Places to Live in Hampton Roads

Published

Hello,

I am from the Central Virginia area, but have accepted a job at CHKD in Norfolk, VA. I was wondering if any of you could tell me some nice places to live in that area? I will be renting (house, apartment or townhome), not buying a house right now. I have heard the Princess Anne area in Virginia Beach has nice neighborhoods and good schools (I have a 5y.o. and 12y.o.). I was also considering maybe the Chesapeake area as well, but I don't know a lot about what neighborhoods are nice and have good schools. I am looking to live somewhere that is safe, nice area and close to work. I know sometimes traffic can be a problem on I-64 or I-264, so I want to be close enough to work so I don't have to "fight" the traffic when I am working both the morning shift and night shift, since I will be rotating. Any help or suggestions would be great! Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept, Med-Surg.

Congrats on your new position! I've lived in the Hampton Roads area for 16 years now and have to tell you that you'll fight traffic no matter where you live around here. There are some nicer areas of Virginia Beach, namely Princess Anne (Red Mill Farm or Pungo developments) or the Great Neck area in the Cox High School district, although that may prove very, very expensive. Most of Chesapeake is very nice...friendly neighborhoods...great schools, namely Great Bridge High or Hickory High....if you want to travel a little bit farther or like more quiet, then Western Branch High School district is nice also. Good luck...if you need more info, let me know if I can help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi LisLis,

Thanks for your response. I'm sure fighting traffic is a definite there; here we don't have a lot of traffic to deal with. If you live 15 minutes from your job, then it's going to take 15 minutes to get there. I guess my biggest concern is trying to time myself to leave home in time to get to work ON time, taking into consideration there is going to be traffic. My friend lives in the Princess Anne area and loves it. It's clean, safe and schools are VERY close by. So that's an area I may consider. My husband wants to live in Chesapeake. Which area is actually closer to CHKD..Princess Anne area or the Great Bridge High/Hickory High area? I don't necessarily need to have the peace and quiet of the Western Branch High School area, however I will check it out when I come down to look for a place to live. You have been a BIG help thus far...I'm sure I may have more questions as time progresses. Where exactly do you work, if you don't mind me asking?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept, Med-Surg.

Hi, Stacey,

Speaking distance, I think both areas might be about the same. However, in my experience, it may be easier (when taking traffic into consideration) to get to CHKD from Chesapeake. Virginia Beach is very, very crowded and you have to deal with early am traffic due to military rush area (about 5:00 to 6:30) and then civilian rush hour going west on 264. Traffic going from Chesapeake to Norfolk on 64 isn't as bad, in my opinion. The absolute worst traffic would be having to commute through one of the tunnels [the Midtown goes from CHKD area towards Western Branch (Chesapeake), Churchland (Portsmouth), or North Suffolk] You wouldn't need the tunnel to commute from other areas of Chesapeake. There is congestion at the High Rise Bridge in Chesapeake occassionally.

Virginia Beach can be tricky nowadays....lots of great areas back up to not-so-great areas that have really gone downhill in the past few years. Also, you have to take jet noise into consideration. It's really loud...you won't hear your conversation on the phone or the tv, etc. when the jets pass (which is all day, every day), so if you're not used to it, or plan on buying a home and worry about re-sale, stay away from Oceana, Dam Neck, General Booth, Hilltop, Ocean Lakes.

Again, Great Bridge, Hickory, and most parts of Western Branch are great....Norfolk Highlands, South Norfolk (these are actually parts of Chesapeake) not so much anymore. Traffic is a major problem (and hot topic) in Hampton Roads...too many people, not enough roads. As for your question about me, I'm still just a student. I finish in October (yay!). Ironically, I was raised as a big city girl from South Philly and now prefer the quiet, country feeling in Western Branch! Hope this helps some, LisLis

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi, I used to live there. If you want to live in Virginia Beach, try the neighborhoods near 'downtown Virginia Beach.' I left Virginia Bch, when the downtown area was just being developed. But, the neighborhoods around that area (which is Pembroke/Independence Blvd.) are pretty safe. Downtown Virginia Beach has only been around a few years, but definitely worth experiencing. In chesapeake, the neighborhoods around Greenbrier Mall is your first bet. A lot of shops, businesses and neighborhoods are fairly catered to a family environment. Btw, Cox high school has always ranked #1 there. I don't know now. It's not that far from the Oceanfront either.

Happy hunting!

Btw, stay away from Suffolk... I think that's where the crazies dump the bodies! (from the news, that's where they're usually found -- hidden in the wooded areas anyway).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You guys have been very helpful. I will definitely check into the chesapeake areas you mentioned. How exactly do I get to the Great Bridge, Hickory, Greenbriar Mall area? Is there a specific exit I take off of I-64E once I go through the Hampton Roads Tunnel?

Good luck LisLis with the remaining schooling you have left. I currently live in a quiet city (Lynchburg), so it's not too far from the mountains and country feel you may like since you live in Western Branch. Approximately how long is the commute from Western Branch to CHKD with and without traffic? Just curious, as this may be an area I check out since it's probably similar to here. Is this also easy to find off of I-64?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I live in the Western Branch section of Chesapeake and I love it!!! Good luck!!

Oh the commute time to CHKD from Western Branch is about 15-30 minutes depending on the amount of traffic. It's not bad... everything is about 20 minutes from Western Branch LOL. (ok well the ocean front is more like 35 - 45 but it's worth the drive) :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

*sigh* I'm jealous!! We have some mountains up here in my part of Virginia, but I miss the ocean.

Nice to see folks helping each other. Thanks. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Katie1971...how exactly do I get to the Western Branch area off of I-64? I'm coming down April 30-May 1 to check out some areas in the Greenbriar/Great Bridge/Hickory area. My husbands cousin lives in Western Branch area but is moving to Portsmouth. What are some nice apt complexes with good schools in Western Branch? Thanks:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Stacey,

I am going to assume you are coming 64 East???? If so you will follow 64 East to 664South. To get to my section of Western Branch you would take the Portsmouth Blvd East exit (11B). The other half of Western Branch you would take a closer exit which is Pughsville East. If you can send me a PM I can give you my email and phone number and I can get some names of nice apartment complexes. Not sure how to send a PM yet... LOL going to try to do a PM now. If you don't get one then send me one. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I would be coming 64E. I don't know how to PM either..LOL..but I am going to attempt. If I am able to do it I will give you my email address and phone number. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You can PM if you click on the pencil/paper icon below a user's name. It's this one: page_edit.gif

Once a member has 15 posts, he/she can send PMs. If you have fewer than 15, you can receive them but not send.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment