Courtney Mabeus, The Examiner
2007-05-17 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

A small group of Eastern Market neighbors wants the city to reconsider its plan for a temporary structure on the north side of Hine Junior High’s playground to house fire-displaced merchants, saying the move will negatively affect homeowners.

Gary Rahl, Tom Connors and Susan Gwilliam, all of whom live on Eighth Street in Southeast D.C., said that with the exception of a May 7 community meeting on the reconstruction efforts, the city has done little to get public input. They said city leaders didn’t seriously consider other options to move the structure to another part of the playground or to close off Seventh Street SE after the 13 merchants displaced by the fire passed around a statement supporting the north lot location. That statement generated a lot of sympathy for the merchants, Rahl said.

“We all have a point of view that should be listened to,” Rahl said.

An April 30 fire gutted the beloved 134-year-old market’s South Hall. Mayor Adrian Fenty has promised to rebuild it within 18 to 24 months. Though his office has not announced a location for the merchants, Taylor Construction has been hired and a large section of the north portion of the Hine playground already has been marked off.

Rahl owns a corner lot overlooking the playground. If the city goes ahead with construction, the building would be about 30 feet from his home. The two would be separated by an alley that runs between the market and Eighth Street.

The neighbors said the building would increase trash and rodent problems, bring more traffic and create noise.

Rahl, Connors and Gwilliam are quick to point out that they support the temporary relocation of the merchants to keep them in business while the market is rebuilt. If groundbreaking occurred tomorrow, they would halt their complaints, Rahl said.

“Eastern Market is the gem of the city. The heart of the city,” Rahl said. “They need to get it back as soon as they can.”

cmabeus@dcexaminer.com