(Washington, DC) - The DC Office of Property Management (OPM) today announced changes in the management of Eastern Market. On December 31, 2008, the contract between the DC Government and the current market manager of Eastern Market, Eastern Market Venture, Inc., expires. Therefore, beginning on January 1, 2009, OPM will manage Eastern Market temporarily until a new market manager takes over.

This transition has been planned for months. On August 1, 2008 the District of Columbia issued a Request for Proposals for the management of the Market. On October 21, 2008, the City Council approved legislation giving OPM the authority to manage the Market during the gap period before the new manager takes over. OPM is currently evaluating proposals received in response to the RFP and expects to make a decision shortly.

The Market Manager is responsible for the coordinated day-to-day administration and development of the 135-year-old national historic landmark on Capitol Hill now being rehabilitated by OPM following a devastating fire in April, 2007. Barry Margeson, currently the OPM Eastern Market Coordinator, will be the interim manager, responsible for the East Hall of Eastern Market, the 7th Street Market, the Farmer's Line and the North Hall Plaza.

Eastern Market has been continuously used as a public food market since 1873. After last year's fire, the displaced merchants were relocated to the new East Hall while the Market was rehabilitated. Today, the Market, on 7th Street, SE, between C Street and North Carolina Avenue on Capitol Hill is host on weekends to over 70 merchants and vendors. It is the only public market in the District that has retained its original function as a thriving marketplace, featuring a broad array of food merchants, farmers and growers, joined on weekends by artisans, antiques dealers and other specialty vendors. Art shows, music and theatre performances, and craft sales complement the food vending. All of these activities make Eastern Market popular with local residents, visitors and shoppers from the entire metropolitan area.