Is buying in Brookland a good investment?

[Anonymous]

What do you think about buying in Brookland/Woodridge? We bought a house here (which we love and schools aren't an issue) and moved in a few months before the pandemic, but we haven't really gotten to know the community or bond with our neighbors because of Covid and as a result it feels a bit isolated. Also, Rhode Island Ave around Zeke's Coffee has so much potential but it never feels good to walk around there. And there is vacant space ripe for a grocery at Monroe Street Commons in downtown Brookland on the first floor of the apartments they built recently, but that space remains empty and was never filled. I thought by now a grocery store would have moved in. I mean there are so many people living in their area that would shop there, including Catholic University students. Other than Yes! Organic Market on 12th St there are no grocery stores nearby. Good Food Markets in Woodridge on Rhode Island Ave. that used to be a great place to grab some milk or eggs closed down several months ago. A new market called The Avenue is supposedly opening doors soon. What's holding this area back? You have affluent people living in the area and lots of university students walking around, but the amenities seem to be really lacking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about buying in Brookland/Woodridge? We bought a house here (which we love and schools aren't an issue) and moved in a few months before the pandemic, but we haven't really gotten to know the community or bond with our neighbors because of Covid and as a result it feels a bit isolated. Also, Rhode Island Ave around Zeke's Coffee has so much potential but it never feels good to walk around there. And there is vacant space ripe for a grocery at Monroe Street Commons in downtown Brookland on the first floor of the apartments they built recently, but that space remains empty and was never filled. I thought by now a grocery store would have moved in. I mean there are so many people living in their area that would shop there, including Catholic University students. Other than Yes! Organic Market on 12th St there are no grocery stores nearby. Good Food Markets in Woodridge on Rhode Island Ave. that used to be a great place to grab some milk or eggs closed down several months ago. A new market called The Avenue is supposedly opening doors soon. What's holding this area back? You have affluent people living in the area and lots of university students walking around, but the amenities seem to be really lacking.

Long-time Brookland resideents don't want the area to become gentrified and characterless like so many cookie-cutter, national chain store rife areas of DC. We like it green and sleepy. There are so many other areas like you described in DC that you could have chosen. Please don't move in and try to make this are just like all of those areas.

[Anonymous]

Why not a specialized grocery store then in the vacant space at Monroe Street Commons? I mean there is already Yes! Organic Market and it seems to be doing well. Why not another smaller grocery like that?

[Anonymous]

I was just curious if anyone knew about plans for that space.

[Anonymous]

Our target zip codes are 20017 and 20018. I really like the SFH stock in 20018 so we are leaning more towards that area.

Why wasn’t a new grocer placed at Dakota Crossing or somewhere along Bladensburg Rd.?

[Anonymous]

That's a good question. A grocery store at Dakota Crossings would have been great.

[Anonymous]

Also, have they sold any of the 43 one- and two-bedroom units at the Heritage D.C. on Rhode Island Avenue in Woodridge across from what used to be Good Food Markets? What else is coming to the area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's a good question. A grocery store at Dakota Crossings would have been great.

There is a grocery store at Dakota Crossing. A Costco.

[Anonymous]

True, but that's a membership-based grocery store. I'm talking more about a conventional grocery, something like a Yes! Organic, Mom's Organic, Safeway, Giant or Whole Foods, etc. Where do Catholic University students shop for food?

[Anonymous]

Ive lived in Shaw for 17 years. Your area has always been sleepier but nice. I think you’ll see some improvements over time. This is a very tough time for small businesses, so patronize the ones youve got. Also maybe start a litter pick up group on nextdoor or a neighborhood yard sale or progressive party or something. Ive seen community gardens nesr Catholic. That might be a nice place to meet folks. Turkey thicket rec is nice too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, but that's a membership-based grocery store. I'm talking more about a conventional grocery, something like a Yes! Organic, Mom's Organic, Safeway, Giant or Whole Foods, etc. Where do Catholic University students shop for food?

There is literally a Yes in the middle of Brookland. College students shop at the food court.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about buying in Brookland/Woodridge? We bought a house here (which we love and schools aren't an issue) and moved in a few months before the pandemic, but we haven't really gotten to know the community or bond with our neighbors because of Covid and as a result it feels a bit isolated. Also, Rhode Island Ave around Zeke's Coffee has so much potential but it never feels good to walk around there. And there is vacant space ripe for a grocery at Monroe Street Commons in downtown Brookland on the first floor of the apartments they built recently, but that space remains empty and was never filled. I thought by now a grocery store would have moved in. I mean there are so many people living in their area that would shop there, including Catholic University students. Other than Yes! Organic Market on 12th St there are no grocery stores nearby. Good Food Markets in Woodridge on Rhode Island Ave. that used to be a great place to grab some milk or eggs closed down several months ago. A new market called The Avenue is supposedly opening doors soon. What's holding this area back? You have affluent people living in the area and lots of university students walking around, but the amenities seem to be really lacking.

Just drive 10-15 minutes to H St area and you have 6 grocery stores with the prime ones (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc..) all have free underground parking.

[Anonymous]

Brookland is a good investment because it is the area with SFH closest to downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about buying in Brookland/Woodridge? We bought a house here (which we love and schools aren't an issue) and moved in a few months before the pandemic, but we haven't really gotten to know the community or bond with our neighbors because of Covid and as a result it feels a bit isolated. Also, Rhode Island Ave around Zeke's Coffee has so much potential but it never feels good to walk around there. And there is vacant space ripe for a grocery at Monroe Street Commons in downtown Brookland on the first floor of the apartments they built recently, but that space remains empty and was never filled. I thought by now a grocery store would have moved in. I mean there are so many people living in their area that would shop there, including Catholic University students. Other than Yes! Organic Market on 12th St there are no grocery stores nearby. Good Food Markets in Woodridge on Rhode Island Ave. that used to be a great place to grab some milk or eggs closed down several months ago. A new market called The Avenue is supposedly opening doors soon. What's holding this area back? You have affluent people living in the area and lots of university students walking around, but the amenities seem to be really lacking.

Just drive 10-15 minutes to H St area and you have 6 grocery stores with the prime ones (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc..) all have free underground parking.

Not to mention the Giant at Rhode Island Row, the Harris Teeter in NOMA, the Trader Joes at the NOMA Station, the Giant on Eastern, the Compare in Colmar Manor, the Yes in Hyattsville. Also, the internets who delivers all the groceries.

[Anonymous]

I know there are lots of grocery stores around, but there is like one small market in all of Brookland. Why? Also, why is the space at Monroe Street Commons still empty?