Lexington Market’s new chapter brings renewed calls to clean up its exterior

With the new Lexington Market nearly finished, boasting a grand interior staircase, large windows and 40 vendors, stabilizing the perimeter of the historic landmark is still an issue, officials working on the large-scale project said this week. Ahead of a soft opening next week for the $45 million historic market, several officials overseeing the project said the streetscape bordering the downtown market remains a public safety and cleanliness concern that poses a threat to the public’s image of the massive redo. This week, a vacant parcel next to the new market remained overgrown and trashed. Sidewalks and curbs were also trash strewn and vacant buildings across the street advertised for new tenants to take a chance to ride the new market’s coattails.