Union Market

It anchors the Union Market District, a neighborhood encompassing high-rise apartments, office buildings, retail, and entertainment options.It featured retail and wholesales stores as well as a farmers' market which ran into trouble with the city in the 1960s due to its failure to comply with sanitation and safety standards.[1] A committee composed of Maj. Carey H. Brown, engineer of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission; Lloyd S. Tenny, acting chief of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; C. W. Kitchen, business manager and superintendent of the Washington Center Market, and George M. Roberts, superintendent of the office of weights, measures and markets of the District Government recommended 5 criteria for the selection of a new site to replace Two sites were found to meet these needs: The Trinidad Citizens' Association opposed the move of the market to the Patterson Tract and voiced its opposition following the vote by the Citizens' Advisory Council on March 30, 1928, in the District Building.The property was located at the intersection of Florida Avenue and 5th Street NE and was originally put on sale on January 1, 1929 by the Phillips & Caldwell real estate firm.It was considered to be a more viable location then another proposed in Southwest DC (10th and 11th St SW between E and G Street[10]) as the patrons were not going into this area.The action was being pushed by the President of Gallaudet, Dr. Percival Hall who also chaired the park and planning committee of the citizen group.[12] He argued that the development would "distract from the general beauty of the region" and would bring hundreds of vehicles on Florida Avenue.The hearing was scheduled for June 4, 1930 and the market was defending its request by the new buildings were a better option then the vacant lot currently there.[14] The Trinidad Citizens' Association urged the National Capital Park and Planning Commission to acquire 16 acres of land next to Gallaudet College on June 25, 1930.It was expected to increase once the sheds were built but the goal was not to make a profit but to cover the cost of interest, taxes and sanitation.[26] The Fair opened on June 16, 1931 with a speech from Frank Morrison, secretary of the American Federation of Labor in front a large crowd in which he declared that unemployment "must be solved".The attraction was Valencia, an acrobat expert on high pole and the trapeze followed by Beach Bentum and her aquatic troupe.[30][31] In May 1949, The Evening Star published an article about Billy Edwards and his gym located in Union Market above some of the stores.[37][38] The Union Market Business Association endorsed the campaign spearheaded by the Evening Star to reduce traffic fatalities via a pledge to be safe on the road.With the addition of shoppers, the numbers of vehicles using the space reached 13,143 passenger cars, 3,300 trucks and a total of 35,122 as recorded on a single week day.The responsibility was divided between the owners of the property and the farmers selling there: neither group wanted to invest money in long term improvements.While progress had been made in the previous year according to the operators, it was still not adequate and the Market would need to conform to code like all the other food establishments.He agreed that the Health Director, Murray Grant was acting appropriately but also urged him to make it easier for stall operators to solve the issues by providing them a detailed list of what they need to do to stay open.After visiting the markets, the Director announced that only sales of fresh fruits, vegetables and non-food items could be sold.Meats, poultry, custards, pies, home-canned goods and other items currently present had to go due to the lack of adequate sanitary and refrigeration facilities on-site.[48][49] On February 1, 1965, the attorneys for the merchants announced that sweeping design changes had been made in the plans drafted with the cooperation of the Health Department.On September 24, 1965, it was announced that plans for a new 250,000 square foot building were ready and that engineering and boring test were complete.The four-acre tract had been acquired by William and Charles Cohen along with Samuel Weinstein at a cost of $900,000 from the Patterson-Winslow Realty Trust.Mayor Walter E. Washington and Rep. Hervey Machen (D-MD) were present for the opening day "sausage cutting ceremony".[53] DC Councilwoman Nadine Winter (D-Ward 6) told college officials she was in favor of the city purchasing the market in order to prevent the shut-down on January 8.However, Edward C. Merrill Jr., President of Gallaudet College responded that the land was needed for storage but said he was open to alternatives.The agreement reached on January 13 stated that the extension would be for two or three years approximately and only half of the space due to the dwindling number of vendors.[59] The Washington Post has written that the "once-scruffy" Union Market "has become a mecca for foodies from around the D.C. area and is a centerpiece for a revitalized neighborhood set to expand with numerous residential options.[62] The "mostly local vendors" sell "gelato, olive oil, oysters and other specialties" and the market is "an upscale retail presence in the warehouse district between Florida and New York avenues.The artwork by Yoko Ono was the inaugural project of Hirshhorn in the City which hopes to exhibit international contemporary artists in Washington, D.C.