See what I mean about a public market?

Come on out and visit :) In the meantime check out this video by the very talented @jamesmullinger https://t.co/YIaG1qkgEi

— SJ City Market (@sjcitymarket) May 31, 2018

Thanks for the great video and invite! I'll starting making plans.

"In true Maritimes fashion, you can't walk through it without making a friend!"

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) May 31, 2018

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On a self-reliant, resilient and regenerative local economy : 4 : A downtown public market

In the first post of this series, former Toronto Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat says, "Mid-sized cities hold the key to economic growth and quality of life in Canada, and they’ve taken too long to realize it." And in the second an essay in Strong Towns considers what can local economies learn from the explosion of craft brewing in big and small cities. Also my Twitter thread where I do an informal survey of food and drink business within my Old City neighbourhood. The question arose: can a cluster of uses become a mutually supportive destination, a primary use?

1. My small neighbourhood—Old City—currently has a Greek restaurant, Tex-Mex, Italian, Japanese, a Cupcakery, specialty food import + cheese shop, beer+wine store, 2 coffee bars, 3 lunch cafes, 3 pubs w/ kitchens. New Japanese restaurant opening soon.Confident it'll also do well.

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) May 19, 2018

And then an introduction to Jane Jacobs' book, Cities and the Wealth of Nations. All of which led to, not entirely unintentionally, a focus on a downtown Nanaimo City-owned Public Market. Starting from a piece in Guardian Cities on an ambitious city wide Barcelona plan to renovate its public markets, I asked followers to help me out: what markets have impressed you? What can we learn from them?

Here’s an attempt to compile : Pike Place, Seattle • The Forks / Johnston Terminal, Winnipeg • Granville Island • St Johns City Market • Rochester NY Public Market • All the Barcelona markets • St Lawrence Market, Toronto • Findlay Market, Cincinnati • Mexico City, Oaxaca • Mobile markets across the South of France.

I hope I got them all and thanks to everyone for the great contributions and comments. These comments from the London UK SE5 area, Visit Camberwell were standouts: "In some ways, car culture carries over into cycling culture with widespread advocacy of bakfiets (cargo bikes) as the ideal sustainable form of household shopping. Whereas imho the challenge is to restore a vibrant distributed local network of independent shops for hand-to-mouth food planning."

Around the world, pubic markets are key municipal assets that, done right, punch above their weight economically, socially and culturally. A Nanaimo Downtown Public Market should be a priority, the process of preparing a detailed business plan should be undertaken by our new Mayor and Council and Senior Staff without delay.

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What makes a great public market? Lessons from around the world

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From Project for Public Spaces — Detroit's Eastern Market Great Public Spaces nominee

Eastern Market is a pedestrian oasis in the middle of a still largely car-focused (but rapidly changing) city. With over 150 vendors in the central market sheds and many other market-related businesses in the surrounding area, Eastern Market has a great variety of places where visitors can find meat, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jams, honey, apple cider, cheeses, spices, herbs, plants, flowers, and much more. While the wholesale market dominates most of the week, there is also a retail farmers market on Tuesdays and Saturdays and a street market on Sundays. Outside this core, the district also features housing, art space, restaurants, galleries, and other businesses that draw diverse visitors to the area every day of the week. The market is a great source of civic pride for Detroit. Read more: Detroit Eastern Market - Great Public Spaces

From Project for Public Spaces — The Impact of Public Markets and Farmers Markets on Local Economies

Local markets can stimulate the economy. They are encouraging happy face-to-face interactions in the city! https://t.co/WgSLCyjRtZ

— Charles Montgomery (@thehappycity) November 2, 2015

Great presentation tonight. The best part? "Nanaimo, better than it use to be!" Maybe it can be our official slogan?! thx @thehappycity mom.

— Stephanie Watkins (@WatkinsStephie) November 4, 2015

Thank my mom for that one! https://t.co/eDDDrDSNl1

— Charles Montgomery (@thehappycity) November 4, 2015

On August 17, 1907 Pike Place Market opens in Seattle @WhatWasThere

Posted by Nanaimo Commons on Monday, August 17, 2015

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Nanaimo needs a public market!

With two big cruise ships in port - so many visitors to the @sjcitymarket today from all over the world!
Posted by Nanaimo Commons on Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Local & Delicious. Open 7 days a week! Come down and join us at 1701 Douglas Street in The Hudson. pic.twitter.com/2ZAxF0wrhz

— Vic Public Market (@VicPubMark) October 1, 2015

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Canadian Institute of Planners — 5th annual Great Places in Canada contest

2013 Great Public Space winner - Saint John NB City Market CNW Group/Canadian Institute of Planners

2015 edition of Great Places in Canada and all features on the greatplacesincanada.ca website have now been activated! Nominations from people across the country will be posted online as they compete for the title of Great Street, Great Neighbourhood and Great Public Space for 2015. The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), created this contest to engage Canadians in sharing their favourite places and to recognize the work accomplished by Professional Planners to make these places possible. Read ore: Canadian Institute of Planners | Great Places in Canada 2015 Kicks Off Today!

