Chesterfield Apartments, richmond-va

This place is where people go when they need somewhere to move in fast. WAY OVERPRICED, but they’ll move you in quick. Still, after living here for nearly 2 years, I’ve enjoyed my time. However, the elevator is CONSTANTLY breaking. If you live on a higher floor or just want to do your laundry, that gets annoying fast. Almost all the apartments have no living room/central space & really small kitchens. Just keep that in mind. It’s hard to have friends over at times. AND NO PARKING! A lot of places have problems with bugs, so make sure your roomate is a clean person! It’s seriously getting way overpriced for no amenities! There are places with so much more to offer at a much lower price. Maintenance and Alan (who runs the freight elevator) are amazing. Just my honest opinion of living here!

Qahwah House is a sensory journey to Yemen the moment you walk in. The air hums with the warm, spiced aroma of freshly brewed coffee—notes of cardamom, clove, and roasted beans wrap around you like a fragrant embrace. The decor is a love letter to Yemeni culture: arched doorways, intricate lanterns, and walls adorned with vibrant tapestries evoke the bustling souks of Sana’a. Sip a creamy Yemeni latte under the soft glow of pendant lights, and let the earthy tones and communal vibe transport you far from Richmond. A gem where every sip and sight tells a story!

I lived here for more than two years. The first year wasn’t too bad, but the last year was not great. It’s not amazing, but not the worst either. While I had a few upsetting instances, living there overall wasn’t too bad. I'm writing this review in the format and info I would have wanted to know when I was searching for a place to live. Pricing was decent since all utilities were included, the location was convenient, and maintenance was fast (love that team — work orders were usually completed within 24 hours; the longest I waited was 2 days). However, those positives don’t make up for the occasional attitude from management or the building’s condition. The regular staff was mostly nice and helpful, but there were some shortcomings — beware of apartment tours if you don’t renew your lease. You may get notified 48 or 24 hours in advance (this happened once), or sometimes not at all (it happened twice - albeit I was called 5 min ahead of time for one of them). It sometimes felt like the slumlord special. My bathroom and pantry doors wouldn’t close because of thick paint layers — I had to jam the bathroom door shut for privacy, and it still popped open sometimes (which makes having guests over awkward). After moving out, I learned I had mild mold exposure (my symptoms included fatigue, brain fog, and coughing — I cleaned my apartment top to bottom, so I can only assume it was under the carpet or somewhere inaccessible). Every unit only has one bathroom, no matter how many bedrooms there are. The bathroom walls often dripped yellow condensation that pooled on the trim after showers — some of my neighbors and friends on other floors experienced the same thing (not all of them so it's a hit or miss). When I asked for a bedroom door lock, the property manager told me to my face, “Why should it matter? You have a lock on your front door.” Honestly outrageous, considering I was a woman living alone and the poor security only became more obvious over time. I still rented from them afterward since I was young and needed a place to live and didn’t fully realize how bad the security was. There were cases of non-residents and homeless individuals breaking in, wandering the building and banging on doors. I've heard and seen people yank on my apt door who were not my neighbors or friends. In my last year, their new café, Qahwah House, always has the apartment access door open even after being notified multiple times to keep it closed (the open door gave rodents and non-residents access to the building). There was also a squatter issue that year. Pest control came monthly (they were great), but I’d still recommend using Raid, diatomaceous earth, or Advion if you plan to live here. The elevator only worked during my first year. In the second year, tenants received notices several times saying it was down or being repaired. When it was back up and running, it would break again within a few weeks (typically 2-3). The year after, it was down for over 80% of the year, and when it was finally announced as fixed, it broke again within a month (right before I moved out). The only working elevator was the freight elevator, which had to be operated by staff and only during limited hours. They still raised the rent (~$100) despite not improving the building and even tightened up the lease. I often saw dust and spiderwebs pile up for months, although the hallway floors were vacuumed regularly. Pet accidents were occasional but handled quickly. Like many older buildings in Richmond, there can be some rodent activity (rats or mice), but it’s manageable if you keep things clean and don’t leave food out.

Perfect location for anyone attending VCU as you can walk to the main library in 3 minutes. Great apartment with stunning views. Wonderful management that really cares about it's tenants. My son stayed there for a year before the pandemic and is returning after a year of absence to resume his studies. He could not be happier!

The apartment complex is located at the edge of "the Fan", which is the greatest neighborhood in Richmond . It's a wonderful place for VCU students to live, since it situated at the center of campus. Take a stroll down historic “Franklin Street” & you'll see why there is so much to love about Richmond!