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Request for Proposals for EMMS Corridor Assessment
Project: EMMS Corridor Traffic and Use Assessment
Client: Eastern Market Main Street (EMMS) is a nonprofit organization working in DC and a designated DC Main Streets program through the Department of Small and Local Business Development. The mission of EMMS is to capitalize on our historic assets and entrepreneurial culture to promote, retain, and attract diverse, small businesses through the Main Street Four-Point Approach: Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Vitality. EMMS’ boundaries include 7th Street SE from Pennsylvania Avenue SE to North Carolina Avenue SE, and C Street SE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE from 6th to 8th Streets SE.
Deadline for RFP submissions: December 15, 2017
Project Timeline:
Deadline for submissions: December 15, 2017
Project awarded: Early January
Project begins: Late January
Project Description:
EMMS seeks to engage a consultant or firm who will interpret existing data and evaluate the current vehicular and pedestrian traffic conditions and weekend use of the EMMS corridor and provide strategic recommendations for addressing current issues, paying specific attention to traffic flow, parking, and use of public spaces, including the closure of the street and how the businesses in the EMMS service area (including brick and mortar businesses, Eastern Market merchants, and outdoor vendors) are impacted.
The EMMS commercial corridor is centered around Eastern Market, a National Historic Landmark and the only historic market building in DC to retain its original function as a fresh food market. In addition to permanent merchants inside the building’s South Hall, Eastern Market has welcomed hundreds of vendors to the exterior plaza and street running alongside the building. Over the last 10 years, the outdoor market aspect has expanded on Saturdays and Sundays to include the 200 and 300 blocks of 7th Street SE and will soon include the 700 block of C Street SE.
Though this fosters a creative and pedestrian-friendly area on the weekends, numerous problems have been voiced by the business community and neighbors, including parking and general public accessibility to Eastern Market itself. Unfortunately, no strategic evaluation or planning took place prior to the closing of the street in 2007 after the Eastern Market building fire nor has any been initiated after the re-opening of the building in 2009.
The purpose of this study and consequential report would be to use past parking and traffic data completed by various neighborhood and city agencies to provide EMMS with recommendations and best practices for effectively utilizing the public and private spaces around Eastern Market to create a safe, welcoming, accessible commercial corridor throughout the week, as well as help further the mission of EMMS by fostering connections between the businesses in the new 700 Penn development, current brick and mortar businesses and merchants, and outdoor vendors.
Contact:
Madeleine Odendahl, Program Manager
madeleine@easternmarketmainstreet.org
Contextual Resources for Project:
https://ggwash.org/view/64470/eastern-market-7th-street-closed
https://www.easternmarketmainstreet.org/single-post/2017/06/23/From-EMMS-to-DGS---June-19-2017
https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/eastern_market_a_historic_neighborhood_in_hine_sight/12743
https://capitolhillcorner.org/2017/09/11/push-to-continue-closure-of-eastern-market-7th-street-gains-momentum/
https://capitolhillcorner.org/2017/09/24/emcac-votes-to-keep-eastern-mkt-7th-street-closed-to-traffic-and-active-pending-a-strategic-plan/
https://capitolhillcorner.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/emcac-recommendation-re200300blocksfinaltestcor.pdf
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/13124093/proposal-to-re-open-street-divides-eastern-market-vendors
http://www.welovedc.com/2009/07/23/reopening-7th-st-se/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072201473.html