Having grown up in Henrico’s West End, I never got to know the village of Chester. I’m doing quite a bit of work there at the moment, and I find it rather interesting.
The village of Chester is noted for its historic charm and having a strong sense of community. Chester has at least 17 active neighborhood associations which communicate frequently with each other to promote responsible development in the neighborhod. The 2006 population is estimated at 22,700, resulting from a 2.7% annual growth rate since 2000. The quaint village atmosphere is being perpetuated by developments such as Chester Village Green ( www.chestervillagegreen.com), a cutting-edge New Urbanism project in the heart of town.Slightly outside of the village boundary is the proposed Branner Station (www.brannerstation.com). In September 2007 the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors approved 2-1 a rezoning request from HHHunt to rezone 1,614 acres southeast of Chester along the west line of Branders Bridge Road, south of Bradley Bridge Road. Yes, the vote was 2-1 in favor of approval. The current plan is for 2,449 single-family homes, 1,331 condos and townhomes, 908 apartment units, and 300 assisted living units, as well as 470,000 square feet of proposed commercial space. To accommodate this growth, the plan proffers over 100 acres for a new elementary school and a new high school. The proposed development indicates a ”North/South Pkwy Extended” which will intersect Route 10 just steps from the village periphery, at the location of the former CSX railroad right-of-way (now a greenway).
So what’s the point of this post? I just find that the village of Chester is notable because it has managed to maintain its “throwback” identity in the face of development/sprawl. As much as I respect HHHunt, it looks like the old-time charm of Chester is facing an identity crisis.
