Is buying in Brookland a good investment?

[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.

It's FINE to walk over there. My family does all the time. I do wish there was more retail, especially a replacement for Good Foods (what a loss!)... hoping Avenue Market will be good, but don't think it's opened yet. But there's a fair amount going on already - Capoeira Spot, Zeke's, Petit Scholars, Art Enables, Rita's to name a few.

[Anonymous]

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

They lied to us.

Target was supposed to go there but they never came.
Shoppers was then promised but there was one on Bladensburg (now gone).
Wal Mart was promised but they tried to over tax them and then WM decided to move to Riggs.

So we got Marshalls and Dicks.

[Anonymous]

Do you have kids? The most tight-knit DC neighborhoods are zoned for good schools. Families stay for the schools. We started out in the Logan/14th st neighborhood and had lots of friends when kids were little, but then people start peeling off for better schools. Either focus on building community at your kids' school or move to a different neighborhood. If your kids are at a charter, then you'll likely meet other families from the school who also live in Brookland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

They lied to us.

Target was supposed to go there but they never came.
Shoppers was then promised but there was one on Bladensburg (now gone).
Wal Mart was promised but they tried to over tax them and then WM decided to move to Riggs.

So we got Marshalls and Dicks.

The area could benefit from a small scale grocery store, but there's a Target and MOMs on New York ave. I guess that's still in the "neighborhood".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

They lied to us.

Target was supposed to go there but they never came.
Shoppers was then promised but there was one on Bladensburg (now gone).
Wal Mart was promised but they tried to over tax them and then WM decided to move to Riggs.

So we got Marshalls and Dicks.

The area could benefit from a small scale grocery store, but there's a Target and MOMs on New York ave. I guess that's still in the "neighborhood".

This was before that Target. Before the Walmart. Heck, before the Costco. I'm talking 2008 to 2010. We were supposed to get a new pedestrian bridge over the anacostia, a bridge over NYAve, lots of promises.

But instead they focused on accusing Gray of BS that he didn't do, and we had to deal with a bunch of "well, let's do this instead"s.

[Anonymous]

We are getting a Sprouts in old forman mills.

[Anonymous]

It still has proximity to downtown.

[Anonymous]

It's called Monroe Street MARKET, not Monroe Street Commons.

A good place to meet people is during the Farmers Markets and other events on the Artswalk. If you have kids, Turkey Thicket or Edgewood playgroud, Woodridge library.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. I meant Monroe Street Market. I don’t know why I wrote Commons.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what they are planning for the old 7/11 on Rhode Island Ave. in Woodridge that’s now boarded up with Long Fence fencing around it?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if they are planning to put a grocery on the first floor of the new apartments at Monroe Street Market? It’s too big for a coffee shop or even a restaurant. It looks like space for a grocery store.

[Anonymous]

I think when they finally redevelop Brookland Manor it is supposed to have space for a larger format grocery store. The Monroe Street market space is super small I believe, so only really suited for a Streets or something similar. I also live in the area by Zekes and totally agree with you about wanting more retail and less empty storefronts—it does make it a less than great area to walk. I do think it will build up over time as density is added to the major streets like Rhode Island, but it feels like neighbors fight it at every turn because of unfounded fears about parking and congestion (see a few posts above). They want to keep a sleepy town feeling within a relatively large city next to public transit and downtown jobs in the midst of a housing supply crisis. I recommend tuning in to your local ANC meetings to find out what’s coming in the area, checking out the weekend farmers market as others mentioned, and joining the neighborhood facebook groups to find people with similar interests (this is how I’ve met several neighbors near by!) The reality is when looked at as a whole this area still has less density and lower income (probably lots of seniors on fixed incomes) than other parts of the city which makes it hard to attract good retail. But I also see a lot of work being done on older houses all over the neighborhood as new families move in, and hopefully over time we start to attract retail to the existing empty storefronts (and slow down traffic on Rhode Island) to make it a nicer area to hang out rather than just somewhere to pass through.

[Anonymous]

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

Trinidad is closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Trinidad is closer.

Trinidad has SFH's...don't think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think when they finally redevelop Brookland Manor it is supposed to have space for a larger format grocery store. The Monroe Street market space is super small I believe, so only really suited for a Streets or something similar. I also live in the area by Zekes and totally agree with you about wanting more retail and less empty storefronts—it does make it a less than great area to walk. I do think it will build up over time as density is added to the major streets like Rhode Island, but it feels like neighbors fight it at every turn because of unfounded fears about parking and congestion (see a few posts above). They want to keep a sleepy town feeling within a relatively large city next to public transit and downtown jobs in the midst of a housing supply crisis. I recommend tuning in to your local ANC meetings to find out what’s coming in the area, checking out the weekend farmers market as others mentioned, and joining the neighborhood facebook groups to find people with similar interests (this is how I’ve met several neighbors near by!) The reality is when looked at as a whole this area still has less density and lower income (probably lots of seniors on fixed incomes) than other parts of the city which makes it hard to attract good retail. But I also see a lot of work being done on older houses all over the neighborhood as new families move in, and hopefully over time we start to attract retail to the existing empty storefronts (and slow down traffic on Rhode Island) to make it a nicer area to hang out rather than just somewhere to pass through.

I'm thrilled that Zeke's is expanding with plans to open their new space next door by the spring. They will occupy a bigger space on the block and bring more foot traffic than they do now.