Crozet Blends History and Amenities
Trying to capture the essence of Crozet isn’t easy. That’s because its attributes are long and words to describe this Albemarle County gem are few.
“I usually describe Crozet as charming with a ‘funky’ bent,” explained Amy Webb, Associate Broker with Nest Realty Group. “I distinctly recall my first look at Crozet in the 1990s. It reminded me of the television show ‘Northern Exposure,’ but with better weather!”
Denise Ramey, with Roy Wheeler Realty Co., says Crozet offers the best of all worlds. “You can choose to live on several acres in a more rural setting, or in a community with many neighbors, walking trails, a pool, and shopping.”
Drake Van de Castle, with Envirian of Charlottesville, has been selling real estate in and around Crozet for 11 years. He enjoys sharing Crozet’s rich history with his clients.
“A lot of people don’t realize that in the mid-1800s when Claudius Crozet built the mile-long tunnel connecting this side of the mountain to Waynesboro, it was one of the greatest engineering marvels. He started at both ends and when it came together, they were only a half-inch out of alignment. It was one of the longest railroad tunnels and was open for almost 100 years. Then when Samuel Miller built The Miller School, he put the train stop there so he could get materials. Crozet became a hub for that and for the orchards. That’s the cool thing about Crozet. It has a pretty deep history.”
But Crozet also has many contemporary reasons why people find it such a desirable place to live.
“Savvy parents do a lot of research online before they make their first visit to shop for a home,” said Ramey. “Many request Western Albemarle schools based on their research or word-of-mouth from friends. The mountain views and close proximity to skiing, hiking, and the Blue Ridge Parkway is exciting. Many are leaving crowded metropolitan areas, so the opportunity to live in a more rural community, yet only have a 20-minute commute to work is incredible.”
Webb said in her experience, homebuyers are drawn to Crozet because it offers the feel of a village, yet has all the practical things one needs.
“I am working with a young couple now looking for a ‘move-up’ home who are targeting Crozet for those exact reasons,” said Webb. “Plus, as they put it, ‘Crozet just seems to have a good spirit.’ Everybody who lives there seems to like it.”
And that’s true. Besides the beauty of a mountain backdrop, Crozet has an aesthetic quality that adds to the town’s ambiance in a big way. Plus, it’s different. “The best thing about Crozet is that the large majority of the businesses are local and individual, so it has a very unique flavor; it is the opposite of generic,” Webb says.
Changing, Growing
Webb said since moving to Crozet in 1995, she has witnessed enormous changes. “There are many new neighborhoods and homes. The Waldorf School left, but the Field School and Old Crozet School Arts arrived, along with a lot of new commercial development and good coffee!”
Ramey lives in Old Trail, a new urbanist community in Crozet featuring a village center, a pool, trails, and a park. “We have four children and loved the abundance of families and amenities available in Old Trail. The fact that our kids can walk to the pool, the restaurants, ACAC, or to get a haircut is wonderful! We love it!”
She added that Old Trail, along with Western Ridge, has seen the most sales activity in the last six months.
“The market is definitely improving in Crozet. The spring market will bring an increase in new listings, but we currently have a very balanced market based on recent sales. The homes that sold in Crozet were on the market approximately 103 days. That is better than the overall average days on market in our total market area.”
Van de Castle said Old Trail is definitely the place to watch. “You can get a detached home there now for under $400,000. You couldn’t find anything under $500,000 when it was a seller’s market, so that’s a significant shift. Townhomes are under $250,000. There was a time when you would see more spec homes, and that’s not the case now. A lot of people are looking at existing homes. It’s still a strong buyer’s market. I think it’s going to be a busier winter this year because of the tax credits for first-time and existing homebuyers. 2010 has a little more momentum than Januarys in the past two years, so there are some encouraging signs.”
Commercial Growth
In recent years, Crozet has seen an increase in commercial establishments. “Harris Teeter's grand opening was quite an event in our area,” said Ramey. “We have several new coffee houses, many new restaurants, a new ACAC fitness center, and several new physicians’ offices. These new businesses increase the opportunity for the residents in the western part of Albemarle County to conduct much of their daily business within minutes of home. Plus they help to draw more shoppers and diners to our area. Someone who stops in the Mudhouse for coffee may discover that Fardowners is a great place for lunch or to watch a game.”
Webb also enjoys the local amenities. “I have a standing weekly Mudhouse date with each of my daughters for some one-on-one bonding time over chess, conversation, and soy chai latte or hot chocolate. All the new business in Crozet adds to the attraction of the town, especially since so many are one-of-a-kind.”
Overcoming Challenges
As with any growing community, Crozet has its challenges.
“It’s a fine edge to keep the luster of what you have and keep growing,” said Van de Castle. “You have to take a look at what will provide the taxation base and service needs for a growing population.”
Webb says Crozet is at a crossroads. “The future is going to be shaped by how it meets the budget challenges and approaches commercial development.”
This is important because it is Crozet’s unique character and its vibrant downtown that make it so special. For instance, the town has a number of treasures known only to natives.
“As far as locals, the cool spot that shows a flash in history is the Modern Barber Shop on Crozet Avenue,” said Van de Castle. “There are 60-70 pictures on the wall, so it is kind of a photo collage of the history of Crozet that is really cool.”
Van de Castle feels a lot of the concerns about growth have already been resolved because of the slowed economy. “We’re on a reasonable path to try and maintain what the vision is as far as neighborhoods and communities in place.”
People make up the backbone of any community, and because of that Crozet will always be strong. “The people are great,” said Webb. “For whatever reason, Crozet attracts folks who have an upbeat, yet down-to-earth approach to life and truly enjoy being part of a community.”
Ramey agrees. “The pride that the native Crozetians have in their hometown, and the sense of community here, is very special.”
