Walker Square
West Main Street has become the place to live for undergrad and grad students at UVA or young professionals who work at UVA or Downtown. One of the first developments to revitalize the area, construction on Walker Square began in 2004.
Consisting mainly of one- and two-bedroom units, studio and executive style, there are 225 total in the complex located on almost six acres.
There are eight buildings designed around a courtyard area area called “Park Square” – which features local plantings that comes alive in the spring, and brickwork reminiscent of the Downtown Mall – and the pool and clubhouse, which features a fitness room, aerobics room, kitchen and several meeting rooms and gathering spaces for residents and guests.
Walkable factor
Residents at Walker Square can easily bike, walk or take the free trolley to either UVA or Downtown and get there within minutes.
Thanks to the city’s efforts, many restaurants and local businesses have opened up in renovated buildings nearby – thus preserving the character of the older brick homes and businesses that used to line West Main Street.
Walker Square features an almost European design, which appeals to many who like clean and modern lines in their living quarters – many of the upper level floors also boast mountain views from the Juliet-style balconies.
West Main Street Renaissance
The construction of Walker Square sparked a true revival of interest in West Main Street as residents told their friends how easy it was to get everywhere in town. It’s not often that units come up for sale and, when they do, they get snapped up quickly.
Other builders have taken notice, as evidenced by the larger complexes that have been built in the past few years or are now under construction. Not everyone is happy about the sheer size of the newer buildings, however, but local businesses are happy about the larger audience for their wares.
