When living in Dallas, the farmer’s market was a series of open sheds (very nice ones but still relatively cheap to build for a city) on the south side of downtown. Farmers could back their trucks in to either side and shoppers walked down the middle in the shade. At that time there were 3 football field length sheds I think and two were produce. The third had garage doors to pull down on the outside edge and was reserved for food producers (bakeries, candy, etc).

Having a farmer’s market where the producers can back their truck/trailer and sell out the back. As a kid I sold sweet corn and tomatoes that way in Greeley, Colorado’s market.

If a public action committee were to be formed to promote this idea and work with the city on it, I would volunteer to be on it or help coordinate it. My number is 761-9538.

This lovely City is growing,and Boise really is not doing it’s part in keeping up. Why is the Market confined to “Just Sturdays 9:30-1:30”? Most likely because it would interfear with the merchants already there. This limits many people to enjoy what Boise Market has to offer. The “Market” in Seattle is an ongoing every day. It is busy at all times… rain or shine! It is a well known “Public” Market as well as a wonderful tourest spot. I say…lets just do it!!!

Then I could feel good about bringing my kids because now it is a bit miserable as we don’t eat any junk food and I mean none! All of our food is whole and unprocessed. We would love an environment we could visit that didn’t try to push junk on us and that’s pretty hard to find in a public domain!

But you do have it right Dave.
We do need a larger area for the Market. It’s too bad that cars/parking is such a big part of Boise. No matter where the market is, one has to consider where all these people are going to park their cars. If the market was less of a “latte after market, show off your dog, shop downtown” event then the car turn over would be quicker, so perhaps less parking would be needed.

I will point out that one reason the powers-that-be won’t support a farmer’s market on an excess land location is because they fear the uproar that will happen when they want to bulldoze the land to put up a new convention center.

I believe the talk of ‘selling’ the excess land is really just another attempt to get a convention center built. Maybe the “old” convention center could become the farmer’s market.

I frequented what is now called Saturday Market regularly when it started at 8th Street Market Place beside and inside the old furniture store, which developers insisted on tearing down. At the time, there was parking available for it and it was great.

After it got thrown out of 8th Street Marketplace, I continued going on an irregular basis on North 8th Street. It was fun but parking was a problem. Especially when you were lugging big bags of vegetables, fruit, bread and meat to wherever you found a place for your car.

Currently, I am seldom in Boise on Saturday mornings but have a vegetable seller I use nearby. But I like this idea so much, I just might try to rearrange my life for it should it materialize.

I’ve tried the Eagle market, but it doesn’t seem to be seriously committed to food.

By the way, New York City sets up some great farmers markets in its numerous small parks and squares.

I’m all for a permanent, year-round Public Market for Boise. The closer to downtown restuarants and hoped-for new residential stock the better. Access to the River and the Greenbelt would be a nice amenity for tourists (but not a necessary component for locals), as well as good access for delivery trucks and near-in public parking (or better yet, located a walkable/bikable distance to a strong customer base).

Anybody who says that the Grove/8th Street, the former Lithia Ford site, or the Compton site, is the best location for a Public Market without doing the necessary market & technical research is jumping the gun.

By advocating for a specific site (or none at all) is as Draconian and wrong-headed as any of the stubborn CCDC committments (think, Big Hole).

Since a Public Market is a proven redevelopment tool (and simple good Urbanism), it should be a simple step to ask CCDC & Boise to hire a specialist to look at existing market conditions, probable costs, and multiple sites before building a case for any further public investment in the idea.

And, before you disparrage any discussion of public indebtidness — successful Public Markets are (by nature) public investments, as critically necessary as schools, water treatment plants, and roadways. They provide a level of good urbanism, good public stewardship, and sales venues for small local businesses that the private sector has NEVER achieved.

There’s a reason why Public Market’s in cities like Buffalo and Philidelphia:

http://www.forgottenbuffalo.com/historicpoloniadistrict/broadwaymarket.html

http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/

Have survived for over a Century and grown to become the heart of sustainable neighborhoods. Though a strong component of such markets, stalls have never been limited to only food products — Arts & Crafts, Pots & Pans, Toys & Games, Hot Dog Stands & Fine Restaurants have always been a strong component of such venues (even if Mr. Blurton considers them useless junk). Even street theater should be encouraged.

Having seen Tucker’s senior thesis (I think I was even an invited critic – okay, maybe uninvited), the Compton site (especially with a re-established local street grid along Broad to 11th Street — as a truck service drive) is a very viable candidate site. The argument that there isn’t sufficient public parking around the Compton site must be a facetious remark – right?