Farmer's Market to Relocate! Why not Downtown?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Farmer's Market to Relocate!  Why not Downtown?

The Jacksonville Farmer's Market on Beaver Street is being forced to relocate.  Instead of letting this local cultural institution move out to the suburbs (like Florida Coastal School of Law, UNF and most of downtown's retail base), lets attempt to move it downtown before its too late.  Why?  Click on  read more  to find out.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/238

[Jason]

This market is definitely something that would benefit downtown and continue to benefit the city as a whole.

I hope that Jacksonville's leaders take notice to this and make sure they they are accomodated.

[thelakelander]

I just got off the phone with a representative at the farmer's market.  He told me that Beaver Street Fisheries also owns property to the west of their site and that current plans call for the market to be relocated there.

Imo, while it certainly may be a viable site, considering Beaver Street already owns the land, since the sheds will have to be torn down and rebuilt (meaning money will be spent anyway), the opportunity for a relocation of the market to "city owned" property should still be seriously considered.

With this new info, site's 2 (Load King) & 4 (Setzer) can be eliminated, due to the fact, they're privately owned.  That leaves site's 1 & 2, both of which are undeveloped alive.  What we really need at this point is someone who understands the potential benefits to all parties, with connections (JEDC, DVI, Mayors Office, Council, etc.) to champion the cause.

[Jason]

I call for another commitee!!

Perhaps Metro Jacksonville could be hired for the task...

[daniel]

is there an email address that we can send comments to the city to voice our opinion on this matter.  The move to downtown would be great for DT.

[thelakelander]

Mayor John Peyton - jpeyton@coj.net

Council Members
Suzanne Jenkins (District 4) - SuzanneJ@coj.net
Pat Lockett-Felder (District 7) - PFelder@coj.net
Reggie Fullwood (District 9) - ReggieF@coj.net
Elaine Brown (At large) - ElaineB@coj.net
Glorious Johnson (At large) - GloriousJ@coj.net

JEDC
Ron Barton (Director) - barton@coj.net
Paul Crawford (Deputy Director) - paulc@coj.net
Eric Lindstrom (Site Development Coordinator) - ericl@coj.net
Karen Nasrallah (Redevelopment Coordinator) - loglesby@coj.net
Joe Whitakeer (Business Recruitment Coordinator) - josephw@coj.net

TU downtown reporters
Joe Light - joe.light@jacksonville.com
Karen Mathis - karen.mathis@jacksonville.com

Farmer's Market Owner
Beaver Street Fisheries - http://www.beaverfish.com/resources_contact.asp

Jacksonville Farmers Market
1780 West Beaver Street
Jacksonville, FL  32209
(904) 354-2821
OPEN-AIR/YEAR-ROUND
Monday-Sunday, 5:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

[thelakelander]

Jeff Edwards at Beaver Street Fisheries (representative for owner of Beaver Street Market) - jedwards@beaverfish.com

[Joey Marchy]

jedwards@beaverfish.com, SuzanneJ@coj.net, PFelder@coj.net, ReggieF@coj.net, ElaineB@coj.net, GloriousJ@coj.net, barton@coj.net, paulc@coj.net, ericl@coj.net, loglesby@coj.net, josephw@coj.net, joe.light@jacksonville.com, karen.mathis@jacksonville.com, jpeyton@coj.net

[PJparker]

Sounds good.  Would there be enough space to accommodate produce trucks?  Parking close to the vendors so you could load up your vehicle?  Walking around space?  I go to the Beaver Street market occasionally.  It has made some improvements, but it could use a more suitable location.

[thelakelander]

Sure.  At the time we were suggesting available industrial and undeveloped sites closer to DT and I-95 but still in the same industrial area.  We never advocated moving to market in the heart of DT.

[zoo]

To tie this to another thread, what about the Ford Assembly plant in Talleyrand? I know that is a massive amt of sq footage, and some $ will have to be spent for structure relocation/construction/repair, but maybe converting that structure to more indoor/outdoor market would be short-term financially feasible? Kill two birds with one stone?

[aaapolito]

To tie this to another thread, what about the Ford Assembly plant in Talleyrand? I know that is a massive amt of sq footage, and some $ will have to be spent for structure relocation/construction/repair, but maybe converting that structure to more indoor/outdoor market would be short-term financially feasible? Kill two birds with one stone?

You mean something like this: http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/








This is my favorite farmers market in the world.  Borough Market on the Southbank of London is fantastic. 

[rjp2008]

I would start planning for some kind of La Villa space.

You'll have a transportation center there, something else Ben Carter properties is cooking up (hotel? cinema? etc.) and then the farmer's market. A triple threat if you will.

Transport Center w/ retail, Hotel/Gym/Retail next door, Farmer's market public space.

Ideally though, long term you definitely want something on the river, more high end, to attract the tourism dollar and wealthier suburbanites who'd only come if it was in a more high end location.

[Shwaz]

I second the relocation to the Ford Assembly plant. Plenty of space and plenty of parking plus river access.

Great idea!