Is Brookland a good place to live with small kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Safety can be concerning for some. Depends on your overall options, OP.

I've lived here six years and never once had any safety concerns. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I really don't think it is any more prevalent here than elsewhere in town.

Also, the demographic is RAPIDLY changing.

PP again, I love it. Great neighbors, easy commute, a house with a yard. My child isn't in school yet, but there are lots and lots of babies around now.

[Anonymous]

Undoable public schools would make it not an option for us, since we can't afford private. You get shut out of the lottery...then what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've only been to that side of DC once, to visit the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, so admittedly I don't know much about that area. It did not have a neighborhood feel. Also the more east and south you go in DC, the higher the crime rate.

I love how this person ONCE visited the far edge of the neighborhood yet feels compelled to provide an opinion on living here. Cracks me up. I would never do that.

That's because you are better than me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a VERY active Parents listserv, a bi-weekly playgroup, and pajama storytime at the Woodridge Library at 6 on Tuesday.

I second the coming to Turkey Thicket's new playground (and splashpark!) on a weekend and you'll get to see what Brookland is all about.

Monroe Street Market is going to change the resources available in the neighborhood for the better. A Potbelly is already open, a Brookland Pint, Busboys, &Pizza and others are on the way.

Could OP get on the listserv now, before moving there?

[Anonymous]

My DH has lived in Brookland since 1995 and I've lived there since 2005. We have three kids. We love it. It still has the suburban feel even though you're in DC and less than 10 minutes away from the red line and the green/yellow line. Brookland's crime rate is not worrisome and is not worse than that of other parts of the city. The public schools are not an option for now for most families but there are lots of charter school options. Our kids go to a charter school with a 10 minute drive of our Brookland home. A good number of charter schools are located in Brookland or close to Brookland. There is a Yes organic market on 12th Street and the Monroe Street Market is bringing more store and restaurants to Brookland. There are two active yahoo groups, Brookland and Brookland kids and you can get all sorts or information/help there.

[Anonymous]

What restaurants?

Eater DC has already identified a number of new restaurants coming to Brookland this summer: new coffee shop from Filter, new restaurant from Meridian Pint crew (called Brookland Pint), new place called Brookland's Finest, etc. You can see the full coverage here: http://dc.eater.com/archives/categories/brookland.php

I grew up in DC and played soccer over at Turkey Thicket in the late 1990s. One game was once stopped as cops chased a guy across the field. One of my friends now lives a block from the park; it is just insane how different the place is. Feels very much like a neighborhood, and I've never gotten a creepy vibe over there. I also think CUA has announced plans to build up their property west of the Metro, which will have positive effects.

OP, I think it's a great place to think about. I think it'll be like Eastern Market very soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What restaurants?

Eater DC has already identified a number of new restaurants coming to Brookland this summer: new coffee shop from Filter, new restaurant from Meridian Pint crew (called Brookland Pint), new place called Brookland's Finest, etc. You can see the full coverage here: http://dc.eater.com/archives/categories/brookland.php

I grew up in DC and played soccer over at Turkey Thicket in the late 1990s. One game was once stopped as cops chased a guy across the field. One of my friends now lives a block from the park; it is just insane how different the place is. Feels very much like a neighborhood, and I've never gotten a creepy vibe over there. I also think CUA has announced plans to build up their property west of the Metro, which will have positive effects.

OP, I think it's a great place to think about. I think it'll be like Eastern Market very soon.

Lord, I hope not. Too many fancy people on the Hill now. Brookland is very down-to-earth with a wider economic mix. Love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Safety can be concerning for some. Depends on your overall options, OP.

Brookland has a better balance of commercial activity, safety, metro accessibility and family friendly-ness than other NE and SE neighborhoods outside of Capitol Hill. It's not as economically or racially homogenous as NW along the red line, but it's a lot cheaper, too. If you were choosing between other neighborhoods in the Brookland price range (houses available in the $500K ballpark) Brookland is a good value for families. The poor performing public schools are the biggest drawback, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brookland is a wonderful neighborhood. There are so many young families here, great sense of community, tons of new amenities coming like great restaurants combined with existing neighborhood gems like the Franciscan Monastery, etc. Go to the real estate forum and search the archives. You'll find some negative comments but you'll also find post after post from people who love it here. I would also suggest talking with people who actually live here instead of people who know nothing about the neighborhood. The neighborhood has really changed for the better, even in the last six years since we moved in.

What restaurants?

I also like the San Antonio restaurant, prepared food from Yes Market, and the Brookland Grill for burgers.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for all the positive feedback. It sums up what we've suspected about that neighborhood. Now just crossing our fingers for good lottery results.

[Anonymous]

OP, crossing your fingers? As a person who has gotten shut out in the lottery, what is your back up plan? Can you afford private? You don't have to answer, but I would encourage you not to buy a house somewhere only on the hope that you'll get in somewhere in the lottery. If you are renting, different story. You can always move if the lottery doesn't work out.

[Anonymous]

I am thinking of moving to brookland and I'm curious what folks do about day care options there. Also, where do you go for groceries (other than yes organic), and do you need a car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking of moving to brookland and I'm curious what folks do about day care options there. Also, where do you go for groceries (other than yes organic), and do you need a car?

We go to the Shoppers off Queens Chapel Road, a couple miles away. I suspect most people in Brookland go to the big Giant on RI Avenue near Home Depot. There's a back way to H Street (from behind Home Depot, past Union Market). We can get to the new Harris Teeter on H Street in several minutes.

You could do without a car if you live close enough to the Metro. You could, for example, bring home groceries from the Giant at RI Avenue Metro or from the supermarkets near NY Avenue Metro.

There are bus lines, too, but I'm not familiar with them. The Brookland Metro site doubles as a bus depot/exchange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking of moving to brookland and I'm curious what folks do about day care options there. Also, where do you go for groceries (other than yes organic), and do you need a car?

Many Brookland families send their kids to St. Ann's in Hyattsville, MD for daycare (5 minutes outside the neighborhood). We had our son there and it was wonderful. Loving caregivers, beautiful green space, very reasonable. The waitlist is long though. http://www.stanns.org/programs/day-care

As for groceries, I go to Giant on RI Ave, Shoppers on Queens Chapel Rd, Costco on South Dakota, or Harris Teeter in NOMA. I do walk over to the Yes Market on 12th once or twice a week. It is expensive but so convenient for small things. I think you need a car for bigger grocery runs.

[Anonymous]

I'm just outside of Brookland, on the other side of South Dakota.

But re: groceries, Wegmans is about a 15minute drive into MD; just take 50 West and 202 for a couple miles. Way better shopping experience than anything around here (RIA Giant sucks so much).