Eastern Market's History of Survival

The turmoil culminated in the District's 1981 plan to transform Eastern Market into a quaint tourist bazaar. Neighborhood fury sent Mayor Marion Barry back to the drawing board. A design introducing a mezzanine boutique in the South Hall's historic interior was advanced in 1985. Resisting heavy pressure, Barry wisely listened to the neighborhood and rejected that proposal. Eastern Market would be preserved basically as the food market it had always been.

This week, as Mayor Adrian M. Fenty rushed to the fire scene, met with the market's grieving neighbors and committed to bring it back, I had two immediate thoughts.

First, it's a huge task, worth doing.

Second, Eastern Market is a survivor; its third century will be its best yet.

-- S. J. Ackerman

Washington

The writer, a sixth-generation Washingtonian, lives on Capitol Hill. His e-mail address is sja@sjackerman.com.