Comments for “Eastern Market Metro Park Study”
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For as long as the D Street stub feeds people across the street here, they will cross here. The rose bushes are too low (as well as not attractive) and a fence would actually create a visual barrier between north and south. Perhaps a below grade feature of some sort (storm water retention) accompanied by a low fence might impede pedestrian traffic flow without creating a visual north south barrier. Whatever is left to the east and west, though, should be widened as pedestrian path
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The sidewalk along the northern edge of D Street should be wider, draining the triangle to the north into catchment/retention basins for storm water management. Also, permeable pavers.
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The drinking water fountain pedestal here is long since dead and broken. Should be removed or repaired
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Unless there is another plan to accommodate the shortest distance between to points for metro riders travelling to/from north 8th Street, this side walk must be MUCH wider, maybe even a triangle to acknowledge that people start crossing by the bus stop (given the actuity of Pennsylvania Ave here)
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I see that people use the bike racks, but have never seen anyone put a bike into or out of the bike boxes. Seems like the boxes use a disproportionate amount of space for what would seem to be an exclusive group of users. Also, the boxes are ugly.
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This pine, as well as the bushes surrounding it, are out of place, create unhelpful hiding places for unsanitary or threatening uses. The bushes could be removed, as well as the lowest level branches. The holiday decorations feel forced and stale
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Low level downward facing lighting here to light the pathway to from the northeastern neighborhood areas to the Metro would be helpful.
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Low level, downward facing, lighting would improve the sense of welcoming and use at night, as well as security, and may enhance the "bridge" sought between Barracks Row and the Market
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The row of newspaper boxes to the south of the Metro passage is underused, not maintained, out of dated, and visually an eyesore. They should be moved if not eliminated, or at least number should be reduced.
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Agree that folks are going to continue to use this desire path no matter what is done to prevent it. Spending money on such efforts will simply be a waste. Instead, there should be something like a HAWK signal or some type of coordinated signal timing with the lights at 7th and 8th to allow for safe passage of pedestrians.
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When considering surfaces for sidewalks and walkways, please avoid the current brown brick. The current pavers make the plaza, both on the N and S side of Penn, looked extremely dated and more belonging in L'Enfant Plaza than on the Hill.
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More trees for additional shade while waiting for the bus would be a big positive here. Would also address some of the jaywalking.
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Please do not close D Street here. The traffic light situation at 8th and Penn is bad enough. Adding more cars trying to turn E on Penn would only make it worse, which would have a significant NEGATIVE impact on pedestrians and other users along Barracks Row.
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I would suggest taking this opportunity to consolidate some of the bus stops.
I see little need for buses to stop in front of Starbucks since they have just stopped either at Penn going east at EM or at 8th and Penn going south.
If another stop is required, put it at the Metro Plaza on 8th. -
This intersection is dangerous and confusing to both motorists and pedestrians. Cars and buses on 8th are moving too quickly to get through the light at Penn and do not yield to pedestrians. Cars on D often make their move onto or across 8th quickly because the heavy 8th Street traffic means they wait a long time for a break in traffic. Therefore they rarely see or yield to pedestrians either.
Make this intersection a four way stop or create some other traffic calming measure to make this intersection less dangerous and frustrating for all involved.
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This intersection always seems dangerous and confusing. Not sure what the solution is. Traffic on D gets impatient, while traffic on 8th moves very quickly, and pedestrians always seem on the verge of being hit or have to wait for forever. Hate this intersection.
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This point begs for a fitting focal point (other than a tree) at the intermediate terminus to S. Carolina Ave. How about a statue of Robert Brent, our city's first mayor and patron of the neighborhood's Brent Elementary - it could even be "adopted" by the school as a community service site and impromptu history lesson.
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As with the other block of D St. across 8th, this is an extremely useful stretch of road that should not be closed. This provides a very useful link from D St., 7th St. and areas west/south to get to Penn. Ave. beyond the Metro/8th St. intersections. It is particularly useful for those trying to get across Penn. Ave. via the less busy intersections at 9th or 10th (to get to Watkins Elem./Rec. Ctr or Lincoln Park, for instance) or just to the BP station without having to traverse two busy signaled intersections. In addition, this stretch is extensively used for pick-up/drop-off at the Community Partnership and other services in the Blaine Bldg. - closing this stretch would be a severe mistake that wouldn't really serve any useful purpose.
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Contrary to some other comments about D Street, I think this is an extremely useful stretch of road that should not be closed. This provides a very useful link from D St., 7th St. and areas west/south to get to Penn. Ave. beyond the Metro/8th St. intersections. It is particularly useful for those trying to get across Penn. Ave. via the less busy intersections at 9th or 10th (to get to Watkins Elem./Rec. Ctr or Lincoln Park, for instance) or just to the BP station without having to traverse two busy signaled intersections. And, the parking actually is very useful for the businesses along D and 8th Sts., as well as a place for Zip cars that does not further congest the heavily traveled 7th St. adjacent to the Metro/Library. I live 1/2-block off the park and use this road almost every day.
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7th STreet SE adjacent to Metro is terribly congested with taxi space, rental car spaces, general parking. Pedestrians increasingly cross 7th from Metro to CVS, or to Library with little regard to traffic lights. Could the Metro Plaza perhaps provide a bit of space for widening the lanes available for vehicles traveling from 7th & PA to 7th & NC?
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Sell the air-rights immediately over the intersection and bid to restaurant(s) or a hotel.
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Create a theme including new interior and roadway lighting and new bus stop and benches that are all interrelated stylistically and all black iron so it feels unified. 5th and M SE has the sample bus stop, H NE has tall and shorter interior double teardrop black lights, benches like Marion Park with middle divider painted black all creates a historic relaxing and inviting look.
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If we'd actually get the fair market value for the Hine School public land we could do great things for the market and plaza. Right now the Hine Schooty PUD deal brokered by DMPED is only fetching the City 1/5 or less of the fair market value for that land.
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definitely keep as many trees as possible--and even add more. The area needs to be landscaped appropriately, and the landscaping should be designed to reduce the rat population as much as possible. Some seating and chess tables would be great--maybe even a small pavilion? Also, please make sure that the design is right for Capitol Hill--the current Hine School development is horrendous, and I fear that the architect chosen for this project will come up with something just as awful.
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Eastern Market Square! Because of the foresight of L'Enfant, we have a rare opportunity to introduce a public square to our neighborhood. Thinking in terms of optimizing the space available, we should look to combine as much of the real estate into one park. Two relatively small parcels separated by a large roadway falls short of the maximum potential. I believe Stanton Park is one of the greatest resources on Capitol Hill and we would be remiss if we didn't consider re-routed Pennsylvania around the square.