Is buying in Brookland a good investment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They do quite well already, but yes, excited for the expansion!

I wish there was a full scale bakery somewhere on RIA Main Street. That's my dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are getting a Sprouts in old forman mills.

Really? When?

[Anonymous]

For some reason people opposed a grocery store next ti the Monroe Street development. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. If you oppose perfectly good development you get restaurants and restaurants only.

an ALDI is going in next to Fort Totten.
Walmart on Riggs Rd. has a full size grocery store inside of it.

[Anonymous]

Where will your kids go to school? It’s all fun and eclectic until you figure out how awful the schools are.

[Anonymous]

There are excellent Charter schools in and close to Brookland. Also, OP kids may be in private.

[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.

Target on New York and West Virginia avenue has groceries.

[Anonymous]

We know tons of families in Brookland. Join the Brookland kids neighborhood list serve and Facebook group. Super friendly and welcoming for families. Sorry you haven’t connected yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where will your kids go to school? It’s all fun and eclectic until you figure out how awful the schools are.

+1

Or if you are blond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where will your kids go to school? It’s all fun and eclectic until you figure out how awful the schools are.

This right here. Don't move to Brookland unless you already have schools figured out or are comfortable risking the DCPS lottery or paying for private. The neighborhood DCPS schools just aren't getting any better. We have had so many friends move to the neighborhood with a "oh, we'll figure out the school issue when we need to" attitude. All of them figured it out by moving away.

[Anonymous]

We live here now and are good with our charter through lower elementary. Middle and high school if we don’t move? Private for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where will your kids go to school? It’s all fun and eclectic until you figure out how awful the schools are.

This right here. Don't move to Brookland unless you already have schools figured out or are comfortable risking the DCPS lottery or paying for private. The neighborhood DCPS schools just aren't getting any better. We have had so many friends move to the neighborhood with a "oh, we'll figure out the school issue when we need to" attitude. All of them figured it out by moving away.

We live in the area and have loved the charter school our kids are in. We moved here before they were born so it's definitely do-able to figure out schools. Their friends from school have stayed in DC if they've stayed in the area (meaning people who moved to other regions obviously aren't in DC).

The school lottery can be stressful but it's manageable as there are MANY good charter schools and some good DCPS ones to lottery into as well.

[Anonymous]

Pretty much everyone outside of upper NW has a middle school HS problem that is only “solvable” by lotto’ing into an acceptable charter or going private. That isn’t a Brookland problem. It’s a DC problem.

[Anonymous]

The amenities are undeniably way better on the MD side. If you live in Hyattsville, you can walk or quickly and easily drive to way more/better stuff for daily living.

I think the DC housing premium is about taxes and public schools. But for us it was over valued and we moved across the line. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The amenities are undeniably way better on the MD side. If you live in Hyattsville, you can walk or quickly and easily drive to way more/better stuff for daily living.

I think the DC housing premium is about taxes and public schools. But for us it was over valued and we moved across the line. No regrets.

I want to amend this to mention the hardware store! I regularly go to Brookland for the hardware store. There’s no good hardware store that I’m aware of near us, presumably because of HD and Lowes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They do quite well already, but yes, excited for the expansion!

I wish there was a full scale bakery somewhere on RIA Main Street. That's my dream.

Don't trample on my dream of a full scale bakery on 12th. I'd be happy for both of our dreams to be realized but mine comes first.