A model for our Freight House?
A lot of discussion and study has recently taken place on the Freight House. It has the potential to be an anchor for the west side of downtown and for our riverfront, most agree with this. How the dilapidated building would transform to a useful entity is the big question. I agree with comments that to move from Point A to Point B should require limited involvement from the city and should focus on private investment. One community that is achieving this goal with a similar structure is Charleston, WV (Capitol Market). I visited Charleston on a work trip this year - an industrial mid-sized city, not all that different from the Quad Cities.
To incorporate a similar plan, modeled after Charleston, would require the following:
- Keep farmer's market vendors outside in the parking lot areas; this is what they have done in Charleston. The vendors set up camp underneath a metal roof, outside, in what used to be a parking lot. This could be accommodated in the parking lot S of the Freight House, with any spill over moving into the JOD lots to the W. The Capitol Market also transforms this area to seasonal markets that feature: pumpkins, Christmas trees, etc.
- Set up 10 or so areas inside the market (along the N and S walls), with a walkway through the middle. The specialty shops in Charleston included: a meat market, a wine/cheese vendor, an organic foods vendor with fresh produce, a confectionary type vendor, a coffee type vendor, a restaurant with bar, a book vendor, and a seafood vendor.
The kicker was - each of these shops already had a presence in the city. So these businesses were well-established and promoted local business owners and kept the money local. Some potential vendors from the QC, would be similar to: Goolick's Meat Market, Midwest Seafood, Centro, Greatest Grains, Gendler's, Lagomarcino's, Java Station, etc.
I was there on a Tuesday at Noon and the place was packed. People picking up fresh flowers, doing their grocery shopping with carts going from one vendor to the next, eating lunch, and so forth.
I don't have a magic solution to this challenge, but perhaps this model could be worth exploring.
To visit the Capitol Market in Charleston - click here.
posted by Ian Frink @ 9:57 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
The success of the farmers market is the fact that is is held outside in the open air, under the open sky. The "just picked" feeling you get is beacuse of this very atmosphere. Don't you get it!! Stop with the crap of trying to stuff the market inside. Do us all a favor and tear the building down for better parking and more room for additional stands. Most of us are very disappointed with what is going on and feel a change is do. Start putting some if not a little effort in cleaning up the city and not so much in to lining the pockets of your frends.
Anon. 3:07,
In the post, I outlined the opportunity for keeping the market outside. The supplemental aspect of having specialty shops inside would be a complimentary feature. Please look at the link, which details the Capitol Market and the structure they have moved forward with. I don't think they have, in any way, tried to stuff a market inside. As for lining the pockets of my friends, you are off base.
WHY can't we ever be free thinkers Ian and rely on our own views. We are always trying to copy someone else. Perhaps lets hire some creative city planners instead of the overpaid/non-creative people we already have.
Anon. 7:18,
Thanks for the post. I agree with the "free thinking" mentality, but I also think sometimes it is beneficial to not try and "re-invent the wheel." This is one of the few models I have come across that features a city with a similar background and a process that has worked year in and year out.
I would welcome any ideas others might have for this market. What are your thoughts?
The only thing I feel fairly certain about is keeping the market (produce, smaller vendors that exist now)outside in some way, shape, or form and using some sort of reasonable complimentary use in the Freight House itself.
I like your ideas Ian. I have had simular day dreams of someday transforming the Hostess Factory into something like the old "Dole Fruit Factory is it?" in downtown San Francisco...
Its just the constant challenge of making it all come together and none of it works unless we get "feet on the street".
I think a primary focus needs to be creating sucsessful private development of downtown housing, affordable to luxury. We may not have the population base alot of these towns have... but if as a community we buy into the spirit... The quad cities will continue to become a place workforces of the future will choose to call home. Thanks.
Anon. 10:27,
Thanks for the post. I agree - things are starting to happen. The lofts seem to be going well - more people are living downtown ... it's a start, but it takes time.
Charleston really isn't all that different from the QC's and it works for them. I agree with the need for middle + income residents as well, that will aid the effort.
Ian-
As I recall last summer the survey done at the Farmer's Market used some people at the actual Market. I was asked by one of the "stakeholders" who participated in the more in depth interviews with the consultants about the Market, since he had never been there! (My question-how did he get on that list!) One of the problems with the original plan was that the West Kimberly Market owners and longtime members of the Growers Market, were not asked their opinion or how they might be effected by major changes. I like looking outward for models of development and new ideas as much as the next person, but in this case I would hope that many of the current Growers would be very active members of the planning. I also go to the Market every week when its open and have some suppliers that I still get product from through the Kimberly Market. Offering to bring in the Kimberly Market folks into the downtown discussion instead of cannibalising and setting up a competing business seems to make more sense-especially to loyal customers like me. Another consideration on the reconfiguration of the Market would be increased safety and common sense on the parking side of things. I am amazed that no one has been injured or worse in that crazy situation. Thanks for your work-the Frieght House development is important to the Riverfront and to downtown.
nbsig likewise directories teacher izkir spec financed sparc microsofts issuesthe bottlepacks
lolikneri havaqatsu
Post a Comment
<< Home