Yesterday's Post featured an article on the recently released report "Northeast Gateway: Many Neighborhoods, One Community." According to the article, the report focuses on strategies for revitalization Ward 5 while protecting its residents from the problems that often accompany gentrification. I personally found the most interesting part of the article to be the discussion of the Dc Farmer's Market (and the wholesale foods district that surrounds it). I know that there is already some construction/renovation going on in the immediate area (I think as a spillover of the NY Ave action), and I have seen a sketch, or two of the plans. But I am thrilled to learn (from the article) of even the suggestion of putting in a culinary school. You have a lot of great old buildings in the wholesale foods district, but many have fallen into disrepair, and I suspect that the rough look of the area (and the fact that some of the stores don't do retail sales) keep away many potential visitors. The area needs a scrub down, more stores like A. Litteri's (places that will bring people in), and (eventually) some restaurants, and a coffee shop. The location, on the other hand , is terrific. Located just down the street from the NY Ave metro, a spiffed up market could easily attract crowds.
[Addition: If you want to check out the DC Farmer's Market, here is the info:
1309 5th St., NE
Tuesday, 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m]
2 comments:
A couple places, I forget their names, do retail sales, they are on the equivalent of 3rd Street. Best Restaurant Equipment and other stores do sell retail.
It is this area (Cluster 23) that I am now spending more time working on stuff.
There are a few places that sell to the public. I been in a couple of other places had signs posted indicating that they sell to the public, but one of these smelled a bit funny, both could have looked cleaner, and they didn't have any thing of interest (to me). I believe there is also a place that sells African food products to the public (I keep meaning to go there). I think places should more clearly post that they do sell to the public (since the majority of those places don't). Maybe it would be a good idea to put together a rough directory of places back there (it wouldn't need to include places in the DC Farmers' Market since those are all open to the public), and it could indicate which places are/are not open to the public. A list like this could be sent out on listserves and posted on neighborhood websites.
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