The Flea Markets Will Remain Under Control of Private Operators, DGS Announced Today
City Backs Off Take Over of Flea Markets at Eastern Market
by Larry Janezich
After the city announced its takeover of the Flea Markets at Eastern Market on August 12 (as first reported on CHC here: http://bit.ly/1UJdifH ) city officials have decided to retain the status quo.
An email from Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson today announced the decision as follows: “DGS, in consultation with the Mayor’s Office, has determined that the District will re-sign license agreements with the two entities currently serving as Flea Market Managers for the 300 block flea markets at Eastern Market. Their current licenses expire this month.”
The reconsideration apparently came after the intervention of the Mayor’s office.
Diversified Market Management Director Mike Berman – operator of the Sunday Flea Market on the 300 block of 7th Street, SE, told CHC that he had learned of the city’s decision in a phone conversation this morning with representatives of the Department of General Services. He said that he had been told that DGS had decided to grant a six month extension of the license, during which time a longer one year extension would be worked out.
Berman said that the agreement “doesn’t excuse their behavior. We’ll take what we can get and get back to business as usual. We collected more than five hundred signatures to oppose the city’s move. I’m grateful that we did not have to go to the next (legal) level.” He added, “I think this is a good first step. I look forward to reviewing, with our counsel, attorney Donald Temple, the contract extension DGS has promised to us by September 14.”
On Friday, August 14, Mayor Bowser named Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Christopher E. Weaver new Director of the Department of General Services. Interim Director Johathon Kayne, under whose watch the initial decision on taking over the flea markets was made, is transitioning to DGS Chief Operating Officer.
It was also under Kayne that DGS – apparently succumbing to substantial unhappiness in Hill East at DGS’ handling of the development of the Boys and Girls Club – withdrew the Request for Proposal for development of the site after the original RFP was written is a way that precluded financing by private equity firms, and the only bid which seemed to meet the RFP requirements was a proposal by Dante’s Partners for a Low Income Housing Tax Credit project which envisioned mini units for seniors. The neighborhood had expressed a strong preference for a mixed income housing facility.
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 
Thank you Capitol Hill Corner for getting this story out so fast. Despite these flair ups, Eastern is and will always be a wonderful place. We all know it and apparently the Mayor does too.
But, it is bad news for the “old” Maine Avenue Fish Market with its new New York Investors as their neighbors. In short, the Mayor has given the management of the lease [of the Maine Ave. Fish Market] to the New York investors who are building the new wharf development along side the market.
Why?
I, too, applaud the efforts of the Eastern Market management for not backing down, and Larry for keeping this story in public focus. This is excellent news and I wish such news was not so rare. I also ask with Calvin Gurley why the Maine Ave. Fish Market is fighting a similar lack of transparency, and of course why McMillan Park is facing the same thing. We didn’t elect leaders to ignore us, which unfortunately happens a bit too often.
Well said Joe and well done Larry for staying so totally on top of this story!
But, it is bad news for the “old” Maine Avenue Fish Market with its new New York City investors- as their neighbors. In short, the Mayor has given the management of the lease [of the Maine Ave. Fish Market] to the New York City investors who are building the new, billion dollar wharf development along side the market.Why?Calvin H. Gurley From: CAPITOL HILL CORNER To: chgurley@verizon.net Sent: Friday, September 4, 2015 2:59 PM Subject: [New post] City Backs Off Take Over of Flea Markets at Eastern Market #yiv2133423187 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv2133423187 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv2133423187 a.yiv2133423187primaryactionlink:link, #yiv2133423187 a.yiv2133423187primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv2133423187 a.yiv2133423187primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv2133423187 a.yiv2133423187primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv2133423187 WordPress.com | ljjanezich posted: “City Backs Off Take Over of Flea Markets at Eastern Marketby Larry JanezichAfter the city announced its takeover of the Flea Markets at Eastern Market on August 12 (as first reported on CHC here: http://bit.ly/1UJdifH ) city officials have de” | |
Hurray! Thanks to Capitol Hill Corner for covering the issue, Diversified Market Management for making the community aware of he problem, and for community residents in making their collective voices heard.
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