Here's an article from the Washington Post on the activities of Abdo north of Mt. Olivet Cemetary.
The piece also references Vincent Orange's plans to redevelop the DC Farmers Market & the larger wholesale food district. My only hope is that the vendors and wholesalers will stick around. I think there is money to be made by more of the dealers selling retail, as well as wholesale. I just worry about a redevelopment effort that seeks to replace the market rather than embrace it. If more of the wholesalers sold to the public, the signage were clearer about which places do sell to the public, you had a coffee shop & a place to buy bread you'd be set. Right now you can get all kinds of fruits & veggies, fresh fish, fresh meats, gourmet sausages, wine, Italian cheeses & some damn good sandwhiches and Korean food. I see possibility.
7 comments:
You're totally right about the market. It would be a tragedy to lose it. And, to be frank, I'm suspicious of any ideas that Mr. Orange comes up with. He's not exactly a shining star on the council.
i saw the office of planning's suggestion as to what the market should be.
I thought it was an amazing ( and wishful!) plan. i couldnt find it online, but i imagine thats where our man orange got the plan.
it included lots of greenscaping, dividing the wholesale/ retail sections. it used eastern market as a base, but in my opinion, was way more exciting.
I will see if I can find it. I have seen some stuff on it (and maybe I've seen that actual plan). What I saw did try to incorporate the market. It also wanted to stick in a culinary school (which would be great). Any plan for this market should be more ambitious than for Eastern Market. You are dealing with a very different space. Overall, the wholesale food district is much larger than Eastern Market. Luckly, you have lots of historic buildings (even if many are in disrepair. The plans as detailed in the Washington Post Articles a while back sounded ambitious & well thought out. I hope that reality matches the scale of the aspirations. There huge potential for the area (particularly with the new metro station right acriss the street). I know it is a different set-up, but I always think of the Italian Market in Philadelphia. I love going there with my father whenever I visit. You can buy all kinds of stuff there (I once bought uncured olives!), or just sit and sip espresso while watching people walk by.
The OP image was great. I just heard today that the Councilmember's proposal levels everything there and builds new...
I wasn't able to attend the Ec. Dev. Summit a couple weeks ago, so I don't know for sure.
As far as Elise's suggestions go, the Ferry Building in SF, the new Midtown Exchange in Minneapolis, and other markets that mix wholesale, retail, and other activities are a good model. Frankly, that's what used to occur in the Union Market area way back when -- there were fine dining restaurants, etc.
The Italian Market is a decent comparison too. Some of those stores, like Fante's, are pretty amazing, as are the prices--way less than in DC.
Here's the Washington Business Journal article on the Abdo thing:
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/11/07/daily39.html
I think its a sharp move on his part in so many different ways.
Any recent news on Arboretum Place? (housing to be built by Clark Construction at the old Sears site north of Hechinger Mall).
How about Starburst Plaza? Anyone know the proposed timeline?
I contacted Clark & they got back to me asking for questions, but then they never gave me any answers. I have heard contradictory rumors.
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