| Continue the Weekend Closure of 7th Street at Eastern Market? |
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| Written by Linda O'Brien | ||||
| Monday, 29 June 2009 | ||||
Page 1 of 2 When the horrible fire at Eastern Market occurred in April 2007, many were worried what would happen to the farmers, merchants and vendors who operated out of the Market. This emergency was like none the neighborhood had ever before faced. Space was identified and a suitable structure was chosen and the “East Hall’ was very quickly constructed on the Hine playground to accommodate interior merchants displaced from the fire ravaged South Hall. Needing room for the displaced vendors and merchants during reconstruction, the one block stretch of 7th Street, SE from North Carolina Avenue to C Street, SE was closed on weekends only. That allowed all of the usual daily and weekend activities to continue as the street was used as overflow space for farmers and arts and crafts and antiques vendors. Vending space was assigned and no one who had been regularly selling at the Market prior to the fire was turned away. Throughout the two years that the street has been closed to vehicular traffic on weekends, Councilmember Tommy Wells has received numerous comments from many who were thrilled that street was closed and from others just as strongly opposed to the road closure. All the while, Councilmember Wells has maintained that the question of whether this practice should continue was one that should be taken directly to the public. Toward that end, Councilmember Wells invites you to come out to a community meeting to be held on July 7, 2009 at 6:30 – 8:30 at Tyler Elementary School at 1001 G Street, SE. and share your thoughts, ideas and experiences as we discuss all aspects of this matter. Representatives from the District Department of Transportation, Public Space Management Administration and Office of Property Management current Market Manager will attend and be available to answer questions.
Readers have left 14 comments. (1) Untitled 2009-07-01 09:03:28 Keep it closed on the weekend. Work with the business owners to help them get parking for THEMSELVES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES at another location. Change the signal timing on North Carolina Avenue to allow more vehicle circulation by reducing the time alloted to Independence on the weekend. Create a short term parking zone on North Carolina for Market grocery shoppers. Convert PA Ave to angle parking on the weekends. Don't fall for the parking arguments! Bill Schultheiss Written by Guest User () (2) Untitled 2009-07-02 15:05:04 Keep it closed! I can't believe there is even a discussion about opening it. Written by Guest User () (3) Untitled 2009-07-06 13:13:31 Closing 7th street makes the market one of the best places in the city to be on the weekend. The walkability of the neighborhood is why people love it so much! Written by James () (4) Untitled 2009-07-06 13:40:19 I wish I could attend the meeting tomorrow, but as a mother of a small child, I just can't swing it. Please count me in as ANOTHER in favor of keeping 7th Street CLOSED! We love the new brick road and walking safely around the market with our toddler. Please don't cave to the drivers! (No one should expect to find parking at Eastern Market on a weekend anyway!) Written by Guest User () (5) Untitled 2009-07-07 12:36:36 I have lived in the neighborhood for more than 15 years, have always loved the Market and 7th Street, but love it even more on the weekends now with the street closed. It's a wonderful, festive atmosphere, and a very different feel from having traffic running through 7th Street. Please count me in for keeping the street closed on the weekends. (6) Untitled 2009-07-07 12:46:14 The walking space at Eastern Market is a big part of what makes our neighborhood a community! We should keep the space closed to traffic and be a model for other communities. Living in a city, and living in a world with pollution issues, it is important for neighbors and tourists to have this special location for strolling, meeting, and shopping. (7) Untitled 2009-07-07 14:10:52 Has the Councilmember's office conducted research regarding the economic impact, if any, on Eastern Market businesses by looking at what has happened in a relatively comporable site in another city that also intermittently restricted vehicular traffic? If so, what was the outcome, and how will this inform the Councilmember's decision, if at all? Written by Guest User () (8) Untitled 2009-07-07 14:40:43 Has anyone considered a compromise that would allow deliveries and pick-ups to be made close to the market during off-peak weekend hours, but retain the closed street for times when the market is busy with pedestrians? Other than that refinement, I agree with Mr. Schultheiss that all the so-called problems can be solved in other ways. Written by Arabella Teal () (9) Untitled 2009-07-07 16:47:05 Pedestrian malls have failed all over the country. Can anyone articulate why one will succeed at Eastern Market? Written by Guest User () (10) Untitled 2009-07-07 18:19:56 I agree with those who favor closing 7th street on the weekend. It fosters a very pleasant, exciting place to shop, buy, eat, and meet friends. I would think it would increase revenues for merchants there. Keep the street open the rest of the week. |
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