[URBAN NOTE] "ByWard Market food stalls in danger, report finds"

Passing this along in case any of my friendlisters with interests in the Market want to speak up on the subject.

Originally posted by rfmcdpei at [URBAN NOTE] "ByWard Market food stalls in danger, report finds"

Can Ottawans tell me if this CBC report about the Canadian capital's iconic ByWard Market is accurate?

A U.S. consulting firm says farmer stalls at the ByWard Market could disappear unless significant changes are made to the way they're managed.

The New York-based Project for Public Spaces said in a report presented to the city last month that the market's traditional purpose — a destination for fresh, locally-grown produce — has been lost.

Instead, bars, restaurants and other businesses put the needs of tourists ahead of the needs of residents, the report finds.

Creating a private, non-profit corporation to run the market, as Montreal and London have done, is just one of the firm's recommendations.

Other ideas include free parking for shoppers who buy a certain amount of fresh food, as well as subsidized rent for local food sellers.

In the long-term, the report suggests creating a new central plaza.