Is the Union Market Roof Going to Become a Park?

• April 4, 2019

by Nena Perry-Brown

Last month, developer Edens previewed plans to file a second-stage PUD for a sister building to the Union Market building at 1309 5th Street NE (map). Now, the developer is moving forward with a concept to use the roof of Union Market as an elevated community park. 

While the developer was granted first-stage PUD approval in 2015 to expand Union Market and construct a companion building, market conditions have sent the project back to the drawing board, also delaying the public benefits the project would have delivered. Edens has now filed documents seeking zoning review for interim recreational use for the building's roof, with the idea that activation of the rooftop allows them to temporarily fulfill those benefits. 

Pending zoning approvals and other negotiations, one of the entertainment uses for the roof could include the Washington Kastles Tennis team holding matches there this summer, a notion first floated at an ANC 5D meeting in February. Both the commissioner of the single-member district where the market is located and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie have submitted letters of support for the concept of activating the roof.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/is-union-market-about-to-get-a-park/15215