Portand Public Market | Proposed

NJD · #1 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 4:22 AM**

Public market backers eye site near Morrison Bridge
Portland Business Journal

Supporters of a year-round Public Market have set their sites on a county-owned parking lot near the west end of the Morrison Bridge.

The market, to be named for native son James Beard, would be a year-round indoor facility showcasing Portland food. Backers previously hoped to locate the market in a former U.S. Post Office in Northwest Portland, but lost the 130,000-square-foot building to the Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Now, market supporters are soliciting donations to a capital fund to buy the site near the Morrison Bridge. Supporters say the property near the Willamette River is centrally located for downtown shoppers and workers and is close to the MAX light rail line.

The market and its partner, Melvin Mark Development Co., want to construct a high rise with the market serving as a ground floor arcade.

The property is owned by Multnomah County which earmarked proceeds from its sale to the fund it needs to replace the aging Multnomah County Courthouse. The cost of a new courthouse is estimated at $250 million or more. The county has not committed to selling the valuable site to the Public Market.

Anticipating a competitive sale in early 2009, the market is asking supporters to make year-end contributions to its nonprofit entity, The Historic Portland Public Market Foundation, P.O. Box 511, Portland, OR, 97207.

Pavlov's Dog · #2 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 9:31 AM**

It really doesn't sound like a very well thought out proposal. I can't imagine it being much better than what didn't suceed at Yamhill Market.

65MAX · #3 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 11:52 AM**

^^^^
No. Why would anyone "contribute" to this? Is the market supposed to run as a non-profit? Can't MM develop this on their own? And how will an ad hoc non-profit help make this pencil out if MM can't do it themselves?

Like you said, not well thought out.

PDX City-State · #4 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 4:29 PM**

Why would anyone "contribute" to this? Is the market supposed to run as a non-profit?

Ron Paul charges the non-profit $75 per hour in consulting fees. Your contribution will go to his pockets.

Support the farmers market instead. They have momentum.

MarkDaMan · #5 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 7:17 PM**

This guy is one bad idea after another. Why not form a sitting committee that can identify three or so spots by, say, June? Could lead to a design competition and a dedicated structure for the market as opposed to it being stuffed in a high rise building.

MarkDaMan · #6 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 7:21 PM**

in case people are curious...(and a little preposterous to put Portlandia in there, even if she should move)

www.portlandpublicmarket.com

PDX City-State · #7 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 7:47 PM**

That is one ugly building.

rsbear · #8 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 9:25 PM**

I like it.

PDX City-State · #9 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 10:42 PM**

Does this mean the public donates to this cause so Melvin Mark gets free land on which to develop a tower?

Did you guys also know that the newest PDC commissioner is a principal at Melvin Mark?

Coincidence?

PacificNW · #10 Posted: **Dec 23, 2008, 11:08 PM**

I am with rsbear on this...I like. In addition, there has been serious discussions, in the past, to relocate Portlandia. This relocation idea has merit, imo.

2oh1 · #11 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 2:09 AM**

I love the building, but I'm confused about the location. They want the two parking lots for a market, plus the space between for the tower? I'd love it if it worked out, but that doesn't seem feasible to me.

That would be an amazing location for Portlandia, or a similar massive sculpture to serve as a welcome for those crossing the river.

nobody · #12 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 2:55 AM**

Excuse my ignorance, but what is Portlandia?

bvpcvm · #13 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 3:29 AM**

^ it's an enormous bronze statue which currently sits on a pedestal in front of the portland building - it's not all that visible, because it's surrounded by trees. personally, i like the idea of moving it to a more prominent place.

wikipedia article here

MarkDaMan · #14 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 7:42 AM**

^I'm all for moving Portlandia also, but for Sera, Ron Paul, and MM to decide she goes on their tower, WITHOUT initiating a conversation with the community before placing it in their renderings, is poor form. Especially in this town.

I don't mind the tower so much, better than the current parking lot. I am however less than impressed at the market looking like a permanent home for Cirque du Soleil.

The county will never give the land for less than market price, they need every penny they can scrape up. I think this is a project the PDC should have a role in helping develop. However, the PDC should not do anything until the public market board is reorganized.

urbanlife · #15 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 8:46 AM**

what bothers me is how this seems to be a separate move from the Farmers Market, which in my opinion, if they wish for this to really happen, then they need to work together...hell I think the Farmers Market and Saturday Market should of been combined for a single building.

PDX City-State · #16 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

what bothers me is how this seems to be a separate move from the Farmers Market

Exactly. My personal feeling is that Ron Paul only has supporters because they somehow believe the Farmers Market and Public Market are connected. They're not.

Delaney · #17 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 5:36 PM**

Could be an interesting scheme, however the current execution is atrocious. Is that design a joke? Not to mention the rendering...

And on the business model, can we really support a 7 day a week market that size without combining it with Saturday Market and the Farmer's Market?

PDX City-State · #18 Posted: **Dec 24, 2008, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

And on the business model, can we really support a 7 day a week market that size without combining it with Saturday Market and the Farmer's Market?

No, we couldn't. And the general attitude toward Ron Paul's fantasy market in the Farmers Market camp is less than favorable so combining them is not an option.

Second, the food markets will remain separate from the Saturday market.

urbanlife · #19 Posted: **Dec 25, 2008, 1:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDX City-State

Second, the food markets will remain separate from the Saturday market.

I know we will never see them combine, it makes no sense to me, but I am sure there is a bunch of inner politics among the two groups that will make this separation continue.

I do think Portland could support a 7 day a week farmer's market, simply because we are close to that as it is. But I think for it to be truly successful, it would need to be located close to the streetcar and lightrail, and it would need to be somewhere in the middle of the one that happens at PSU, the north end of the South Park Blocks, and the one at the Ecotrust building. Without paying attention to who owns the land, it would probably be very ideal to have this on any of the parking lots along 11th or 12th. At 11th and Salmon, 3/4 of that block could be redeveloped for this. Having it in that area would give it much easier access to people downtown, the Pearl, Goose Hollow, and the Northwest District.

But again, this whole public market thing is a load of crap and its supporters need to wake up and realize they are being scammed.

Pavlov's Dog · #20 Posted: **Dec 29, 2008, 6:01 PM**

Looking at the proposed site more closely I actually think it's a good one. The idea behind the market itself and the lack of focus and cohesion.

I think that small block at the foot of the bridge would be a cool place for Hannah to have his tower. Together with the market it would be more of a draw and even a limited tourist attraction. I'd like the market to be bigger though and cross front avenue and have some synergy with the park and river. Seafood sales and cafes along the river's edge for short distance?