A D.C.-owned vacant lot in the heart of the U Street corridor is in line for a temporary upgrade as a weekend farmers market.
The 5,500-square-foot parking lot, between 900 and 918 U St. NW, sits adjacent to Nellie’s Sports Bar and backs up (albeit awkwardly) to the Grimke School, which the District expects to redevelop in the next couple of years. A request for proposals for Grimke may be released as soon as the fall.
In the meantime, the Department of General Services has issued a request for offers “to activate” the parking lot through the operation of a farmers market, an arts and crafts market, or a flea market.
A one-year license would entitle the operator to run its market 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The District would retain the right to cancel the license with 60 days notice, as the lot “may be part” of the Grimke redevelopment.
The lot is a half block from the U Street Metro station. Market offers are due by July 12 at noon.
