Brentwood is going to see a lot of changes within the coming year from a major demolition project to a huge new development project. Mid-City Financial Corporation filed its first application with the city to demolish both Brookland Manor and the shopping center with the goal to rebuild them as apartments, townhouses and retail.
Brookland Manor is a Great Depression-era complex of 535 apartment units, about two-thirds of which are subsidized by the federal government. The community has been seeing rising fortunes, though, with shops, restaurants and apartments that have already been developed on Rhode Island Row. Mid-City plans to upgrade the retail in the neighborhood, with a 56,000-square-foot supermarket along the lines of a Safeway or Harris Teeter and about 150,000 square feet of additional retail along Rhode Island, Montana Avenue, and Saratoga Avenue.
The current residents will be able to return, but after a period of displacement while construction is happening. Mid-City plans for 20% of the approximately 2,200 units in the rebuilt project to be reserved for low-income tenants. The complex is scheduled to close next year.
· Developer Pitches a Private Version of New Communities in Brentwood [Washington City Paper]
- Michelle Goldchain