I wish its promoters would at least acknowledge that the last time Portland built a Public Market it was not only a financial disaster, but Portland also lost most of its downtown food purveyors.

When we have so many great Farmers Narkets, Whole Foods, New Seasons, food co-ops and the like...what need are we filling here? That the function tonight is featuring Henry Weinhard as the beer of choice tells me a lot...

Yeah, this is a bad, bad idea. Regional farmers and merchants would be able to push their wares on us seven days a week. Plus, we'd lose that fenced in parking lot to an underground garage along with another Park Block. That's one more square block of poodle poop. Yech! And it's near transit. This whole idea stinks. Go away Ron Paul!

I hope an enterprising reporter does a complete history of the various farmers markets in Portland's history.

and of course the new building will be overlooking the "so-low class" Greyhound terminal. If & when built, it won't be long before the residents start complaining about the shabby folks who take the bus!

Remember the complaints about mail trucks and noise from the "Pearlies" who bought the condos and then discovered that there were trucks and trains in the area!

This is an idea that needs to DIE! And why is this project being put together by a guy who can't operate a restaurant long term? Isn't Paul the guy who folded up shop in NW years ago?
Thanks also Frank for putting in the word about the past public market that failed on Yamhill St. and is now a fitness center.
And yet the roads still look like crap and they are still not running electric or hybrid busses in PDX.

Regional farmers and merchants would be able to push their wares on us seven days a week

I'm curious which "regional farmers" you think will be at this market seven days a week, year round. Don't farmers have to, uh, farm?

Oh...you mean it will be more like a retail store, not a farmer's market? Or...what?

Let's hoist a toast of locally brewed Henry Weinhard's to this swell idea...

Thanks also Frank for putting in the word about the past public market that failed on Yamhill St

Actually...I was referring to the Public Market built where Waterfront Park now stands. I don't have my reference books handy, but google Portland Public Market and I'm sure there's a history somewhere. This market was built in the forties --if I remember right-- and eventually became the Oregon Journal building after it was a complete and utter bust.

The more recent Yamhill Market Public Market was actually fairly successful...until it was killed during Max's construction, and ended up, like you say, a fitness center. Hard to believe it once was swarming with people at its booths and restaurants.

I've no beef with Ron Paul, or the vision, but the question is (or should be): maybe this was a good idea ten years ago. But things have changed...is it still a good idea now? What problem are we trying to solve with city investment into this thing that hasn't already been addressed by the private sector? How many farmer's markets can we sustain? And what's wrong with the distribution channels we have now? Is a subsidized city-owned market really a priority?