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I don't care how much it costs; that market must stay in its existing location. This announcement is just posturing in lease negotiations.
 
the market was moved to 104 street as an amenity for 104 street and the 1,000 units that were part of the city’s initial support for residential in the core. it worked for them because they could walk to the market and it worked for the market because they could walk to the market. between them they created an atmosphere that was attractive enough to attract people from the rest of the city. they came for the atmosphere, not the carrots.

how many residents are there within easy walking distance of the market’s current location? my guess is there are fewer residents than when the city first started planning for the quarters…
 
I agree the current location does not have the atmosphere of 104 Street. However, without the market it is just another empty building in a market chock full of them and the Quarters is will be even emptier, if that is possible. Yes, it is still a fairly dead zone as is, but it does have the advantage of more space and being more accessible and versatile than other locations.

Obviously cost is an issue and it is an older building with perhaps higher costs, but it would probably be in the interests of the market and its landlord for them to stay unless the landlord has already lined up something else solid to use the building for.
 
Apparently the GWG building where the downtown market is currently located is owned by Gene Dub. His incompetence as a landlord continues.
 
the market was moved to 104 street as an amenity for 104 street and the 1,000 units that were part of the city’s initial support for residential in the core. it worked for them because they could walk to the market and it worked for the market because they could walk to the market. between them they created an atmosphere that was attractive enough to attract people from the rest of the city. they came for the atmosphere, not the carrots.
This is without a doubt the case.

@Garneau2Go posted this phenomenal photo below and @Daveography post reply summed it up well:

20230612_201907-jpg.484858


Almost felt like we were in a city for a second there.
 
I like the current building and would love to see this space expand to include other types of vendors.

As for Bountiful, I believe that it's proximity to Mill woods is extremely important. My spouse used to go to the downtown market, but now goes to bountiful because her favorite vendors also have locations at Bountiful. We live on the Southside so way easier to go here.
 
Still could happen at that site! Imagine this -- a farmers market combined with an aquaponics and experimental vertical plant farm combined with a roof-garden parklet that tiers down onto the "Market Square" pictured in the plan which could be designed as food truck and event space centered on Agriculture (a kind of central Alberta Food Crop Agricultural Showcase). The basement of the structure could house extensive commercial fish tanks of various species -- Tilapia, Catfish, Carp, Largemouth bass, Trout, Perch, Barramundi, Sunfish, Crappie, Pacu, Bluegill, Guppies, and Eel. Then there are qualifying crustaceans that could be added to the mix including freshwater Prawns, Crayfish, Mussels, Oysters, and Lobsters.
A portion of the basement could be public-oriented with a display of "pet" specimens in bespoke designer tanks, fish like Koi, Goldfish (there are many exotic species that have been cultured for show and competition in these two types specifically) and others including domestic aquarium species like Angelfish, Tetras, and Danios -- a centerpiece could be a through-the(multiple)-floor waterfall that empties into a Koi pond (glass domed roof) visually tying all floors together.
The pathway accessing Market stalls could be ramped from entrance to uppermost floor with stalls demised off the ramps. Another feature could be glass-domed exterior stalls. The roof garden could similarly tier down the wall facing the Market Square with vertical plant walls (local species) festooned on exterior walls.
How could this come about? There could be a non-profit Cooperative Ownership set in place with long-standing Farmers Market practitioners as shareholders. This organization could then help in petitioning the Local, Provincial, and Federal Governments for supportive funding by way of grants and low-interest loans.
It is doable!
 
Imagine Fish and Crustacean restaurants as part of the tenancy -- "fresh catch of the day"; imagine the interplay with Chinese-themed restaurants and the adjacent neighborhood. Ian you should be able to get excited over the possibilities.
 
Official response from EDBA:

"We are heartbroken to read today’s statement from the Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market Association (EDFMA).

We were very excited to be working together with the EDFMA and the City of Edmonton on the Farmers’ Market’s return to 104 Street.

In light of today’s news, we are meeting with the City of Edmonton and other partners next week to explore available options for the future of a Downtown Farmers’ Market. "

 
I was recently working with the EDFMA on their move back to 104 Street however it became clear the current organization was not sustainable.

I can't share much else other than hoping something can come together in the future.
 
It's a shame they didn't just stay on 104 in the first place, but that's water under the bridge. Maybe a new organization can rise like a phoenix out of their ashes and bring the market back to where it had its most success.
 

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