The District Chronicles

Issue date: 9/6/09 Section: Neighborhood

Media Credit: julieandelie.com Restricted access to the new Eastern Market has some residents upset

On April 30, 2007 a three-alarm blaze ravaged the historic Eastern Market in DC's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Residents who had relied on shopping for much of their fresh foods on the market were devastated, as were venders. Mayor Adrian Fenty vowed to reconstruct and reopen the landmark market by first closing off 7th Street, SE, between North Carolina and C Street, on the weekends to relocate the displaced vendors to that space.

Two years and $22 million later, Fenty and other city dignitaries this summer, cut the ribbon on a spanking-new community landmark, sporting air conditioning and bathrooms as new amenities at the start of summer. But 7th Street remained closed off to make room for more vendors.

Many vendors and residents cheered. But, residents like Barb Charles are upset. They say the continued closure has degraded the quality of their shopping experience or cost them sales.

"It means I can't shop a lot," complained Charles, a long-time resident of Capitol Hill who has shopped at the Market for nearly 40 years. "I used to gather things up and have my husband come by and pick me up."

Vendor Angie Bunsen shares Charles's sentiments. "Eastern Market has always been a farmer's market and food market and we need the street open so customers can come in and pick up their package, shop at the market and pick more than one or two items," Bunsen groused.

Bunsen, like several other vendors who grow and sell food and plants, has lost money because customers can't gather as much as they did prior to the fire.

Ward 6 Council member Tommy Wells, Barry Margeson from the Office of Property Management, and Donna Scheeder, Chair of the Eastern Market Community Advancement Committee (EMCAC), vendors, and community members gathered at Tyler Elementary School on earlier this summer to discuss how the closed streets affect them personally.

Some residents complained that Market visitors take up parking spaces in front of their homes and in alleys, making it hard from them to find spaces close to their own homes when they return from weekend errands.

Although not profitable on an individual basis, Donna Scheeder said the closed street has increased the overall income the market generates.

"Keeping the street closed means more space to rent," Scheeder said. "The market is trying to be self-sustaining so the rental income has to cover the overall expenses of running the market."

Gina Hayman has lived in this community all of her life and welcomes the street closure. Hayman thinks her fellow community members need to "get over our cars."

"The closure of 7th Street on the weekends creates a relaxed, exhaust-free environment where people can stroll, shop, browse, talk with neighbors and enjoy a pleasant, urban street-life atmosphere," Hayman argued.

For Hayman, keeping the stretch of 7th Street closed is a pleasant change from life's hectic tasks and thinks her neighbors should consider the closure as an opportunity to experience something different.

Taking a philosophical stance, Hayman said: "Life is about change and sometimes people have a hard time recognizing that something new might be better than what comes before."

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