April 24, 2005
barton heights
We took a drive through Barton Heights, another Richmond neighborhood of old houses.
Beginning in 1889, Barton Heights was one of Richmond’s first suburbs, dependent on the trolley. The neighborhood was developed speculatively by and named after George Barton. Homes of all different styles were built, including large Queen Anne and Victorians of the period, and later Four-Square and Bungalow styles.
Barton Heights is a neighborhood that has fallen into disrepair since the 1970s, but has recently seen attempts made at revival. It is an odd mix of restored houses, empty houses, and occupied dilapidated properties. It is beautiful and a little scary.
Barton Heights is a Neighborhood in Bloom, which means that there are tax breaks available for doing restoration in the area. In addtion, the neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Alliance To Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods has a good piece about Barton Heights.
This is a strange little house that sits by itself just south of Barton Heights.
This empty house has amazing metalwork along the ridge of the roof.
The house to the far right is empty.
2100 block of Lamb Avenue
The photo probably represents the best of the neighborhood — restoration and completion.
The ‘Barton House, huge and empty. There are additions off of the back from when it was a retirement home or insane asylum or something.
This is our favorite of the day. The shingles, the round porch, the nice colors, and those 2 tiny double-hung windows at the top are all so impressive.
This is one of the neatest, strangest things that I’ve seen on a house.
Beautiful, but makes me glad that we didn’t buy a stucco house.
Interesting place for a deck.
fascinating! especially the house with all the doors boarding up the windows: quite creepy. ;)
Up there, it seems like a beach town for a split second… since the horizon seems to dip off and the houses are old and tall.
Just an observation.
Amazing big homes.
Went into some of the new homes being developed there. They are nice… and seem to be bringing a lot of interest.
While walking along the block, a lady walking behind us said, “its a nice neighborhood… I grew up on that block, its nice.” We said, “yeah, it seems like a nice place.” Then said, “it is really pretty up here today.” …. … The lady responded, “everything looks good in the daytime,” then walked on.
So, Barton Heights: Pretty in the daytime, but haunted at night.
One of the new homes already had a window busted out.
Wow, Richmond has an amazing amount of cool old houses. It makes me sad to see so many in a decrepit state. It’s fascinating to watch neighborhoods being reborn, though! Keep up the good work.
>> It makes me sad to see so many in a decrepit state.
These houses fascinate me which is why I’m drawn to take pictures of them. Change is inevitable — they’ll eventually either get fixed or pushed over.
Also, I’m trying to, in my own small way, get the word out that there is plenty of wonderful renovation opportunity here. There is plenty of available stock and good support by the city and the neighborhoods themselves.
The “strange place for a deck” could have been a Widow’s Walk, althought the sea is a fair ways off!
Barton Heights has alot going for it. Hopeful, residents will be able to organize a Civic Assocation that can work with the different City dept to help clean up the area. Police are making themselve seen there to help curb crime. Downside is that some of those individuals are coming over to Battery Park
‘The Barton House’ This house was last used as a Nursing Home as of about 2 to 3 years ago. It was shut down by the City for Code violations. At one point it was for sale, for commerical use, the realtor wasn’t too friendly about discussing the possiblity of someone purchasing it for a resident. I think at the time they were asking in the $200 range for it.
Here is a website that has designs of homes from the Historic Homes.
The new houses that I’ve seen in Barton Heights were designed by Walter Parks Architect. Are there designs from Historic Homes in the area, too?
John, That was a website I ran across on the internet. Some the designs on that website come very close to the houses in Barton Heights and Highland Park.
The fourth picture from the top is the 2100 block of Lamb Avenue (formerly the 700 block). My great grandfather built the gray house (2112)with the stone chimneys. The present front porch with the curved section on the left was not original. He added it later. The yard originally had a white picket fence across the front and down the sides. The small brick house has been built in what was the side yard. The Pitts lived in the distant house that is now boarded up. 10 or 12 years ago it was in reasonable shape with all of the old glass and the front porch intact until vandals ruined it…
In the early 1900’s, there was a fire station almost directly across the street. Unfortunately, the old cobblestone driveway apron for the fire station was demolished some years ago although there was nothing wrong with it. It was replaced with a wide concrete apron which is still there in front of a small house…
…My grandmother grew up across the street (2107 or 2105). Behind her house was what you call the Barton house. Two consecutive owners of the Barton house went bankrupt while my grandmother was a child…
…In the 1980’s, my great aunt asked the owners of 2112 if she could see the house she grew up in, but the owners’ child or children discouraged their parents from allowing a tour.
…Also, the street on the 2100 block of Lamb Avenue is at a lower elevation than it was originally. The sidewalk used to be at the same grade as the front yard.
“One of us has jealousy problems”…thanks for the giggle.
The picture showing “renovation and completion” is my handiwork. I renovated the gray house next to the large house being worked on. We started in 1990, and finished up in 1996. My wife, Leslie, used to work with Ronni at Target Marketing several years ago.
I was wondering if you had any further information on the 6th house down in your row of pictures. The one that was a supposed insane asylum. If anyone does please feel free to let me know, I would greatly appreciate it.
I’ve got this real estate listing, whcih has it built in 1890, sitting on 5.01 acres, with 15,803 sq. ft., all for $395,000. I haven’t been able to find out anything about the history of the house, though I’d love to know more myself.