The History
Sauer's Gardens, located in the Near West End of Richmond, Virginia, began development in the 1920s. The neighborhood was named after Conrad Frederick Sauer, (also known as Cuno F. Sauer) who founded the C. F. Sauer Company on his 21st birthday, October 13, 1887. He was also a real estate developer and chose to build the neighborhood within two miles of his spice factory. Sauer's Gardens was originally centered around a Japanese botanical garden, which included a fountain, teahouse, lake, and artificial mountain. C.F. Sauer passed away in 1927 and his wife Olga maintained the garden for decades until it eventually went into disrepair in the 1980s. At that time it was replaced by Monument Park Condominiums at the corner of Sauer Ave and Monument Ave.
C.F. Sauer also developed the Monumental Floral Gardens subdivision, now nested between Willow Lawn and Libbie Place, which featured a large Italian garden that was built around the same time.
The homes
In 1912, a single Craftsman bungalow was built at 1405 Sauer Ave. By 1930, the neighborhood had around 40 homes, and throughout the next decade 70+ more were added. Dozens more were built in the 1940s and 1950s and today Sauer’s Gardens consists of around 300 homes.
The neighborhood features a wide variety of architectural styles, including Cape Cods, Colonials, Craftsmen, Georgians, Mediterraneans, Tudors, and the occasional Ranch. Many of which were designed and built by C.F. Sauer’s son-in-law, Matt Will, a Richmond native who was born in 1897. Will was known for using high-quality materials and incorporating unique features like heavy 3-inch entry doors, elaborate chimneys, roof overhangs, and dual entrances for homes located on corner lots. He went on to develop many more neighborhoods such as Willway Gardens, Glenburnie, Hampton Gardens, and Stonewall Court.
The People
As the neighborhood continues to grow, the homes have also evolved, and new families are joining our community on a regular basis. We host a variety of gatherings throughout the year and are always seeking new opportunities to support one another. Keep an eye out for seasonal events, block parties, and much more.
Our SGCA board consists of the following members:
PRESIDENT
Juli Richardson
VICE PRESIDENT
Jason St. Peter
TREASURER
Sam Baker
SECRETARY
Christine Winder
BOARD MEMBERS
Kelly Tyree
Colin Ferguson
FAQs
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Broad St. (north)
Malvern Ave. (east)
Monument Ave. (south)
Westmoreland (west) -
Fill out the membership form here and submit your annual dues ($30) by Venmo, check, or cash.
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The annual membership dues support the neighborhood’s events, website, newsletters, Thomas Jefferson High School and other activities that benefit Sauer’s Gardens as a whole.
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Here are our current bylaws. We intend this to be a living document that changes over time, with changes in leadership.
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You can reach out to us at any time by submitting your question, concern, and/or comments in the contact form here. A representative from our Board of Directors will follow up with you promptly.