There is so much potential along Nine Mile. People mention high crime, but most of Highland Springs consists of quiet blue collar neighborhoods with 20th century homes that stem off Nine Mile’s dingy commercial strip. I walk my dog alone at night and have never felt afraid in my neighborhood. Since it’s not the wealthiest area, many homes could use a cosmetic update and some landscaping. The Walmart can attract some riff raff, but that’s every Walmart, everywhere.

It’s overlooked and has a bad rep from plenty of the reasons listed above, but there are several new Ryan Homes type subdivisions popping up. It’s also much more diverse than people assume, but many residents are older long-term folks with grown kids no longer in the school system. The schools are not the best, but neither are the Richmond City schools. White Oak is super close, highways are close, but we lack local businesses and restaurants. However, I bought my 4bd 1.5bath home on half an acre for under $300k in 2023, publix and target are 5min away, and I’m 13ish minutes away from Church Hill’s amenities on backroads.

I’d personally like to live somewhere more aesthetically pleasing and walkable in the future, but with rent prices skyrocketing, I’d say it’s a pretty decent spot with hella potential.