Capitol Hill has known for a long time now that its farmers market is going to have to move. A recent vote by the City Council is going to make that move much less painful:
Due to development pressures, some farmers markets that set up on private property are getting shuffled around. When private property exchanges hands or is scheduled for redevelopment, the markets are sometimes forced to relocate. Representatives of the markets asked the city to help them secure more stable sites on public property to avoid this problem. The city identified that land owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) would be the most suitable areas for hosting farmers markets.
However, to obtain a permit for a farmers market stall on public land, vendors had to pay weekly or “per use” administrative fees, which were costly. The ordinance noted that this was a “major barrier” to using city property for farmers markets. It aims to lessen the burden on vendors by instituting a lower annual fee in place of the weekly fees.
The City Council approved the ordinance reducing the fees and streamlining the process. Which brings us back to Broadway. The parking lot that the Broadway Farmers Market calls home was purchased by a developer with plans to construct a mixed-use building on the site. CHS hears, btw, that SRM Development is about to finally make its plans public — more on that soon, we hope. Capitol Hill’s market was one of those in the city being ‘shuffled around.’ CHS asked the head of Seattle’s Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, Chris Curtis, what the new rules will do for the Broadway market. Here is her reply:
The markets, as you well know, have been under development pressures at several locations. Lake City had to move last year and the best location turned out to be Albert Davis Park and closing the street in front of library. Street closure permits and parks dept fees are prohibitively high, so we approached OED, the mayor’s office and the council about helping us get the fees lowered – if not waived – and the results became the ordinance that was passed on Monday.
The Columbia City Farmers Market is faced with development pressures and the Broadway Market will have to move eventually. The very preliminary discussions we’ve been having with ST have been around perhaps locating the market along Nagle Place (north of Denny), on Denny itself – and maybe at the entrance to Cal Anderson. Given this scenario, the lowered street closure and parks dept fees would really help our non-profit market operations stay within budget.
The Broadway Market will certainly need to move before the ST station is complete, so we are looking at Seattle Central as a possible interim location for the market. Nothing is set or certain at this point.
(There are also certain requirements that the Fire Dept must meet as far as right of way for their trucks, so some streets are too narrow to stage a market AND provide space for a fire truck.)
Farmers Markets are a wonderful amenity in all the neighborhoods they take place. None of us could have imagined when we got started (at our tiny grass roots level) how popular they would become and how much advocacy they would demand. People love them…but they do need open space to stage and secure and permanent locations if they are to be around for the future.
The Broadway Farmers Market is open every Sunday through December 20, from 11am to 3pm, at 10th Ave E and E Thomas.
:)
I have lived on capitol hill for fourteen years, and although our neighborhood has its rough patches, nothing is as bad as these condo complexes. The VERY LAST THING we need up here are more condominiums – not to mention condominiums that are advertising the ‘urban lifestyle’ of the hill with one hand and then tearing it down with the other.
I am one of the vendors at the Broadway market, selling my wild Alaska salmon at this market and 8 others in the area. Broadway was the first market I started at, and I can’t tell you how wonderful everyone’s been. From the SFMA and Chris Curtis (she is amazing), to our market director Molly (couldn’t ask for a better captain for our ship), to the other vendors who have become our dear friends, to the fantastic customers who come to shop rain or shine and believe in what we have to offer them (our life’s work). This is not just another business or random street event: the farmers market is a true community gathering place where we can celebrate the richness of our local producers and the shared enjoyment of all the fabulous food! I have learned so much from being a part of this unique environment. In a time of economic uncertainty, the idea of coming together with what we have to offer – you just can’t put a price on that kind of back-to-basics support.
I appreciate anything that can be done by the city and other governing bodies to 1)make sure we have a more permanent and secure location and 2)reduce or waive any fees that add to the financial strain that is already heavy on both the Association and the vendors.
What can you do? Contact your local representatives and let them know that the farmers markets are a crucial part of your community that you believe should be encouraged and protected. And, of course, the more customers that come and shop (bring your friends!), the more we have visible proof that the farmers market is alive and thriving, a valued part of the neighborhood. Broadway has grown so much just since last season, with even more vendors and an increased clientele. This year we will be open until the Sunday before Christmas – so pleased to have a longer market season! See you there?
– Shannon
http://www.TwoIfBySeaFoods.net
Curious how all business from large, Boeing, to small, this lady, want the local govt. to offer subsidy …. so curious.
And her salmon is over 10.00 a pound … she needs to pay her fair share of costs. Good neighbor stuff.