DC Regeneration- Balancing Old and New

Union Market District. Washington DC. Over the past decade the historic Union Market building and surrounding industrial warehouse area have seen dramatic growth and revitalization. This is seen as a part of an even larger footprint which includes NoMa (North of Massachusetts) and the H Street Corridor, or “The Atlas District”. In 1931 the 40 acre tract became the home of the Union Terminal Market after the demolition of the Centre Market near the National Mall. This market housed 700 vendor stalls. In 1967 a new market opened at this location to meet DC Safety and Sanitation protocols. The building is what today is known as the Union Market building- and was home to 60 vendor stalls. The surrounding streets included a mix of warehousing, wholesale trade, light industry, and food vending. The area had a unique international feel with Greek, Italian, Jewish, Chinese, Korean, and African wholesalers. In the 1980s and 1990s the area became rundown and many vendors relocated to modern distribution centers in Maryland, though many remained. The renovated Union Market building reopened in 2012 and has been a popular destination ever since. Today, Union Market is home to 40+ vendor stalls with a mix of food and drink, indoor and outdoor seating, and restaurants. The surrounding district includes a mix of warehouses, restaurants, boutiques, offices, retail, a small movie theater, a rum distillery, a brewery, a large warehouse space for functions (Dock 5) and a Latin American Marketplace (LaCosecha). It’s home to Michelin Star restaurant, Masseria, as well as several luxury apartment buildings. Bon Appetit magazine has named the food hall one of the top 5 in the US. In 2017 it was designated a historic district and the DC government has set guidelines for redevelopment in order to retain the area’s unique and historic attributes. As with most cities, DC is facing a challenge in how to revitalize and reuse land and resources while limiting the negative effects on the existing community- namely displacement. For this reason there are mixed, and strong, feelings on this development. However, there is no doubt that the Union Market District is popular and has been successful in creating a vibrant mixed use neighborhood.