Takoma DC vs. Brookland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - We will probably try to wait on the PS-3 school lottery before we move. I'm starting to think about how we're going to rank schools, though, and location is part of that calculus. I am leaning toward IT and Cap City right now, but having a hard time deciding between them. So, I'm focusing on Takoma and Brookland (assuming IT ends up at Shaed) to see if the neighborhoods give either one a boost over the other. Of course, we could strike out completely in the lottery and then who knows what we'll do! If that happens, I think there is some logic to PP's statement that, from Takoma, most of the schools are "on the way" to work downtown, though.

I don't imagine you are going to have the opportunity to "choose" between them, FWIW. With the lotteries oversubscribed as they are, it's pointless to say we're leaning toward X or interested in Y immersion. You wait until you get into a place and then decide it's the perfect fit. That's just the way it is.

True, but with the new lottery system everyone has to rank their preferences, so you have to "choose" before you even get a spot anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Brooklander here. Bought a few months ago, looked at both 'hoods, and while we would have bought in both we STRONGLY preferred Brookland - both as a matter of first impression and after multiple trips around both areas. There are lots of reasons for that, but it really came down to the fact that Brookland has a more vibrant, urban feel and seems to have a lot more upside potential in terms of developments in progress and potential development.

Just in the past year or so the following things have opened or been announced:

1) Monroe Street Market, a development at the Metro which includes artists studios, performance space, a Barnes and Noble/CUA bookstore, Potbelly's, Starbucks, &Pizza, a restaurant from the owners of Meridian Pint, and probably other announcements in the near future. There are also rumors of a grocery store to come in Phase II.

2) Brookland's Finest, new restaurant to open in the next month

3) 901 Monroe (mixed-use building with retail, site razed and awaiting groundbreaking)

4) A new restaurant from the owners of Rustik

5) A new restaurant/live music venue from the owners of Smith Commons (sounds a lot like Iota in Arlington

6) Askale Cafe (Ethiopian)

7) Little Ricky's (Cuban)

Takoma admittedly has a sort of central retail area, but it's pretty small, it's not that accessible to most of the DC side (especially if you're closer to Walter Reed), and I do not think there is as much potential for growth.

Brookland is also VERY bikeable. It's 10 min or less to bike to - Union Market, Bloomingdale, the National Shrine, the proposed McMillan development, NoMa, and H Street to name a few. There's also a ton of potential around Rhode Island Ave Metro too (mostly just rumors at this point, but tons of upside there). On Metro there isn't a huge difference between the two neighborhoods, but if you like biking (or even if you drive), Brookland is MUCH more accessible to the rest of DC IMO.

The housing stock is more varied in Brookland and comes in more of a range of prices, and since the lots closer to the Metro tend to be smaller it has an interesting not-quite-city-not-quite-suburb vibe that becomes more suburban the further you get from Metro. So you can kind of choose what you like. Takoma feels decidedly suburban to me.

Safety-wise, I felt about the same in both neighborhoods. Brookland has more low-income housing projects in surrounding neighborhoods, but it also has more "eyes on the street." Takoma DC was largely deserted at night.

For us as very anti-traditional-suburb people, all of this made the school thing worth figuring out (after all, we have to live here both before and after the kid). It helps that we can afford and are not opposed to paying for private school if we don't get into a good charter and/or if the public schools don't improve (we're still about 5 years from having to make that call, thankfully). DC also just designated a shuttered public school on Franklin for charter school use so perhaps something good will move in there. It may be challenging, though, and if I was having more than, say, one or two kids I probably would just go across the line to MD since the higher housing costs will be offset by good free schools.

[Anonymous]

We are on line between Takoma DC and Brightwood and we Love it. Very friendly neighbors, beautiful library, sweet new playground, nice aquatic center, eating options are getting better all the time, walk to farmer's market, nicest liquor store owner ever - Thanks Mr. Singh. Lots of families with kids. Takoma EC ok, but new facility and new principal mean that it's looking better all the time. It is pretty convenient to lots of parts of DC and Silver Spring. Downsides - Safeway is pretty lame but i hope that competition coming in will make them step up their game. Walter Reed development is an unknown. It's quiet, which is either a plus or minus depending on what you like. Not Crestwood, no one walking around quiet, but downtown it ain't.

I can't really compare to Brookland since it's been a while since we were house shopping over there. I have a few friends who live there and really like it.