Brookland

Between the beautiful Little Rome grounds, Turkey Thicket Recreational Center, large backyards and nearby woods, Brookland has a remarkable amount of green space and park-like areas for the diversified community to enjoy. The neighborhood is unified, reasonably affordable and rich with history and architectural appeal from Queen Anne to Craftsman. It boasts a real sense of cohesion, having been active in civic associations and other neighborhood groups as a community both now and historically.

Situated in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., Brookland saw its inception in the early 1870s and matured when the railroad ran a branch line through the area.The development was named after Colonel Jehiel Brooks whose beautiful farmhouse, the Brooks Mansion, sat alongside the rail line. In the late 1880s, Catholic University was established and drew developers quickly.

The existence of The Catholic University of America (CUA) drew a large number of Catholic institutions — over sixty in total — and gave Brookland the nickname “Little Rome.” In addition to CUA, Little Rome also encompasses the Franciscan monastery of the Holy Center, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

Recently, several multi-use developments have begun in Brookland, sparking both debate about the future of the community and potential for growth and improvement. These new developments promise to bring restaurants, new stores and residential units to the quiet neighborhood.