Michelle Lerner of UrbanTurf wrote an article yesterday about the expansion of the Brookland neighborhood in NE.  The Brookland area, which shares the community and Metro station stop with Catholic University, was dubbed “Little Rome” because of its religious connection.  Now, though, Brookland is becoming an artistic community, and will soon be filled with DC condo and DC loft residents who long to live in the city but not pay the big bucks for a downtown NW property.

In Lerner’s article, she describes how the Brookland community is adding numerous new constructions. From apartments to art studios, the Brookland community will see a lot of changes in the coming years. One of the major additions will be the “Arts Walk”, which is scheduled to start construction in 2011.

“Abdo Development’s Arts Walk project…will include construction of 27 art studios and a public square with retail space for smaller shops, cafes and restaurants,”  Lerner wrote.  ”Several hundred residential units will also be built on the nine-acre site located along Monroe Street and Michigan Avenue within walking distance of the Brookland Metro station. The plans are meant to create a pedestrian-friendly community with amenities that will serve the needs of college students at Catholic and Trinity Universities, local artists and Brookland residents.”

Another project coming to the Brookland community is the Brookland Artspace Lofts.

“The complex will include a dance and music rehearsal studio with some space reserved for Dance Place,”  Lerner wrote.  ”A modern dance arts and education organization that is in the process of renovating their theatre space on Eighth Street. The Brookland Studios, a warehouse where artists can currently rent work space, will be razed to create room for Artspace Lofts.”

It will be interesting to see whether these new constructions convert the Brookland community into a hot commodity amongst DC condo and DC loft buyers.

“Brookland’s reputation as a sleepy little secret village may change once all these developments are complete,” Lerner explained.  ”Artist studios and an eclectic mix of retail shops and restaurants will naturally bring more attention and visitors to this part of town.”

Read Lerner’s entire article here.

To find out more about the DC condos in and around the Brookland community, check out CondoDomain!