MEDIA CONTACTS:  Karyn LeBlanc at (202) 671-3490 (DDOT), Bill Rice at (202) 437-7787 (OPM)

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Office of Property Management (OPM) announce a closely coordinated, accelerated plan for the streetscape work and the required temporary relocation of some farmers and exhibitors from along 7th Street, in front of Eastern Market. DDOT is scheduled to finish this phase of the streetscape project, in early June, just prior to the reopening of the market.

In an effort to minimize impact on the residential and business community, DDOT & OPM are taking the following actions:

• DDOT has begun the streetscape with the recently announced closure of 7th Street, SE, from C Street to North Carolina Avenue. The closure will last until June, when the work will shift to the stretch of 7th Street from C Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.
• The sidewalks on either side of 7th Street remain open and accessible allowing pedestrians to shop along both sides of 7tth Street.
• Starting this weekend, OPM will relocate outdoor exhibitors and farmers, usually located on 7th Street, to a variety of locations in and around the market including stalls on the grassy area of 7th Street, south of C Street, the Farmer’s Line Shed, and the North Hall Plaza.

“Just as the indoor Eastern Market merchants were quickly relocated after the fire two years ago, I am confident this short-term move will meet the needs of the outdoor exhibitors,” said Robin-Eve Jasper, Director of OPM. “I want to thank DDOT for their assistance and cooperation to insure that the DDOT streetscape and OPM renovation are completed together this summer.”

“Closing the street will assist us in expediting the work as we coordinate our efforts with OPM” said Gabe Klein, Acting Director for DDOT. “The community has been a great asset in providing input into these important decisions.”

To accommodate weekday 7th Street customer needs, new public parking is available at the Hine School lot between Pennsylvania Ave SE and C Street SE, from 6 am to 7 pm. This parking will not be available on weekends.

The DDOT streetscape includes total removal and upgrade of the existing roadway and bed, installation of new Colonial cobblestones, stamped concrete at crosswalks, brick sidewalks, granite curbing, new lighting and utility upgrades.

The OPM Market renovation includes historically appropriate roof and floors, upgraded ADA access, new heating and air conditioning, new windows and doors, and for the North Hall, movable partitions, a new stage and theatrical lighting.

East Hall, the temporary home for the vendors displaced from the Market building by the April, 2007 fire is unaffected by the street work.