Mayor Fenty Opens Eastern Market “East Hall” Temporary Building

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty joined the Capitol Hill community in officially opening the temporary structure for Eastern Market South Hall merchants this morning. Following a fire on April 30, 2007 that destroyed much of the south end of the historic Eastern Market, Mayor Fenty pledged to rebuild the building and to quickly provide space for the merchants housed in the South Hall during the renovation process. The structure, dubbed the “East Hall” by the merchants, opened today across the street from Eastern Market fulfills the Mayor’s promise for a speedy temporary solution.

“Eastern Market is more than a building to the Capitol Hill community,” said Fenty. “I am proud to stand here today and give these merchants and the people they serve so well an opportunity to thrive while we rebuild one of our local landmarks.”

The District of Columbia broke ground on the temporary structure just 18 days after a three-alarm fire gutted the South Hall of the building, which dates back to 1873. The new building, housed on the northern section of the Hine Junior High School playground took three months to construct. The temporary structure includes some amenities that are new to the merchants of Eastern Market, such as a heating ventilation and air conditioning system.

During the completion of the East Hall, South Hall merchants received assistance from the District through tax exemptions and a suspension of rent payments.  The Capitol Hill Community Foundation provided equipment and funding for the merchants, allowing about half of them to continue to operate outside of the South Hall in the interim.  

The total cost for the temporary structure is $2.6 million including $1 million in equipment that will be used in the rebuilt market.  The renovation of the South Hall of Eastern Market is expected to be completed by early 2009 at a cost of $14 million. Until the fire, a renovation plan for the market was 90