Since Union Market began attracting DC foodies in 2012, Edens and other developers have planned millions of square feet of development, leading to concern from activists that the areas old industrial character will be wiped away.

The DC Preservation League in July filed an application to designate 70 different addresses in the 40 acres around Union Market as a historic district, allowing them to escape demolition, the Washington Post reports.

The group's president, Rebecca Miller, tells the Post since DC had a relatively small industrial sector, these warehouses represent some of the last survivors of a fleeting era.

But Edens has its eyes on the future. The Union Market developer has bought more than a dozen properties in the area and along with other developers plans at least 1,160 apartments. In June it broke ground on a 432-unit residential building with partner LCOR, anchored by a 20k SF Latin marketplace.

Just two blocks away from Union Market, Kettler has plans for a huge mixed-use project with 975 residential units, 300k SF of office and 67k SF of retail. In addition, Ranger Properties has filed plans for a 110-unit apartment building and a 164-room hotel. It remains unclear how a historic designation would affect these development plans. [WaPo]