Evening star., 1926-10-18
The Market Center.

1t would seem as though the Park
and Planning Commission had in it's
consideration Of the market problem
turned the question upside down. 1t
recommends that the Center Market
should not be removed at this time,
but should remain on its present site
until the future acquisition of land in
that vicinity by the Government
should make 1t undesirable for It to
stay there longer. Then, the commits
sion finds. Ii should be moved to a site
suitable to meet the changed condi-
ton. The commission also recon-.
mends the location OF the farmers
market and the commission houses at
site as second choice and the Midcity
site as third.
1t is generally felt by the people
who use the markets, retail buyers
particularly. that the Center Market
should be located as the first move,
leaving the establishment of other fea-
lures of the food-purveying system to
adjust to that location. There is no
immediate urgency. to be sure, in the
matter Of the Center Market as there
Is in the case Of the farmers market,
which must be shifted within a few
months to make room for the Internal
Revenue Building. But the land oc-
cupied by the Center Market and the
commission houses to the west and
east will assuredly be needed for pub
lie building uses within compare.
lively short time, and the removal of
those establishments is naturally to
be expected shortly.
Location of the farmers market
and the commission houses with ref
erence to the matter of TRANSFORMATION
may dictate a site at q distance from
the center Of the city, and therefore
the center Of population. But that
consideration does not obtain in the
matter of the retail market center.
which should be located with refer
ence to public convenience. The farm
ers' market has a close relationship
to the retail trade. The commission
houses have little relationship to it.
There is no particular reason why the
farmers market should be related to
the commission house establishments.
Nor is there any particular reason
why the farmers market should be
MIA aca6 yEifh <N
transportation. Practically all of the
goods shown in the farmers market
are brought into the city by trucks or
wagons from the country round about
Washington.
A retail market center located at
distance from the center of the city
would not draw the trade necessary
to sustain 1t. It could not be main
tanned without heavy patronage.
The retail buyer with the market
basket is first to be considered in this
matter of site.
The conclusions Of the Park and
Planning Commission in this matter
are not final. The question will be
considered in Congress. and that con.
sideration, indeed, should be immedi.
ate. with particular reference to the
early shifting of the Center Market
from its present site. II the Com.
merce Department Building is to be
located on the "fve-square site" at
the western end Of the Mall.Avenue
triangle other sites for the buildings
for the Departments Of Justice and
Labor will be required. and they will
presumably lie within the triangle.
They are on the list of early construc.
tions. and their placement at or about
the market section is highly probable.
Therefore. this matter of the future
Of Center Market must be regarded as
urgent, and should not be relegated to
an indefinite future, as the Park and
Planning Commission proposes.