property
Brookside: Overlooked Suburb on the Cusp of Rezoning
Jbr planners prepare to vote next month on changes that could open Brookside to taller buildings and new commercial uses.
How we reported this
The Jbr Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on July 22 to consider rezoning the Brookside neighborhood from single-family residential to a mixed-use category that permits buildings up to six stories.
International market shifts have pushed capital toward secondary locations inside Jbr, where land costs remain lower than in the central business district. City documents show Brookside sits between two established corridors already seeing new construction, making the timing for a formal change in rules particularly relevant for owners and buyers watching the vote.
Brookside runs along River Road between the Jbr Riverwalk trailhead and the old rail yard now used by the Jbr Economic Development Agency for small-business grants. Maple Avenue properties sit two blocks from the Brookside Community Center, where residents have gathered monthly since 2019 to review traffic studies tied to earlier density proposals.
Price trends and parcel data
Median sale prices for single-family homes on Elm Street reached $412,000 in the first quarter of 2026, according to records from the Jbr Real Estate Board, a 9 percent rise from the same period in 2025. Three vacant lots near the rail yard sold in May for between $185,000 and $210,000 each, figures that local agents say already reflect expectations of the upcoming zoning decision.
City staff have circulated a draft ordinance that would require any new project over four stories to include ground-floor retail or office space. The measure also sets a 2028 deadline for infrastructure upgrades along the Riverwalk connection if the rezoning passes.
Prospective buyers should review the final staff report on the city website before the July 22 hearing and contact the Jbr Economic Development Agency for details on grant programs that apply to parcels under the proposed rules.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.