When I lived downtown, I used to walk up to the top of the parking garages to get off the streets and get a nice view. There were hardly ever cars parked there, but it's hard to remember which day of the week that was. I think Tom's idea is great though. It does seem like a very underused space, solves the parking issue, and makes it accessible to people walking and biking also. The only slight concern I have is that any trucks unloading goods would need to be able to fit in the garage, or load their goods on the elevators, but that can be worked around.
Sure, the traffic around the current farmers market is huge, but I wouldn't expect quite the same for a downtown market. Even though we lack the density, so many more people would be within 10 or 15 minutes walking distance that I would imagine the traffic demand downtown would be less than the current market. -Andy Tony Del Plato wrote: > Great idea Tom. > Tony > > On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 11:18 PM, Thomas Shelley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> At 02:20 PM 10/14/2008 -0700, George Frantz wrote: >>> While I would love top see a central market downtown I'm not sure it would >>> be a workable, or good idea.......much deleted..... >> and, again... >> >>> Finally, it should indeed be a publcily owned market. Parking garages >>> after all can be publicly owned and subsidized, so why not a central >> market? >> >> Humm..... Perhaps a new farmers' market should be held in one of the >> parking garages--like the top two floors of the new garage, the open roof >> level and the level below it. I have heard that it is an underutilized >> parking structure and perhaps this would be a good place to build permanent >> stalls. And it is owned by the City already. Another location might be >> the open space along the Six Mile Creek, behind the new buildings facing >> Green St. and east of the new parking garage? Maybe these types of >> locations would offer more flexibility and access to parking for those that >> need to drive in than the Commons? At the same time they would offer easy >> access to those that would walk or bike to the market. The downtown >> location would encourage walking and biking over driving for many. It >> certainly would for me. And I think this location would still draw traffic >> to the Commons which would be one of the economic advantages of a downtown >> Farmers' Market. Tom >> >> ****************************************** >> Tom Shelley >> 118 E. Court St. >> Ithaca, NY 14850 >> 607 342-0864 >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> Compost Educator and Sustainability Scion* >> >> What Does Zero Waste Mean? >> "If it cant be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, >> resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned, >> or removed from production." >> Berkeley Zero Waste Resolution >> See http://www.cityofberkeley.info/council8/newsletter.pdf >> >> *noun: a shoot or bud of a plant, esp. one for planting or grafting >> _______________________________________________ >> For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >> please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ >> >> RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >> [email protected] >> http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >> free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org >> > > > -- Andy Goodell Assistant Director www.IthacaCarshare.org 607.277.3210 _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