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Seattle City Council approves $34-mil investment for Pike Place Market

King5: #Seattle City Council approves $34-mil investment for Pike Place Market expansion: http://t.co/xQK09oQwj0 pic.twitter.com/oYQaGu2OYj

— Andrea Woo (@AndreaWoo) March 23, 2015

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From @Livability — 2014 10 Best Downtowns #8: Bellingham, Washington

Since 1988, Bellingham, Wash., city and community leaders have followed a plan to improve their small yet vibrant downtown. Sure, that plan has changed from time to time, getting an update here and there, and while new construction projects and even revitalization plans are still in the works, the results speak for themselves. More than 1,000 new residences were constructed downtown, renovated storefronts and redesigned streets enhanced the visual appeal, and businesses have created more jobs. 

Local business owners make up the majority of Bellingham's economy, which keeps money in the pockets of residents who reinvest in their community by supporting other local businesses.

This city by the bay has become a model for urban sustainability, and the downtown area highlights how a local living economy can work. 

The "buy local" movement is strongly supported, and some residents even barter with others for food, services and building supplies. 

A population of nearly 2,400 residents and about 7,500 employees in the downtown area enjoy a highly walkable community with easy access to grocery stores, parks, restaurants and entertainment venues. Depot Market, a central gathering point in the downtown area, hosts the Bellingham Farmers Market, one of the largest farmers markets in Washington, plus many other events throughout the year.

Bellingham holds the second highest ratio of arts-related businesses to residents in the country, and it shows. Functional works of art like benches, street lights, trash cans and bicycle racks add a touch of whimsy across downtown. Whatcom Creek creates a natural boundary around the Cultural Arts District, which includes the beautifully restored Mt. Baker Theatre as well as Whatcom Museum and Pickford Film Center. Events like summer concerts, food festivals and parades draw thousands of people to this area. Downtown Bellingham is dotted with green parks, yet one of the largest green spaces, Sehome Hill Arboretum, is located less than a mile south of the Arts District, near Western Washington University. Read more: Bellingham, Washington | 2014 10 Best Downtowns

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Ranking Criteria • Vacancy rate • Population increase since 2010 • Percentage of new homeowners • Daytime population • Projected median household income • Walk Score • Entertainment options • Arts/Cultural attractions

Shipping container market for ‪#‎Nanaimo‬ Waterfront Pioneer Plaza

Post by The Sidewalk Ballet.

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#Nanaimo— Remember our Foundry? Here's North Van's waterfront.

#Nanaimo—Remember our Foundry? RT @lower_lonsdale: Last night's sunset was unreal! http://t.co/BU1GNRRZZU #northvan pic.twitter.com/EvM2nQCBex

— NanaimoCommons (@NanaimoCommons) February 17, 2015

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From Project for Public Spaces — What Makes a Great Public Market?

Dappermarkt in Amsterdam, noted as one of the “best shopping streets in the world”

When a place is great, it just clicks. We know it. You know it. These are the places we remember most vividly, the places where serendipitous things always seem to happen, the places to which we return—in the stories we tell if not in person—all throughout our lives. Read more: Project for Public Spaces | What Makes a Great Public Market? Nominate Your Favorites

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@guardiancities 'mayors for a day' demand more #publicspaces in their cities

For the past year, Guardian Cities has been getting the lowdown on cities all over the world from its network of urbanist bloggers. Here’s what they most want to change … More at: Guardian 'mayors for a day' demand more public spaces in their cities | Cities | The Guardian

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From YourWaterfront.co.nz — Where Auckland City Meets the Sea

"A world-class destination that excites the senses and celebrates our sea loving pacific culture and maritime history. It supports commercially successful and innovative businesses and is a place for all people, an area rich in character and activities that link people to the city and the sea". Read more: Your Waterfront, Auckland | Events, Activities, Marinas, Arts, Restaurants & Bars, Things to Do | Home

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Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland @DIALOGvancouver

This is what the South Downtown Waterfront Initiative visioning statement means when it says that the site, done right, has the potential to be truly transformative for Nanaimo...

Industrial Revolution: The Design and Influence of #GranvilleIsland http://t.co/J2KQtG6G7t #dialog
— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

Just incredible #GranvilleIsland mural taking shape via @designboom http://t.co/QR9GEe7XCN @Van_Biennale @OsGemeos pic.twitter.com/avoXcvFjls

— DIALOG Vancouver (@DIALOGvancouver) August 26, 2014

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#Nanaimo Old City Quarter Multicultural Festival Saturday June 14th

Post by Old City Quarter.

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How to Create Successful Markets @PPS_Placemaking

Post by Project for Public Spaces.

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—@DowntownNanaimo Friday evening market starts tomorrow

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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From seattlepi.com — Here's the $65 Million Plan for Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market unveiled designs for a new entrance that will connect the market to the waterfront. The entrance is part of redevelopment of three-quarters of an acre at the north side of the market, along Western Avenue. It would feature:
•15,000 square feet of retail space;•More than 30,000 square feet of open public space, including a public plaza and viewing deck from the Desimone Bridge;•Room for farm or craft stalls on the roof terrace;•40 low-income homes for seniors;•300 covered parking spaces; and•Multiple public art installations.

Read more: Here's the $65 million plan for Pike Place Market - seattlepi.com

Post by Nanaimo Commons.

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