Market Square

Here follows an excerpt from the Clio Foundation website about Market Square as written by Marina Coma:

Introduction:
Older than the town where it sits, Alexandria’s Market Square has been a place for people to come together for over 250 years. Originally a farmer’s market—a role that it still plays nowadays—Market Square has always been a key player in the public life of Alexandria.

Backstory and Context:
In the 1740s, the intersection between Duke and King streets was a key passage for the westbound transportation of Virginia’s produce. Large wagons filled with grains, hogs, and tobacco, wheeled by daily and it was just a matter of time before the merchants started selling their goods in such a major crossroads. Thus, Market Square was born.

In the early days, it was just an empty field in which anyone could sell food, animals, and farm products to the locals and the passersby. Other activities, such as the sale of slaves and the mustering of militias, also took place in this area. Slowly, permanent structures were developed in the area; and, by the end of the 18th century, the Market Square was a booming trading site with multiple businesses, such as taverns and warehouses.

This building activity created a self-contained space that could only be accessed through two small passageways, and it remained thus until the 1960s, in which an aggressive renovation policy scheduled the demolition of all the historical buildings in Market Square with the exception of the City Hall. The objective of this policy was to remake the Old Town of Alexandria into a new, modern town. However, the locals grew unsteady at the prospect of losing their beloved architecture. A preservation movement grew while the wrecking balls swung, and it became so strong that eventually forced the city government into protecting some of Market Square’s historical landmarks. Not only were buildings such as The Torpedo Factory Art Center, the Lyceum, and the Carlyle House saved from demolition, but they also underwent extensive renovations to commemorate the American Bicentennial in 1976.

Nowadays, Market Square remains a key element in Alexandria’s public life. The square holds a farmer’s market regularly, as well as an annual Christmas tree lightning, and multiple festivities throughout the year. Over a quarter of a century after it was born, Alexandria’s Market Square still succeeds at bringing the community together.


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Here follows an excerpt from the "Jaybird's Jottings" blog in 2010 as written by Jay Roberts:

Old Town Alexandria Commemorative Plaques: Market Square
Market Square, Park and Garage (Gadsby Commercial Urban Renewal Project, Phase One)
109 N. Royal

We now come to one of the most controversial chapters in Old Town’s history. In 1963, the City introduced plans for urban renewal in the “blighted section of the city.” I’m not sure how many buildings were targeted, but Walter B. Douglas’s report in the Washington Post (June 15, 1963) noted that the City had identified “all or part of 13 downtown blocks.”

Preservationists fought tooth and nail to stop the destruction of the homes and buildings on both sides of the 300, 400, 500 and 600 blocks of King Street, as well as an “L-shaped residential project” along Princess and N. Pitt. It should be noted that the latter was not part of the Gadsby Commercial Urban Renewal.

The Gadsby plan consisted of three phases. The first included what is now Market Square, plus the square block to its west (King, N. Pitt, Cameron, N. Royal), and half blocks to the south.

A walk along this portion of King Street today clearly identifies the delineation of old and neo-Colonial office buildings and stores.

Opinions differ on Market Square’s look. One thing I find remarkable and interesting is the plaque itself. It pays homage to the park, and the garage, and was placed by the entrance to the underground parking lot.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but you get the impression someone was gloating that day the plaque was unveiled. Of course, it was the V8 era.