At the ANC 5A meeting on May 22, 2013, Dr. Calvin Lewis, research associate, principal investigator, and farmers market coordinator at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), presented on UDC’s proposal to operate a farmers market at its Backus community college campus on South Dakota Avenue NE.

They propose to operate the market in the large parking lot on Galloway Street NE just off South Dakota Avenue.  However, that land is zoned R-2 for residential uses.  Dr. Lewis stated he was told by DCRA that the application for a farmers market likely would not be approved because a farmers market is considered a commercial use.

The commissioners at the ANC meeting told Dr. Lewis he can likely apply for an exception to the permitted use.  Frank Wilds, commissioner for the ANC SMD in which the campus resides (ANC 5A08), is supportive of a market there, but he was told he needs to present the concept to residents of his SMD before the ANC will consider whether to support UDC’s application for a farmers market at Backus.

UDC currently operates a farmers market during summer months at its main campus on Connecticut Avenue NW.  That market was first operated under a grant received from the Department of Agriculture, according to Dr. Lewis.

He said his team at UDC thought it would be a good idea to bring a market to the Backus campus since the surrounding neighborhood is home to a large number of senior citizens who would benefit from being able to walk a short distance to get fresh produce.  He said several UDC students walked around the neighborhood to ask residents if they would like and support a farmers market at Backus and that the response was overwhelmingly positive.

I caught up with another staff member at the meeting who said they have the same vision to incorporate chef tastings and demonstrations that they presently have at the UDC market.

Dr. Lewis will be at the Lamond Riggs Citizens Association general body meeting on Monday, June 3, 2013, to share information with residents about this proposal.  The meeting will run from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.