West Avenue is a unique three block long street tucked within Richmond’s Historic Fan District. Well known for its distinctive sense of community, it prides itself in having the city’s oldest neighborhood association, its own “mayor” and a coat of arms. Construction began in 1893 on what was then known as West View Street by children of prominent West Franklin Street families. It soon gained the moniker, “Stork Alley,” one that it retains more than a century later.  Architectural styles include Queen Anne, Richardson Romanesque, Colonial and Georgian Revival.  A gem of the Fan, this urban walking tour features beautifully renovated interiors and eclectic pocket-sized gardens.