Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Re: Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:51:34 +0000

Unfortunately, there is no way for HAL to predict the loss of potential monthly parking revenue due to the presence of the Market every Wednesday. Also, for a small non-profit like the NFMA, any amount of rent will be a challenge.

Re: Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:02:49 +0000

I don't see it that way, CBO. If anything, the local committee has been more amenable than the wider Landmarks Preservation Board. But more important, it's the economy and the sorry state of construction financing.

I've sat in on many (most?) of the landmark committee meetings about this site. There are some intractible issues, for sure, and an acknowledged disconnect between the zoning and the district guidelines. But I'm sure we'd be looking at this same parking lot no matter how flexible the developer or the landmarks board had been.

Surface parking on this site has been its own special purgatory for the developer and for neighbors who would like to see better. But the silver lining has always been the farmers market.

It seems to me, the community benefit of the market on that site must substantially outweigh the cost of any foregone Wednesday light rail parking. But unfortunately I don't have another wide open space of my own to offer. Who does?

Re: Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:38:25 +0000

Well you can thank the NIMBY's on the Columbia City Review Board. The owner of the parcel wanted to build a 300+ condos on the site and help build up the neighborhood (more people means more restaurants/ retail/nightlife/etc). The review board repeatedly shot down the design, and now we have a parking lot. Great.

Alex…if the Zion Academy is in the historic district it means any designs submitted by the developers need to be approved by the review board. So don't hold your breath.

If people want to see development they need to go to these meetings and make their voices heard. Or better yet, get on the review board. Hmmmm.

Re: Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:50:47 +0000

Wonder about this "After the loss of a tenant for a building there". Thought there had been rumors of a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's coming to CC; was this the deal that fell through?

HAL should keep looking or sweeten the deal to get a small, focused grocery store into that space -which I believe would compliment the CC Farmer's Market.

Re: new location for the CC Farmer's Market; as much as it would hurt a bit, moving it to Hillman City might help revitalize that neighborhood.

Re: Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:37:07 +0000

Ask Dana Behar. He's bound to have thought this through.

Dana Behar, President
HAL Real Estate Investments, Inc.
moc.etatselaerlah|rahebd#moc.etatselaerlah|rahebd
206 448 5080

Re: Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:25:59 +0000

Couldn't the alliance just pay HAL for one day's revenue each week…? I know, it complicates the monthly parking equation for HAL, but I'd hope there could be SOME resolution to keep the market in place.

Farmers Market's gotta move -- by next year

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:27:14 +0000

This just in from the PostGlobe:

Chris Curtis, director of the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, said she had just heard from the landowner in Columbia City last week that the market must move. She said the decision came as a surprise to her and was forced on a very supportive property owner by the economy. She said the owner, HAL Real Estate Investments, had allowed the market free use of the property and was sorry to have to end the arrangement.

After the loss of a tenant for a building there, Curtis said, HAL decided to use an open area, where the market has operated, to generate revenue from monthly parking, probably from people using the Link light rail system nearby. She said that while she is sad about the move, she keeps thinking that parking to encourage transit use is "a good thing."

Curtis expressed optimism about the future, however, saying that the community in Columbia City has been very supportive and she is just beginning to explore alternatives. With 45 farmers taking part weekly and strong attendance, Curtis said, it's important to find a good space. And it's important to maintain ties to nearby businesses, which have seen good synergy from the Wednesday markets.

The Columbia City market takes the winter off, with reopening in May.