days after receiving it to cancel without penalty, so read the budget, reserves, rules, and any pending assessments closely and fast.
Things to do
Scott’s Addition is Richmond’s densest cluster of craft breweries, cideries, distilleries, and meaderies, with restaurants and entertainment venues in between. Long-running names include The Veil Brewing Co., Ardent Craft Ales, Blue Bee Cider, Buskey Cider, Reservoir Distillery, and Väsen Brewing. Duckpin bowling, arcade bars, and shuffleboard round it out. Businesses open and close often, so check current hours before you plan a weekend around them.
Just north, the Diamond District’s new ballpark, CarMax Park, opened in April 2026 as the home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels. The City of Richmond says it holds 10,000 fans and is the first major piece of the Diamond District to open, with residential, commercial, and hotel projects planned around it. Expect more game-day traffic and activity nearby.
Commute and transportation
- GRTC Pulse: the Broad Street bus rapid transit line runs between Willow Lawn and Rocketts Landing, every 10 minutes at its most frequent (GRTC), with stations along Broad Street at the neighborhood’s southern edge.
- Interstates: I-95 and I-64 are close by, and I-195 runs along the western side.
- Downtown and VCU: a short drive, bike ride, or Pulse trip.
- Walking and biking: the neighborhood is flat and compact, which makes most errands easy on foot.
Schools
Scott’s Addition is served by Richmond Public Schools, which assigns schools by address and also offers application-based high school programs (RPS enrollment). Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, a regional program, accepts applicants from Richmond and nearby divisions (MLWGS admission). If schools are a top priority, compare these options with the suburbs before you decide. My family neighborhoods guide lays out the trade-offs.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very walkable, with dining and entertainment steps away | Few detached homes or private yards |
| Central to downtown, VCU, and the interstates | Street parking is tight on weekends and game days |
| Pulse bus rapid transit on Broad Street | Nightlife noise, especially Thursday through Saturday |
| Newer and converted buildings with character | HOA dues and special assessments can be significant |
| Strong renter demand from nearby jobs and schools | Many units are rentals, so owner inventory can be thin |
Who Scott’s Addition is for
- Young professionals and remote workers who want to walk to coffee, dinner, and the gym
- Couples and downsizers who want a lock-and-leave condo close to the city
- Investors who understand the building’s rental rules and HOA finances
If you want a yard and a quieter street with similar access to the city, look at the Museum District, the Fan, or Church Hill. My Church Hill guide is a good next read. If you’re buying to rent, my Richmond investment guide covers the numbers to run.
FAQ
It’s a good fit for buyers who want a walkable, central condo or townhome and don’t mind noise and HOA dues. It’s a weaker fit for buyers who want a yard or a detached house. Review the condo or HOA packet and recent sales in the same building before you offer.
Prices depend on the building, size, finishes, and parking, so I price from recent sales in the same building. For context, the City of Richmond’s condo and townhome median was $329,950 in September 2026, per CVR MLS.
None. Scott’s Addition is in the City of Richmond, an independent city. Property taxes are paid to the city at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value, and schools are part of Richmond Public Schools.
Yes. It’s compact and flat, with restaurants, breweries, and shops close together, and the GRTC Pulse runs along Broad Street on its southern edge every 10 minutes at peak frequency.
It’s a large redevelopment just north of Scott’s Addition. Its first major piece, CarMax Park, opened in April 2026 as the Flying Squirrels’ 10,000-seat ballpark, and the city says residential, commercial, and hotel projects are planned around it.
Limited parking, weekend and game-day crowds, nightlife noise, HOA dues, and very few detached homes. Buyers with school-age kids should also compare Richmond Public Schools options with nearby counties.
Yes. The Scott’s Addition Historic District has been on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places since 2005, according to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
Thinking about Scott’s Addition?
I’ll pull recent sales in the buildings you’re considering, review the HOA documents with you, and tell you honestly how each unit compares. Book a time at cal.com/danielyoon or call 804-896-2694.
General information. Business names and hours change, and HOA terms vary by building. Confirm details before you buy.